Raft Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC: In 2018, Redbeet Interactive and Axolot Games released ‘Raft,’ an open-world survival multiplayer game designed for Windows and Linux platforms.
The game has garnered a largely positive reception on Steam, particularly for its PC version. However, some users have reported difficulties with launching Raft on their PCs.
If you find yourself experiencing this problem, this troubleshooting guide is here to assist you. It’s not uncommon for PC games to encounter various issues, bugs, or errors, and Raft is no different.
Many players have faced challenges such as crashing at startup or the inability to launch the game. Understanding the underlying causes and effectively addressing them can help ensure a smoother gaming experience.
Why Won’t Raft Launch?
The launch of the Raft game faced significant challenges, primarily due to a variety of bugs and connectivity issues affecting players across all gaming platforms.
While it’s important to acknowledge that Raft has its share of problems, it’s also crucial to consider that some issues may stem from the player’s own setup or hardware, which can inadvertently lead to difficulties in launching or running the game smoothly.
There are several common reasons why the Raft game might fail to launch. These include having an outdated game patch, an outdated graphics driver or Windows version, missing or corrupted game files, and problems with the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable.
Additionally, running unnecessary background processes can contribute to these issues. Some players may also experience launch failures due to incompatible hardware or interference from overlay applications. Let’s delve deeper into these potential causes and explore solutions.
Raft Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC: How to FIX
If you’re experiencing difficulties launching the Raft game on your Windows PC, or if it crashes during gameplay, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take. We recommend systematically following the suggested solutions below to determine if your issue can be resolved.
1. Check System Requirements
To begin with, it’s essential to verify if your computer’s specifications align with the game’s system requirements. Incompatible hardware can often lead to various problems when attempting to launch the game.
Minimum System Requirements:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 7 or later
- Processor: 2.6 GHz Dual Core or similar
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GeForce GTX 500 series or similar
- DirectX: Version 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 6 GB available space
- Additional Notes: 64-bit operating system is required
Recommended System Requirements:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 7 or later
- Processor: Intel Core i5 2.6GHz or similar
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: GeForce GTX 700 series or similar
- DirectX: Version 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 6 GB available space
- Additional Notes: 64-bit operating system is required
2. Run the game as an Administrator
Running your video game without administrator privileges can lead to various issues, such as difficulties with launching the game, startup crashes, or even failure to load entirely. To address these potential problems, it is advisable to run the game executable file with administrative rights on your Windows computer. Here’s how you can do that:
- 1. Locate the Raft shortcut file on your desktop or in your files and right-click on it.
- 2. From the context menu, choose ‘Properties‘ and then navigate to the ‘Compatibility‘ tab.
- 3. In this tab, find the option labeled ‘Run this program as an administrator’ and check the box next to it.
- 4. Finally, click ‘Apply‘ and then ‘OK‘ to save your changes.
This simple adjustment might 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 built-in verification and repair feature within your game launcher can be highly beneficial. Here’s how you can do this:
- 1. Open Steam and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Locate Raft among your 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 that says Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- 5. Allow the process to run until it reaches completion.
- 6. After the verification is finished, restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.
This method can effectively restore any damaged or lost game files.
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
Ensure that you execute all the available executable files. If you have multiple folders, be sure to run the vc_redist.x64.exe file from each of them. Once you have completed these steps, restart your computer to resolve the problem.
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’ve been using an old driver as well, it’s advisable to check for updates by following these steps:
- 1. Press the Windows + X keys simultaneously to access the Quick Link Menu.
- 2. Select Device Manager from the menu options.
- 3. Locate and double-click on Display adapters to expand the section.
- 4. Right-click on your active dedicated graphics card.
- 5. From the context menu, choose Update driver and then select Search automatically for drivers.
- 6. If an update is found, your system will download and install it automatically.
- 7. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
Implementing this process should help resolve the issue of Raft not launching on your PC. If the problem persists, consider exploring alternative solutions.
7. Disable Overlay Apps
Several players who experienced issues with their games not launching have reported that turning off overlay applications like Xbox and Discord on their Windows computers effectively resolved the problem.
