Frostpunk 2 Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC: How to Fix

Frostpunk 2 Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC:Frostpunk 2,” created by 11 Bit Studios, serves as the follow-up to the acclaimed city-building survival title. Set three decades after the original, players step into the shoes of a leader responsible for navigating the challenges of a harsh volcanic winter to safeguard their city.

Unfortunately, some users have reported difficulties with the game not starting or freezing on the loading screen. If you’re encountering these issues, refer to the troubleshooting guidelines below to help resolve them and resume your gameplay. Let’s get started!

How to Fix Frostpunk 2 is Not Responding or Loading on the PC

Fortunately, there are several potential solutions outlined below to address the common issue of applications failing to launch or load. Let’s delve into these remedies without delay.

Check System Requirements

Review the system specifications for Frostpunk 2 listed below to verify that your computer’s setup aligns with the game’s requirements. Review the system specifications for Frostpunk 2 listed below to verify that your computer’s setup aligns with the game’s requirements.

Minimum Requirements

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 / Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: AMD RX 550 4 GB VRAM / NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti 4 GB VRAM / INTEL ARC A310 4GB VRAM
  • DirectX: Version 12
  • Storage: 30 GB available space
  • Additional Notes: SSD required

Recommended Requirements

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 / Intel Core i7 2.8 GHz
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics: AMD RX 5700 8 GB VRAM / NVIDIA 2060 Super RTX 8 GB VRAM / INTEL ARC A770 8GB VRAM
  • DirectX: Version 12
  • Storage: 30 GB available space
  • Additional Notes: SSD required

1. Run the Launcher as an Administrator

To enhance the performance of your game launcher on Windows, it’s advisable to run it with administrative privileges. This can help mitigate issues related to crashes or launching failures that might arise from User Account Control (UAC) restrictions. Follow these instructions to grant the necessary permissions:

  • 1. Locate the shortcut for the Steam Games Launcher on your desktop or within your file directory.
  • 2. Right-click on the shortcut and select ‘Properties‘ from the context menu.
  • 3. In the Properties window, navigate to the ‘Compatibility‘ tab.
  • 4. Check the box that says ‘Run this program as an administrator’ to enable it.
  • 5. Click ‘Apply‘ and then ‘OK‘ to confirm your changes.
  • 6. You can now launch the game by double-clicking the executable file.

For optimal performance, repeat these steps for the Frostpunk 2 game executable as well, ensuring it also has the required UAC access.

2. Update Graphics Drivers

It’s essential to ensure that your PC’s graphics driver is up to date, as using an outdated GPU driver can lead to various problems when launching games. To check for and install any available updates for your graphics driver, follow these steps:

  • 1. Right-click on the Start Menu to access the Quick Access Menu.
  • 2. Select Device Manager from the options presented.
  • 3. In the Device Manager window, expand the Display Adapters section by double-clicking on it.
  • 4. Locate your active dedicated graphics card, right-click on it, and select Update driver.
  • 5. Choose the option to Search automatically for drivers.

Your system will then search for any available updates. If an update is found, it will be downloaded and installed automatically. After the installation is complete, it’s important to restart your PC to ensure the changes take effect.

If no updates are found through the Device Manager, you can manually check for the latest version by visiting the official website of your graphics card manufacturer.

If a newer version is available, download the installation file and follow the prompts to update your driver. Below is the link to the official manufacturer’s website for your convenience.

3. End Background Processes

To ensure optimal performance of resource-intensive applications, it is essential to terminate any unnecessary background processes on your system. If you notice your computer becoming sluggish or unresponsive, it may indicate that system resources are being stretched. To eliminate these unwanted tasks, follow these steps:

  • 1. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc to access the Task Manager.
  • 2. Navigate to the Processes tab and identify the task you wish to terminate.
  • 3. Select the task, then click on “End Task” to close it.
  • 4. Repeat these steps for any additional tasks you want to end.

After you have finished managing the processes, you can close the Task Manager and restart your computer for improved performance.

4. Disable Steam Overlay

Numerous players have begun to notice that the Steam overlay is operating in the background, which raises concerns. The in-game overlay can utilize significant system resources, potentially leading to difficulties when attempting to launch the game.

To address this issue, follow these steps:

  • 1. Open your Steam client and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Locate Frostpunk 2, then right-click on it and select Properties.
  • 3. In the Properties window, go to the General tab and uncheck the option labeled “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.”
  • 4. Return to your Library and attempt to launch Frostpunk 2 again to see if the game now starts successfully.

5. Disable Steam Input

Several players have reported success in resolving issues related to the game not starting or getting stuck on the loading screen by disabling the Steam Input feature. If you would like to try this method, please follow these instructions:

  • 1. Open the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Locate Frostpunk 2, right-click on it, and select the “Controller” option.
  • 3. Change the setting for ‘OVERRIDE FOR Frostpunk 2’ to ‘Disable Steam Input’.

