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If Dark Souls III crashes or will not launch on PC, there is no confirmed universal cause or guaranteed fix. Start with a Windows restart, then check the game’s requirements, update Windows and drivers, verify the Steam files, and test with non-essential background software closed. Try one change at a time and relaunch the game so you can tell what, if anything, helped.
Try these checks in order
These are general PC and Steam troubleshooting steps, not fixes confirmed for a particular Dark Souls III crash. If the game crashes during play rather than at launch, note when it happens; that detail can help support distinguish a launch problem from an in-game one.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition - PlayStation 4 | $21.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dark Souls 3 The Fire Fades (PS4) | $24.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Dark Souls III - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $39.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Dark Souls III (PS4) | $29.36 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Dark Souls III: Collectors Edition - PlayStation 4 | $799.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Restart Windows
Save your work, restart the PC, and try launching the game again. Steam recommends beginning its general launch troubleshooting after a fresh restart. Steam’s launch troubleshooting guide covers the broader process.
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Compare your PC with the listed requirements
Steam lists these requirements for Dark Souls III:
Requirement Minimum Recommended Operating system Windows 7 SP1 64-bit, Windows 8.1 64-bit, or Windows 10 64-bit Not stated in Steam’s listing Processor Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD FX-6300 Intel Core i7-3770 or AMD FX-8350 Memory 4 GB RAM 8 GB RAM Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti or ATI Radeon HD 7950 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or ATI Radeon R9 series DirectX Version 11 Not stated in Steam’s listing Storage 25 GB Not stated in Steam’s listing These are Steam’s published specifications, not a guarantee that every PC meeting them will run without problems. Steam separately states that its client supports Windows 10 and later beginning January 1, 2024; that client policy is distinct from the game’s older stated OS requirements. Check the Steam Dark Souls III support page for the current listing.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsSpecial offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.#1 Best Overall
Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition - PlayStation 4- The Complete Dark Souls III Experience All on One Disc: Includes the award-winning base game, PLUS both complete DLC expansion chapters: Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City.
- Intense Combat Action: Challenging, genre-defining gameplay. Diversified combat action allows players to craft their own unique style.
- Team up for some jolly good cooperation or test your ability in PvP battle: All PvP maps unlocked and accessible. Improved online matchmaking functionality.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, violence
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Install available Windows updates
Check Windows Update and install available updates, then restart if prompted and test the game. Steam includes Windows updates among its general launch checks.
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Update device drivers
Check for current drivers for your PC components, especially the graphics card, through the device or GPU maker’s official support channel. Steam recommends current computer drivers but does not identify a particular driver version as a Dark Souls III crash fix. Test the game after updating.
Rank #2
Dark Souls 3 The Fire Fades (PS4)- Atmospheric Visuals: Dynamic lighting and particle effects immerse players into a dark fantasy world of ruin.
- Interconnected World: Expertly crafted world encourages players to explore vast and breath-taking landscapes.
- Sword Action: Diversifies combat action allowing players to craft their own unique play style.
- Unique Online System: Evolution of trademark online multiplayer functionality that seamlessly integrates online interactions into single-player story.
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Verify the game files in Steam
In your Steam Library, open Dark Souls III’s properties and use Steam’s option to verify the integrity of the game files. This checks the installed files; it cannot guarantee that a crash will be fixed. Retry the game when Steam finishes.
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Temporarily close non-essential background software
Close non-essential applications, then test the game again. If the crash stops, reopen applications one at a time to see whether a particular program is associated with the problem. Steam recommends disabling non-essential software as a general troubleshooting measure; the available guidance does not identify a specific conflicting application for this game.
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Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Rank #3
Dark Souls III - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition- Atmospheric Visual - Dynamic lighting and particle effects immerse players into a dark fantasy world of ruin
- Interconnected World - Expertly crafted world encourages players to explore vast and breathtaking landscapes
- Sword Action - Diversifies combat action allowing players to craft their own unique play style
- Unique Online System - Evolution of trademark online multiplayer functionality that seamlessly integrates online interactions into single player story
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Check for a game update
Use Steam’s current update information for the installed game rather than assuming an older notice is still the latest. Bandai Namco’s January 12, 2023 notice identified PC App Ver. 1.15.2 and Regulation Ver. 1.35, and said the update fixed some bugs in the previous 1.15.1 update. It did not promise to resolve every crash. See Bandai Namco’s patch notice.
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Contact official support if it still crashes
If these checks do not help, use the support route linked from the Steam Dark Souls III support page. Include when the crash happens, the exact error text, your Windows version, CPU, GPU and RAM, relevant driver versions, and the steps you have already tried. Steam advises contacting the developer if its general launch guidance does not resolve the issue.
Rank #4
Sale
Dark Souls III (PS4)- Atmospheric Visuals: dynamic lighting and particle effects immerse players into a dark fantasy world of ruin.
- Interconnected World: expertly crafted world encourages players to explore vast and breathtaking landscapes.
- Sword Action: diversifies combat action allowing players to craft their own unique play style.
- Unique Online System: evolution of trademark online multiplayer functionality that seamlessly integrates online interactions into single player story.
What the evidence can—and cannot—tell you
The official guidance supports these as baseline checks, but does not rank them by effectiveness for particular Dark Souls III crash symptoms. It does not establish one cause, how often the game crashes, or a universal fix. Without the error details and the PC’s hardware and software context, it is not possible to diagnose a specific cause from the fact that the game crashes alone.
Avoid treating unofficial downloads or risky system changes as default solutions. The official guidance cited here does not direct players to edit configuration files, disable Windows services, download DLLs, or install third-party fix utilities.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- DARK SOULS III software & Prima Starter Guide
- Official DARK SOULS III Soundtrack
- Official art book
- Cloth game map
- 10" Red Knight Statue
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
