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A Plague Tale: Innocence Crashing or Not Loading on PC? 8 Checks to Try

Use these eight targeted checks to troubleshoot A Plague Tale: Innocence crashes, launch failures, and loading stalls on PC.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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If A Plague Tale: Innocence crashes, stalls while loading, or will not launch on PC, there is no single confirmed fix for every case. Work through these checks in order, starting with the game’s PC requirements and its installation files. Some steps apply only to a particular error or storefront, so use the ones that match your situation.

1. Check whether your PC meets the listed requirements

Steam lists the following minimum and recommended specifications for the PC version. These are baseline requirements, not a diagnosis of a specific crash.

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Specification Minimum Recommended
Operating system 64-bit OS 64-bit OS
Processor Intel Core i3-2120 or AMD FX-4100 Intel Core i5-4690 or AMD FX-8300
Memory 8 GB RAM 16 GB RAM
Graphics GeForce GTX 660 or Radeon HD 7870, with 2 GB graphics memory GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 480, with 4 GB graphics memory
Storage 50 GB available 50 GB available

Compare your actual CPU, GPU, memory, and free storage with Steam’s listing for the game. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee that a particular installation will launch, and falling short does not identify the cause by itself.

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2. Verify the game files in Steam

If you own the Steam version, file verification checks the installation for damaged or missing files and replaces them where needed.

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  1. Open Steam and go to Library.
  2. Right-click A Plague Tale: Innocence and choose Properties.
  3. Open the installed-files section and select Verify integrity of game files. Focus’s older instructions call this section LOCAL FILES; the wording may differ in your current Steam interface.
  4. Wait for the check to finish, then try launching the game again.

Steam also recommends file verification for games that do not run after “Preparing to Launch”; see its launch troubleshooting guidance.

3. Install available Windows updates and restart

Focus’s PC troubleshooting guide recommends checking for Windows updates and restarting. Use the Windows Update settings for the version of Windows installed on your PC; menu names and layout can vary. After updates finish, restart before testing the game again.

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4. Update your graphics driver carefully

Focus recommends updating the display driver. First identify whether your graphics card is from NVIDIA, AMD, or another manufacturer, then get the appropriate driver through that manufacturer’s official channel. Avoid third-party driver download mirrors.

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Focus also mentions Display Driver Uninstaller as part of a clean driver installation. Removing a driver is an advanced step: do not start there if a normal driver update is available, and make sure you have the correct replacement driver before removing the existing one.

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5. Check Windows Security for a blocked game executable

A security block is relevant only if Windows actually recorded one. In Windows Security, open Protection history and look for a protected-folder access event involving the game. If the verified game executable was blocked and you trust that installation, allow that executable through the relevant prompt or setting. Do not turn off antivirus or broadly weaken protection as a general troubleshooting step.

6. Test whether a background app is interfering

Focus advises temporarily disabling third-party startup applications to test for conflicts. This is a diagnostic check, not evidence that one particular app is known to break the game.

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  1. Use Windows’ current startup-app controls to disable nonessential startup items temporarily.
  2. Restart the PC and test whether the game launches or gets past the point where it normally fails.
  3. If the problem disappears, re-enable applications one at a time and test again to identify a possible conflict.
  4. Restore any startup settings you changed if the test does not help.

7. Repair DirectX files only if the error points to DirectX

Try the DirectX setup included with the Steam installation if the game reports a missing DirectX-related file, such as D3DCOMPILER or X3DAUDIO. Focus recommends this remedy for missing-file errors of that kind. It is not a general fix for unrelated crashes or loading stalls.

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8. Try administrator access, then contact support with specifics

Focus includes running the game executable as an administrator among its troubleshooting steps. For the Steam installation, the executable named in its guide is APlagueTaleInnocence_x64.exe. Locate the installed executable, open its file properties, and use the compatibility settings to select Run this program as an administrator. Test the game, then undo the setting if it makes no difference.

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If the problem continues, send Focus Entertainment Support the information needed to distinguish a launch failure from a later crash:

  • Your CPU, GPU, RAM, and Windows version.
  • Whether you play through Steam or another storefront.
  • The exact error message, if one appears.
  • What happens: no launch, a startup crash, a loading stall, or a crash later in play.
  • Which checks you tried and whether any changed the symptom.

Windows compatibility note

Focus’s support page warns that the game may not be fully compatible with the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview build. That statement is specific to Insider Preview builds; it does not establish that Windows 11, or every current Windows release, is incompatible.

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.

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