These overlay apps operate in the background whenever a game client is initiated, which can lead to conflicts with system processes or resources. Disabling them may help eliminate potential disruptions and enhance game performance.
8. Install All Pending Windows Updates
There may be instances where bugs in Windows or certain system files interfere with the proper functioning of the game. Additionally, failing to update your software regularly can lead to compatibility issues. To ensure your system is running smoothly, it’s important to install any pending Windows updates and keep your operating system up to date. Here’s how you can do this:
- 1. Press the Windows key + I to access the Settings menu.
- 2. Navigate to Update & Security, then click on Windows Update.
- 3. Select the option to Check for updates.
- 4. If a feature update is available, choose Download and install.
- 5. Allow some time for the update process to finish.
- 6. Finally, restart your computer to implement the changes.
By following these steps, you can help prevent potential conflicts and improve your gaming experience.
Raft Can’t Join Friends/World or Multiplayer Not Working: FIX
9. Disable Antivirus and Firewall Program
- To begin, access the Start menu and enter “Control Panel” in the search bar, then select it from the results.
- Next, search for “firewall” in the search box and click on “Windows Firewall.”
- In the left sidebar, choose the option to “Turn Windows Firewall on or off.” Ensure that you select “Turn off Windows Firewall” for all three network settings: Private, Domain, and Public. After making these adjustments, restart your computer to implement the changes and check if the issue persists.
- Additionally, you will need to deactivate Windows Defender’s antivirus protection by following these steps:
- Navigate to Windows Settings and select “Privacy and Security.” From there, go to “Windows Security” and then click on “Virus & threat protection.” Find the “Manage settings” option and disable “Real-time Protection.” Once you have completed this step, reboot your PC to finalize the adjustments.
If you are using a third-party antivirus solution, be sure to manually disable it as well.
10. Perform a Clean Boot
To begin troubleshooting the Raft Won’t Launch issue on your PC, follow these steps:
- 1. Press the Windows key along with the R key simultaneously to bring up the Run dialog box.
- 2. In the box that appears, enter “msconfig” and press Enter to access the System Configuration settings.
- 3. Navigate to the Services tab and check the box that says “Hide all Microsoft services” to prevent interference from essential system services.
- 4. After that, click on the “Disable all” option to turn off non-Microsoft services.
- 5. Make sure to click Apply, then OK, to confirm and save your changes.
- 6. Next, switch to the Startup tab and select “Open Task Manager” to manage startup applications.
- 7. In the Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, identify the programs that are set to launch at startup, and click on each one to disable them as needed.
- 8. Pay special attention to high-impact startup programs, and disable them individually to optimize your system’s startup performance.
- 9. Once you’ve completed these steps, restart your computer to implement the changes you’ve made.
- 10. After rebooting, verify if the issue with Raft not launching has been resolved.
By following this process, you can improve your system’s performance and potentially solve the launch problem you are experiencing with the game.
11. Close Background Processes
- To access the Task Manager, simultaneously press the Ctrl, Shift, and Esc keys.
- Navigate to the Processes tab and identify the task you wish to terminate.
- After selecting the appropriate task, click on the “End Task” button.
- Please repeat this procedure for each individual task you wish to close. Once you have finished, restart your computer to apply the changes immediately.
12. Reset Raft
- 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 Raft in the list of installed applications and click on it.
- Next, navigate to “Advanced options” and select the “Reset” option.
- After the process is complete, restart your computer and attempt to launch the game again.
13. Reinstall Raft
If the previous troubleshooting methods haven’t resolved the issue with Raft not launching, consider reinstalling the game as a potential solution. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Open the Steam client on your computer.
- 2. Navigate to your Library and locate Raft in your game list.
- 3. Right-click on Raft and select the ‘Manage’ option.
- 4. Click on ‘Uninstall’ from the dropdown menu.
- 5. If a confirmation prompt appears, click ‘Uninstall’ again and follow the instructions to remove the game completely.
- 6. After the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.
- 7. Relaunch the Steam client and reinstall Raft using your existing account.
This process should help address the issue of Raft not launching on your PC. We hope you found this guide useful. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to leave a comment below. Enjoy your gaming experience!