Final Fantasy XV Crashing on PC: Solved

Yes, Final Fantasy XV crashing on PC is a well-known issue, and it is almost always fixable by addressing one of a few specific causes: outdated graphics drivers, a conflict with the game’s built-in benchmark or overlay software, or a Windows/pagefile setting that the game’s engine handles poorly. Below are the exact steps that resolve the vast majority of crashes, followed by the background on why this game is so prone to them and what to do if the standard fixes don’t work.

Why Final Fantasy XV Crashes on PC

Final Fantasy XV was released for PC in March 2018, a year and a half after its console debut. The PC version uses the Luminous Engine, which was designed for the game but has a reputation for being unusually sensitive to certain system configurations. The most common crash triggers are:

• Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers – the game relies heavily on shader compilation, and older drivers can crash when loading new areas.
• Overlay software – Discord, GeForce Experience, MSI Afterburner, and even Steam’s own overlay have been known to cause immediate crashes at launch or during cutscenes.
• Windows pagefile settings – the game can use more than 8 GB of RAM in some scenes, and if the pagefile is disabled or too small, it will crash to desktop.
• In-game graphics settings – the “HairWorks” and “TurfEffects” options (NVIDIA-specific) are notorious for causing crashes on AMD cards and even on some older NVIDIA cards.
• Corrupted game files – a partial download or a failed update can leave the game in a state where it crashes at specific points.

Before You Start: Check the Basics

Make sure your PC meets the minimum requirements. The game needs at least 8 GB of RAM, a GTX 1050 or RX 470, and about 100 GB of free storage. If you have less than that, the crashes may simply be the game running out of memory. Also confirm that your Windows installation is up to date, as the game uses some newer DirectX 11 features that require recent Windows updates.

The 5-Step Fix That Works for Most People

1. Update your graphics drivers. Go to the NVIDIA or AMD website (not the Windows Update catalog) and download the latest driver for your card. Do a “clean install” if the option is offered, which removes old driver files that can conflict.
2. Disable all overlays. In Steam, go to Settings > In-Game and uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay.” If you use Discord, go to User Settings > Overlay and turn it off. Also close MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner, and any other monitoring software before launching the game.
3. Set a proper pagefile. Right-click This PC > Properties > Advanced system settings > Performance Settings > Advanced > Virtual memory. Ensure “Automatically manage paging file size” is checked. If it is already, try setting a custom size of 8192 MB for both min and max on your C: drive, then restart.
4. Turn off HairWorks and TurfEffects. In the game’s Options > Graphics settings, set “HairWorks” to Off and “TurfEffects” to Off. These are the two settings that cause the most crashes, especially on AMD hardware.
5. Verify game files. In Steam, right-click the game > Properties > Local Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files. This will re-download any missing or corrupted files.

After doing all five, restart your PC and try launching the game. If it still crashes, move on to the advanced fixes below.

Advanced Fixes for Persistent Crashes

If the basic steps didn’t work, the issue is likely one of the following:

• DirectX 11 vs. DirectX 12. The game defaults to DirectX 11, but some players have found that switching to DirectX 12 (in the game’s launcher settings) fixes crashes. Conversely, if you’re already on DX12, switch to DX11. This is a trial-and-error fix, but it has helped many.
• Disable the in-game benchmark. The game includes a benchmark tool that runs on first launch. If it crashes during the benchmark, it can corrupt the settings file. Delete the Documents\My Games\FINAL FANTASY XV\ folder (back up your saves first) to reset all settings.
• Set the game to high priority. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to Details, find FFXV.exe, right-click, Set Priority > High. This helps on systems with many background processes.
• Disable fullscreen optimizations. Right-click FFXV.exe in the game’s installation folder, Properties > Compatibility > check “Disable fullscreen optimizations.” This is a known fix for many Unreal Engine and Luminous Engine games.

Common Misconceptions About the Crashes

One widespread myth is that the game is “broken” on all PCs and that no fix exists. That’s not true – the game runs fine on a wide range of hardware once the correct settings are applied. Another misconception is that overclocking your GPU or CPU is the cause. While an unstable overclock can crash any game, the vast majority of FFXV crashes happen at stock speeds. If you have overclocked, try reverting to stock to test, but don’t assume that’s the problem without testing.

Another common error is to blame Windows 11. The game was released before Windows 11, but it runs on it fine for most users. The crashes on Windows 11 are almost always the same as on Windows 10 – drivers or overlays.

What to Do If the Game Still Crashes

If you’ve tried everything and the game still crashes, there are a few last resorts:

• Reinstall the game. A full reinstall (uninstall, delete the remaining folder, reinstall) fixes any corrupted file that verification might miss.
• Check your RAM for errors. Use Windows Memory Diagnostic (search “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the Start menu) to test your RAM. Crashes during cutscenes or when loading large areas can be a sign of faulty memory.
• Play in borderless windowed mode. In the game’s graphics settings, set Display Mode to “Borderless Windowed.” This avoids some fullscreen-related crashes.
• Contact Square Enix support. If nothing works, the official support team may have a specific fix for your hardware combination. They generally respond within a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Final Fantasy XV crash on startup? The most common cause is an overlay conflict (Steam, Discord, GeForce Experience) or an outdated GPU driver. Disable all overlays and update your drivers, then try launching again.

Does the game crash more on AMD or NVIDIA? The game was developed with NVIDIA in mind (it includes NVIDIA-specific features like HairWorks). AMD users have historically experienced more crashes, especially with HairWorks enabled. Turning off HairWorks and TurfEffects solves most AMD crashes.

Can I fix the crashes by lowering graphics settings? Yes, but only if the crash is caused by VRAM or RAM exhaustion. If you have 8 GB of RAM, lowering texture quality and shadow resolution can help. However, most crashes are not related to settings, so lowering everything won’t help if the cause is a driver or overlay issue.

Is there a mod that fixes the crashes? There are community patches, but they are not officially supported and can cause other issues. The most reliable fix is the official one: update drivers, disable overlays, and set the pagefile correctly. Mods should be a last resort.

Will the game crash if I have less than 8 GB of RAM? Yes, it will likely crash or run very poorly. The game recommends 16 GB, and even 8 GB can be tight in large cities. If you have less than 8 GB, the only real fix is to upgrade your RAM.

Does the Windows pagefile really matter? Yes, more than most people think. The game allocates a large amount of virtual memory, and if the pagefile is too small or disabled, the game will crash with an “out of memory” error. Setting a fixed 8 GB pagefile is a common fix.

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