No Man’s Sky Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC

No Man’s Sky Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC: How to FIX

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No Man’s Sky Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC: No Man’s Sky is a survival and exploration game developed and published by Hello Games, released in August 2016. It is compatible with PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.

The game offers players four distinct modes: exploration, survival, combat, and trading. However, some players have reported difficulties with the game not launching or failing to load on their PCs, which can be frustrating.

If you find yourself experiencing similar problems, this troubleshooting guide is here to help. Many PC games, including No Man’s Sky, can encounter a variety of issues or bugs, and this title is no exception.

A significant number of players have faced challenges such as startup crashes or the game not launching at all. Therefore, it’s important to identify the underlying causes and implement effective solutions to resolve these issues completely.

Why Won’t No Man’s Sky Launch?

The initial release of *No Man’s Sky* faced significant challenges, primarily due to numerous bugs and connectivity issues that affected players across all gaming platforms. While it’s undeniable that the game has its share of problems, it’s important to recognize that some issues may stem from the player’s own setup, including their PC configuration.

Several factors could prevent *No Man’s Sky* from launching properly. Common culprits include outdated game patches, outdated graphics drivers, or an unsupported version of Windows. Additionally, missing or corrupted game files, complications with the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, and unnecessary background processes can also interfere with gameplay.

Furthermore, some players may experience launch failures due to hardware incompatibilities or conflicts caused by overlay applications. Let’s explore these potential issues in more detail.

Fix: No Man’s Sky Not Loading on PC

If you’re experiencing difficulties launching No Man’s Sky on your Windows PC, or if the game crashes shortly after starting, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take. We recommend trying each of the suggested solutions one at a time to determine if they resolve your issue.

1. Check System Requirements

To begin with, it’s essential to verify that your computer’s specifications align with the game’s system requirements. Incompatibilities in hardware can often lead to various problems when attempting to launch the game.

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit versions)
  • Processor: Intel Core i3
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: nVidia GTX 480, AMD Radeon 7870
  • Storage: 10 GB available space

2. Run the game as an Administrator

Running your video game without administrator privileges can lead to various issues, such as problems with launching, startup crashes, or even the game failing to load altogether.

To potentially resolve these problems, it’s advisable to run the game’s executable file with administrative rights on your Windows computer. Here’s how you can do this:

  • 1. Locate the No Man’s Sky shortcut on your desktop or in your file explorer.
  • 2. Right-click the shortcut and select “Properties” from the context menu.
  • 3. In the Properties window, navigate to the “Compatibility” tab.
  • 4. Look for the option that says “Run this program as an administrator” and check the box next to it.
  • 5. Click “Apply,” then hit “OK” to save your changes.

By following these steps, you may be able to resolve any issues you’re experiencing with the game.

3. Verify Integrity of Game Files

In the event that your game files become corrupted or are missing due to unforeseen circumstances, utilizing the game launcher to verify and repair the files can be extremely beneficial. Here’s how to do it:

  • 1. Open Steam and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Locate No Man’s Sky in your list of installed games and right-click on it.
  • 3. Select Properties from the context menu, then proceed to the Local Files tab.
  • 4. Click on the option labeled Verify Integrity of Game Files.
  • 5. Allow the process to run until it completes.
  • 6. After the verification is finished, restart your computer to finalize the repair.

This method can help restore your game to its proper functioning state.

4. Update Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

  • Head over to the following path on your PC:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\vcredist

  • You should see the following folders:
    • 2012\vc_redist.x64.exe
    • 2013\vc_redist.x64.exe
    • 2019\vc_redist.x64.exe

Please ensure that you execute all the executable files available. If you have multiple folders, remember to run the vc_redist.x64.exe file from each of those folders. After completing these steps, restart your computer to resolve the issue.

5. Update DirectX

  • Go to the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\DirectX folder path.
  • Next, run the DXSETUP.exe file to reinstall/update DirectX.
  • Once done, restart your computer to apply changes.

6. Update GPU Drivers

Several players experiencing issues have indicated that they are using an outdated graphics driver. If you suspect that your graphics driver may also be outdated, it’s important to check for updates. You can easily do this by following these steps:

  • 1. Press the Windows + X keys together to open the Quick Link Menu.
  • 2. Select Device Manager from the options presented.
  • 3. In the Device Manager window, expand the Display adapters section by double-clicking it.
  • 4. Locate and right-click on your active dedicated graphics card.
  • 5. Choose the option to Update driver, then select Search automatically for drivers.
  • 6. If an updated driver is found, your system will automatically download and install it.
  • 7. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

This procedure should help resolve any issues preventing No Man’s Sky from launching on your PC. If the problem persists, consider exploring alternative solutions.

