Game is crashing, won't load or freezing when launching

We created this support article to help you troubleshoot issues when trying to play Second Extinction. The solutions in this guide are intended to solve your game not launching, crashing or freezing at a loading screen or preventing the game from launching at all. It's recommended that after completing each step in the guide, to try and launch the game.

If none of the steps listed below resolve your problem, then please follow the final one to contact support regarding your issue.

Alternatively, if you're experiencing crashes within the game, please report them to support by referencing our guide here. 

Table of Contents

1. Check that your PC meets the requirements to play Second Extinction.

2. Make sure your computer is set to use your dedicated graphics card.

We've created a support article here for both Nvidia and AMD users here. 

3. Make sure your graphics card drivers are fully up-to-date.

• If you are using an Nvidia gpu, please use NVIDIA GeForce Experience to check that you are up to date with your drivers.
• If you are using an AMD gpu, please use RADEON Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition to check that you are up to date with your drivers.

4. Verify integrity of your game files

a) With Steam open, navigate to your game Library.
b) Right click on the game title and select "Properties"
c) Select the "LOCAL FILES" tab and click on "VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES..."
d) Start a game session

5. Avoid running these programs when trying to play the game

• Any software that injects into Vulkan (Reshade, Rivatuner Statistics, etc.)
• Some capturing softwares might  (Xsplit, Mirillis, Bandicam, etc.)
• Try disabling overlays that could cause issues (Steam ovlay, MSI Afterburner, Voicemeeter, OCAT,  Razer synapse, etc.)
• Additional programs that can interfere with Steam can be found here.

6. Change your launcher options in Steam

Please follow the steps listed below to change your launcher options to use --disable-exclusive-fullscreen

1. Open Steam
2. Navigate to your games library
3. Right click Second Extinction
4. Click Properties
5. Click "set launch options..."
6. In the popup box put --disable-exclusive-fullscreen
7. Click ok
8. Try to run the game.

7. Try deleting these files associated with Second Extinction

Note: Deleting these will require you to change your previously settings.

• Using file explorer, navigate to the following location and delete the "settings.json" file - C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Saved Games\Avalanche Studios\Second Extinction\
• Using file explorer, navigate to the following location and delete your "Avalanche Studios" folder - C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\

8. Check for issues in Windows that can conflict with the game

• Run the game as Administrator.
• Check your Windows is fully up-to-date. Note: Second Extinction is only supported officially for Windows 10.
• Make sure you have Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable installed. If you don't, you can install it from here.
• Some of your PC files may have become corrupt. Please attempt to use the System File Checker to see if it can fix them. A full support article from Microsoft can be found here.
• If using multiple monitors, try setting the game to run on your default monitor and in landscape mode.
• Change your screen resolution one supporting a 16:9 or 21:9 aspect ratio.

9. Update your Audio drivers and disable anything modifying your audio

• The first thing to do would be to update your Realtek drivers (or other audio drivers).
• If you are using a headset or external speakers, then try unplugging them temporarily. You can also attempt to uninstall and then reinstall your Realtek drivers.

10. Whitelist the game in your firewall and security suite.

If you're having issues with the game running, it's possible that your firewall or security suite is blocking it from running. Try adding an exception to the application "SecondExtinction_F.exe".

11. Contact Support

If after trying all options listed above, please prepare the following files before contacting support. 

If you received an error message saying "SecondExtinction_F" has stopped working, then please specify what the error message is and send us your crash report files.

• • Click "What does this report contain"

  

  • Select both files and click click "Export..."

   

After collecting the crash report files, please also get your MsInfo and DxDiag files here.

When you have all of the necessary files, please submit a new request to contact the support team for additional assistance.