Driver FixRecommendedSound, Wi-Fi or graphics acting up? Check drivers firstFind missing or outdated drivers fast.Check DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsWindows FixRecommendedWindows errors stealing your time? Find the fix fastScan stability, cleanup and performance issues.Fix Now×
Skip to content
VGSources
Blog

Alan Wake II Crashing on PC: Fix the GPU-Fault Error and Troubleshoot Other Crashes

Epic’s fullscreen-optimization workaround targets Alan Wake II’s specific GPU-fault error. For other crashes, check the game version, drivers, and system requirements without assuming one fix fits all.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

If Alan Wake II shows the exact message “The game crashed due to a graphics card (GPU) fault and will now exit,” Epic Games Player Support recommends disabling fullscreen optimizations for AlanWake2.exe, then relaunching. That workaround is for the named GPU-fault error; it is not a confirmed fix for every crash. If your error is different—or there is no message—use the checks below to narrow down the cause.

Fix the exact GPU-fault error

Epic’s guidance applies when the game displays “The game crashed due to a graphics card (GPU) fault and will now exit.” Its first step is to turn off fullscreen optimizations for the game executable.

  1. Find the game folder. In the Epic Games Launcher, open your Library, select the menu on the Alan Wake 2 tile, choose Manage, then select the folder icon beside Installation.
  2. Open the executable’s compatibility settings. In that folder, right-click AlanWake2.exe, choose Settings, and open the Compatibility tab.
  3. Disable fullscreen optimizations. Check Disable fullscreen optimizations, apply the change, close the dialog, and relaunch the game.
  4. If the same error remains, disable optional background activities in your GPU control software—such as performance boosts or game optimizations—and try again.

These steps come from Epic Games Player Support’s GPU-fault troubleshooting article. They are specific to that error and do not establish a universal fix for other crash types.

If Alan Wake II crashes without that GPU-fault message

Do not assume the fullscreen-optimization setting addresses a different error. Note the exact message, when the crash occurs (for example, during launch or after loading), and your graphics card and driver version. Those details help distinguish a game-specific error from a broader system or configuration problem.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G Graphics Card, PCIe 5.0, 16GB GDDR6, GV-R9070XTGAMING OC-16GD Video Card
  • Powered by Radeon RX 9070 XT
  • WINDFORCE Cooling System
  • Hawk Fan
  • Server-grade Thermal Conductive Gel
  • RGB Lighting
  • Check for an available game update. Remedy’s latest listed PC build is version 1.2.10, dated 18 August 2026. Its notes include a fix for a Quick Slots crash under specific circumstances—not a claim that all PC crashes were fixed. See Remedy’s update notes.
  • Check your graphics driver. Remedy’s FAQ advises using the latest relevant drivers. The FAQ text lists NVIDIA driver 555.99 or newer as a baseline; that is not a statement that 555.99 is the newest driver available in 2026. See Remedy’s PC FAQ.
  • Confirm the storage requirement. Remedy says the game requires an SSD and lists the PC download size as 86 GB. These are system-readiness checks, not established fixes for a GPU-fault error.
  • Review demanding graphics settings. Remedy says graphics-quality settings can be tuned for your hardware. Full ray tracing/path tracing requires a DirectX 12 GPU with hardware-accelerated DXR and is described as very GPU-intensive; Remedy recommends GeForce RTX 40-series hardware with NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 for this mode. A demanding setting alone does not diagnose why a crash occurred.

What the latest PC update does—and does not—establish

Remedy’s 18 August 2026 notes for PC version 1.2.10 add FSR 4 support, which is automatically enabled on supported GPUs when FSR Super Resolution is selected, and FSR Frame Generation on supported GPUs. The same notes identify a Quick Slots crash fix limited to specific circumstances. Neither note establishes that every crash has been resolved or that these features are appropriate for every system.

Earlier PC update notes say optimization for GPUs without mesh shaders lowered the former minimum GPU baseline to GeForce GTX 1070 or Radeon RX 5600 XT in the 30 January 2025 entry. Check the current official notes for the update history rather than treating an individual patch note as a diagnosis for your PC.