7. Disable Overlay Apps

Several players experiencing issues with their games not launching have reported success by disabling overlay applications like Xbox, Discord, and others on their Windows computers.

These overlay apps consistently operate in the background when the game client is initiated, which can lead to conflicts with system processes or resource allocation. By turning off these overlays, users may alleviate the problems preventing their games from starting properly.

8. Install All Pending Windows Updates

It’s possible that certain bugs in Windows or issues with system files may interfere with the game’s performance. Additionally, an incompatibility can arise if your software hasn’t been updated in a while.

To resolve this, make sure to install any outstanding Windows updates and keep your operating system up to date. Here’s how to do it:

  • 1. Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to access the Windows Settings menu.
  • 2. Navigate to Update & Security, then click on Check for updates in the Windows Update section.
  • 3. If there’s a feature update available, choose Download and install.
  • 4. Allow some time for the update process to finish.
  • 5. Finally, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect immediately.

9. Disable Antivirus and Firewall Program

  • To begin, access the Start menu and enter “Control Panel” in the search bar. Click on the Control Panel option that appears. Next, search for “firewall” in the search field and select “Windows Firewall.”
  • In the left sidebar, choose the option to “Turn Windows Firewall on or off.” Ensure that you select the option to disable Windows Firewall for your Private, Domain, and Public Network settings. After making these changes, restart your computer to implement them and verify if the issue persists.
  • Next, you will need to disable Windows Defender’s antivirus protection. To do this, navigate to Windows Settings and select “Privacy and Security.” From there, go to “Windows Security” and then “Virus & threat protection.” Click on “Manage settings” and toggle off the “Real-time Protection” feature.

After completing this step, reboot your PC once more to ensure the changes take effect. If you’re using a third-party antivirus application, be sure to disable it manually as well.

11. Perform a Clean Boot

  • To begin, press the Windows key along with the R key to bring up the Run dialog. In the box that appears, enter “msconfig” and press Enter to access the System Configuration window.
  • Navigate to the Services tab and enable the option that says “Hide all Microsoft services.” After that, select the “Disable all” button to turn off non-Microsoft services. Don’t forget to click on Apply followed by OK to confirm your changes.
  • Next, move to the Startup tab and click on “Open Task Manager.” In the Task Manager window, head to the Startup tab where you’ll see a list of programs set to launch at startup. Identify each program that is currently enabled and click on “Disable” for those you wish to deactivate. Focus on disabling any high-impact startup applications one at a time.

After you’ve made these adjustments, restart your computer to implement the changes. Finally, check if the issue of No Man’s Sky not launching on your PC has been resolved.

12. Close Background Processes

To access the Task Manager, simultaneously press the Ctrl, Shift, and Esc keys. Navigate to the Processes tab and choose the task you’d like to terminate. After making your selection, click on End Task.

Remember to repeat this process for each individual task you wish to close. Once you have finished, simply restart your computer to apply the changes immediately.

13. Reset No Man’s Sky

To access the Quick Link Menu, simultaneously press the Windows (Start) key and the X key. From the menu that appears, choose “Apps and Features.” Locate “No Man’s Sky” in the list of installed software and select it.

Next, click on “Advanced options” and then select the “Reset” option. After this process is complete, restart your computer and attempt to launch the game again.

14. Reinstall No Man’s Sky

If you’ve tried all the previous solutions and the game still won’t launch, consider reinstalling No Man’s Sky as a potential fix. Here’s how to do it:

  • 1. Start by opening the Steam client on your computer.
  • 2. Navigate to your Library and locate No Man’s Sky. Right-click on the game.
  • 3. Select “Manage” from the dropdown menu, then choose “Uninstall.”
  • 4. When prompted, confirm the uninstallation by clicking “Uninstall” again and follow any on-screen instructions to complete the process.
  • 5. After the uninstallation is finished, restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.
  • 6. Once your computer is back up, launch the Steam client again and reinstall the game using your existing account.

That’s it! This process may resolve the issue of No Man’s Sky not launching on your PC. We hope you found this guide useful. If you have any additional questions, feel free to leave a comment below!

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