Red Dead Redemption 2 is a 2018 action-adventure game developed and published by Rockstar Games. The game is the third entry in the Red Dead series and is a prequel to the 2010 game Red Dead Redemption. However, this can be a big challenge when Red Dead Redemption 2 keeps crashing on startup on PC. Gamers have reported this issue numerous times, and here are some troubleshooting steps to fix this.
Any game would crash on startup because the installation is corrupt or the internet is blocking the game access. However, the team of developers has acknowledged the issue and are already working on an update fix. But until that arrives, you can follow the below methods to fix this issue temporality.
Also Read: Fix: Red Dead Redemption 2 Stuck on Loading Screen
Fix: Red Dead Redemption 2 Keep Crashing on Startup on the PC
In most cases, updating the drivers or reinstalling the game will help you fix most of the issues. But sometimes, you must dig a little deeper to understand the problem fully.
Check Internet
As Red Dead Redemption 2 is an open-world action-adventure game, it requires an active internet connection to connect with fellow players on your Red Dead Online. Any glitches or temporary disconnection on the internet will lead to game crashes. So, connect with your internet provider and get the best internet plan possible.
Also, if you use a Wifi Router, restart it and see if it helps. Sometimes due to excessive router cache, game connection requests can be denied, and as a result, games will crash.
Restart PC
Your PC runs hundreds of apps and services, and there are chances that some of the services are creating issues with the game. Restarting your PC will clear up all the active apps and processes running, and hopefully, your game will run without any issues after that.
Run As Administrator
Sometimes we install games in the C drive, which is protected by Admin rights. So as a result, the game launches but some of the main game component files are not run because of a lack of Admin rights, and eventually, the game crashes.
To solve this problem, run the game as an administrator. You can do so by right click on the game icon and choosing the run as administrator option.
Update the Game
Since the game issue was reported multiple times across many online forums, developers are currently working on a fix. As per the report, the beta update is already available for many users, so we recommend you to check out any game updates and install them accordingly. Keeping your games updated with the latest version will help you easily fix most issues.
Check Game File Integrity
If a few game files are corrupt or missing from the directory, then the above issue is imminent. While manually finding that file is a tough job; fortunately, you don’t have to do much. One of the Steam client’s important features will do most of the work on your behalf.
- On that note, launch Steam on your PC and go to Settings.
- Then head to your Library, right-click on the game, and select Properties.
- Go to the Local files section and click on Verify integrity of game files.
- The verification process will begin, and Steam will automatically download the necessary files.
The process might take some time. Once done, restart Steam and try launching the game to see if it fixes the issue. If it’s still there, here are a few other tweaks you could try out.
Uninstall Mods
Third party software or mods can hamper the performance of your games. There have been multiple cases where people install mods and other patching tools which edit or modify the game files, and the game never runs. If you are using such game modification apps, then make sure to uninstall them and see if it helps.
According to many users, removing the Citrix app from their Windows machine has solved the issue. So by any chance, if you have installed the Citrix program, make sure to uninstall it as it’s happening with the game’s internal file processes.
Delete the GameOverlayRenderer64.dll
While it is mostly counted as an experimental fix, some users were able to fix this issue by deleting the aforementioned file. In that case, we would suggest you remove that file from the installation directory and move it to another location (as a backup).
Now if doing so fixes the issue, you may delete that backup file as well. But if the issue is still there, then move that file back to its original location and proceed with the other fixes given below.
Reinstall the Game
If none of the above fixes helps you with the problem, then it means the game installation is faulty. It usually happens when you have installed the game from a third-party website and not from the official source.
Please uninstall the game and make sure to download and install it from an official source such as Steam.
Sometimes the game directory where the game is installed gets corrupted, and in such a case, the game will be alright but it will crash on launch. So this time, try to install your game in a different directory and see if it helps.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of this guide for fixing Red Dead Redemption 2 Keep Crashing on Startup on PC. Please note that open-world games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 are prone to internet fluctuations. So make sure your internet connection is fast, and you will not face any issues.