Rank #2
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 WINDFORCE OC SFF 12G Graphics Card, 12GB 192-bit GDDR7, PCIe 5.0, WINDFORCE Cooling System, GV-N5070WF3OC-12GD Video Card
  • Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4
  • Powered by GeForce RTX 5070
  • Integrated with 12GB GDDR7 192bit memory interface
  • PCIe 5.0
  • NVIDIA SFF ready
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What to collect before asking for more help

If the crash continues, record the exact error text (or note that none appears), your GPU model, graphics-driver version, game version, and what you were doing when the crash happened. Include whether the Epic GPU-fault steps changed the behavior. Without those details, the cause cannot be identified from the fact that the game is crashing alone.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G Graphics Card, PCIe 5.0, 16GB GDDR6, GV-R9070XTGAMING OC-16GD Video Card
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G Graphics Card, PCIe 5.0, 16GB GDDR6, GV-R9070XTGAMING OC-16GD Video Card
Powered by Radeon RX 9070 XT; WINDFORCE Cooling System; Hawk Fan; Server-grade Thermal Conductive Gel
$814.28
Bestseller No. 2
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 WINDFORCE OC SFF 12G Graphics Card, 12GB 192-bit GDDR7, PCIe 5.0, WINDFORCE Cooling System, GV-N5070WF3OC-12GD Video Card
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 WINDFORCE OC SFF 12G Graphics Card, 12GB 192-bit GDDR7, PCIe 5.0, WINDFORCE Cooling System, GV-N5070WF3OC-12GD Video Card
Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4; Powered by GeForce RTX 5070; Integrated with 12GB GDDR7 192bit memory interface
SaleBestseller No. 4
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 6GB GDDR6 OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 6GB GDDR6 OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card
OC Mode : 1500 MHz (Boost Clock)/Default Mode : 1470 MHz (Boost Clock); A stainless steel bracket is harder and more resistant to corrosion.
$257.22
Rank #4
Sale
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 6GB GDDR6 OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card
  • NVIDIA Ampere Streaming Multiprocessors: The all-new Ampere SM brings 2X the FP32 throughput and improved power efficiency.
  • 2nd Generation RT Cores: Experience 2X the throughput of 1st gen RT Cores, plus concurrent RT and shading for a whole new level of ray-tracing performance.
  • 3rd Generation Tensor Cores: Get up to 2X the throughput with structural sparsity and advanced AI algorithms such as DLSS. These cores deliver a massive boost in game performance and all-new AI capabilities.
  • Axial-tech fan design features a smaller fan hub that facilitates longer blades and a barrier ring that increases downward air pressure.
  • OC Mode : 1500 MHz (Boost Clock)/Default Mode : 1470 MHz (Boost Clock)
Rank #3
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC, RDNA 4, 3290MHz Boost, 16GB GDDR6 128-bit, PCIe 5.0, Dual Fans, 0dB Silent, LED Indicator, DisplayPort 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b
  • System Compatibility Note: This 2‑slot card measures 249 mm (L) x 132 mm (W) x 41 mm (H) and requires a single 8‑pin power connector. Please verify available chassis clearance and ensure your power supply is rated for a recommended 550W before purchase.
  • Dedicated Support: Please contact us directly through Amazon for any product questions or assistance you may require.
  • Next‑Gen AMD RDNA 4 Architecture: Powered by the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT GPU with 32 Compute Units featuring 3rd Gen Ray Tracing and 2nd Gen AI Accelerators, delivering exceptional 1440p gaming and AI‑enhanced performance.
  • Blazing‑Fast Engine Clock: Delivers a boost clock of up to 3290 MHz and a game clock of 2700 MHz out of the box, providing the raw power for smooth, high‑framerate gameplay.
  • 16GB GDDR6 Memory on 128‑Bit Bus: Equipped with 16GB of high‑speed GDDR6 memory running at 20 Gbps, offering ample capacity and bandwidth for modern game textures and creative applications.

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.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More quests from Patch Notes

  1. How to Turn On Vibrant Visuals in MinecraftMinecraftBlog3min
  2. Best Multiplayer Games for Low-End PCsBlog4min
  3. Minecraft: How To Use And Install OptiFineBlog5min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.