After completing these steps, attempt to launch the game again to see if the problem persists.

6. Run the game in Windowed Mode

If you’re experiencing frequent crashes in the game, one potential solution is to switch the Display Mode from Full Screen to Windowed. Here’s how you can do that:

  • 1. Start by clicking on the Windows icon to access the Start Menu.
  • 2. In the search bar, type `%LOCALAPPDATA%` and press Enter to open the folder.
  • 3. Once inside the `%LOCALAPPDATA%` directory, look for the folder named ‘Prospect.’
  • 4. Navigate to the ‘Prospect’ folder and then go to the path: Saved > Config > WindowsNoEditor.
  • 5. In the WindowsNoEditor folder, locate the file titled ‘GameUserSettings.’
  • 6. Open this file with any text editor, and find the line that reads ‘FullscreenMode=1.’ Change this value to ‘FullscreenMode=0’ and save the file.
  • 7. After making these adjustments, relaunch the game to see if the crashing issue persists.

This adjustment may help create a more stable gaming experience.

7. Disable DirectX 12

If you’re using DirectX 12 on your PC and experiencing issues, consider disabling it. While DirectX 12 is the most current version available for Windows, your system configuration may not support it effectively. To disable DirectX 12, follow these steps:

Navigate to Settings, then select Video, and change the ‘Enable DX12’ option to ‘Off’. After making this adjustment, restart the Frostpunk 2 game to apply the changes.

8. Set Correct Rendering Device

To ensure optimal performance, it’s important to choose the appropriate rendering device in the game settings. Here’s how to do it:

  • 1. Launch the Steam client and start the Frostpunk 2 game.
  • 2. Navigate to the Video Settings section within the game.
  • 3. Look for the option labeled ‘Selected Rendering Device’ and choose your dedicated GPU from the list. Avoid leaving it set to ‘Default’.
  • 4. After making these adjustments, restart the game to apply the changes.

9. Disable Multi-Threaded Rendering

The video settings menu in Frostpunk 2 appears to have a multi-threaded rendering feature activated, which may be causing frequent crashes in the game.

To potentially fix this issue, it is advisable to turn off the multi-threaded rendering option in the settings. If you are using an AMD processor, be sure to deactivate this feature and restart the game to ensure the changes take effect.

10. Turn Off Antivirus Protection

To ensure that your game files are not being hindered by antivirus software, consider disabling Windows Defender protection on your computer. Here’s how you can do this:

  • 1. Open the Windows Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys simultaneously.
  • 2. Navigate to Update & Security, then select Windows Security from the menu on the left.
  • 3. Click on the “Open Windows Security” button.
  • 4. Head to Virus & Threat Protection and select “Manage settings.”
  • 5. Locate the toggle for Real-time protection and turn it off.
  • 6. If prompted, confirm by selecting Yes.

If you have other antivirus software installed, make sure to disable it as well. Alternatively, if you prefer not to disable your antivirus, you can whitelist the game files instead. Here’s how to do that:

  • 1. Launch the Steam client and go to your Library.
  • 2. Find and select Frostpunk 2 from your list of installed games.
  • 3. Click on the Settings icon next to the game.
  • 4. Choose Manage, then click on “Browse local files.”
  • 5. In the opened folder, navigate to Prospect > Binaries > Win64.
  • 6. Look for the file named ‘Prospect-Win64-Shipping.’ Select this file and add it to the whitelist.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you should be able to run the game without any issues.

11. Repair Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files on your PC can lead to various problems, including difficulties with launching the game or degraded performance. To address this issue, follow these steps:

  • 1. Open the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Locate Frostpunk 2 in your list of installed games and right-click on it.
  • 3. Select Properties from the context menu, then go to the Local Files tab.
  • 4. Click on the option to Verify Integrity of Game Files.
  • 5. Allow the verification process to complete fully.
  • 6. After the process is finished, restart your computer.

Checking the integrity of your game files is a valuable troubleshooting method that can help resolve crashes, performance issues, or missing game content.

12. Update Frostpunk 2

If you’ve tried all the previous troubleshooting methods without success, it’s worth checking for an update for Frostpunk 2. Running an outdated version can lead to bugs or stability problems. If you haven’t updated your game in a while, follow these steps to check for and install the latest updates:

  • 1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Select Frostpunk 2 from the list on the left.
  • 3. The client will automatically search for any available updates. If you see an update, click on it to initiate the download.
  • 4. Allow some time for the update to install before closing the Steam client.
  • 5. Finally, restart your PC to ensure the changes take effect, then relaunch the game.

We hope this guide has been helpful! If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

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