If PEAK crashes on startup, freezes during a climb, shows a black screen, or closes to the desktop, start by verifying the Steam installation, removing mods and overlays, updating your GPU driver, limiting the frame rate, and testing DX11, DX12, and Vulkan one at a time. The correct fix depends on whether the problem is the game, a driver, display settings, third-party software, or the PC itself.
Identify the type of crash first
| Symptom | Start with |
|---|---|
| Crashes immediately after clicking Play | Verify files, remove launch options and mods, then test another graphics API. |
| Black screen followed by the desktop | Verify files, reset display settings, update the driver, and try administrator mode. |
| Crashes after several minutes | Cap FPS, enable V-Sync, disable overlays, and check temperatures and GPU stability. |
| Freezes in the Tropics or another specific area | Try DX12 with a frame cap, update the driver, and test Vulkan. |
| Inputs stop working or the mouse centers itself | Disconnect controllers and other USB input devices. |
| The entire PC shuts down or reboots | Investigate temperatures, power delivery, overclocking, drivers, and Windows logs. |
A disconnect or Photon error is a network problem, not necessarily a PC crash. Steam’s routine Tuesday maintenance can also cause connection symptoms, but it should not normally make PEAK close to the desktop.
For continuing PEAK crashes, Outbyte PC Repair can scan Windows settings, temporary files, and crash records as an optional troubleshooting step.
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Check PEAK’s PC requirements
PEAK currently supports Windows PC. Steam lists these requirements:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10, 64-bit | Windows 11, 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i5, 2.5 GHz, or equivalent | Intel Core i5, 3.0 GHz, or AMD Ryzen 5 or equivalent |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GTX 1060 or RX 6600 XT | RTX 2060 or RX 7600 XT |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 4 GB available | 6 GB available |
Meeting the minimum specification does not guarantee stable performance in every scene. Integrated graphics, limited RAM or storage, high temperatures, overlays, and aggressive GPU overclocks can still cause instability. See the PEAK Steam page for the current requirements.
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1. Verify PEAK’s Steam files
This is the safest first fix, particularly after a patch, interrupted download, or crash during an update.
- Open Steam and select Library.
- Right-click PEAK and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Select Verify integrity of game files.
- Wait for Steam to finish, then restart Steam and launch the game.
Steam may redownload damaged or missing files. If the game still crashes, continue rather than repeatedly verifying the same installation.
2. Remove mods and launch options
Mods can remain active even when a mod manager says they are disabled. Landfall recommends removing them completely when troubleshooting.
- Exit PEAK and close Thunderstore-related tools or other mod managers.
- Open PEAK’s installation folder through Steam’s Manage > Browse local files menu.
- Remove the mod files and loader folders, including
BepInExif present. - Verify the files again in Steam.
- Launch an unmodded copy of PEAK.
Also open PEAK’s Steam properties and remove unrelated launch options. Test with one change at a time so you know which change affects the crash.
3. Switch between DX11, DX12, and Vulkan
Landfall’s official PEAK guidance recommends testing DX11, DX12, and Vulkan. When Steam displays multiple launch choices, select one, test it, close the game, and then try the next. Do not combine several graphics APIs or random commands in the same test.
Some players have reported that fully exiting Steam, launching PEAK with Vulkan, closing it, and then relaunching with DX12 clears a stuck graphics state. This is a community-reported workaround, not a guaranteed fix.
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Targeted launch options
A Landfall developer suggested the following option in a Steam discussion for a reported Tropics freeze:
-force-d3d12Use it as a targeted workaround, not as a universal command. For an airport texture-loading problem, Landfall lists:
-gpuCulling falseAdd that option in Steam, then start PEAK with DX11 or DX12. It is intended for texture problems, not general crashes. See Landfall’s PEAK troubleshooting FAQ and the related developer Steam discussion.
4. Cap the frame rate and enable V-Sync
Unlimited frame rates can increase GPU load and power spikes. Landfall recommends enabling V-Sync and limiting FPS as a stability test.
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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 errors- Start with an FPS cap equal to your monitor’s refresh rate.
- Enable V-Sync in PEAK if the setting is available.
- If crashes continue, test a 60 FPS cap.
- If the game has no suitable control, use the NVIDIA or AMD driver control panel.
This can reduce workload-related instability, but it will not repair corrupted files or make unsupported hardware compatible. Test V-Sync on and off only after establishing a stable frame-rate baseline.
5. Update the GPU driver and select the dedicated GPU
Install drivers only from the manufacturer of your graphics hardware: NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. If PEAK started crashing immediately after a driver update, testing the previous stable driver is also reasonable.
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While diagnosing the issue, disable GPU overclocks and undervolts and close MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner Statistics Server, and similar monitoring or tuning tools.
Force PEAK to use the high-performance GPU
On a laptop with integrated and dedicated graphics:
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- Open Windows Settings.
- Go to System > Display > Graphics.
- Add PEAK if it is not listed.
- Select the game, choose Options, and select High performance.
- Save the setting and restart PEAK.
Also connect the laptop to power and use a performance-oriented Windows power profile. A system can meet the listed requirements while PEAK is accidentally running on integrated graphics.
6. Disable overlays and conflicting applications
Temporarily disable the Steam Overlay, Discord Overlay, NVIDIA or AMD overlay features, Overwolf, recording tools, performance monitors, and mod managers. If the crash disappears, re-enable them individually to identify the conflict.
Landfall specifically identifies Nahimic as a possible conflict. Its general Unity troubleshooting guidance also identifies Citrix Workspace. If you need Citrix for work, consult your organization’s IT department before uninstalling it; do not remove workplace software casually.
For input-related problems, shut down PEAK and disconnect gamepads, racing wheels, pedals, joysticks, wireless controllers, and other specialized USB devices. Launch with only a mouse and keyboard, then reconnect devices one at a time.
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7. Repair Visual C++ and test antivirus interference
Download the current Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft’s official download page. On standard 64-bit Windows, use the x64 installer.
- Run the installer.
- Select Repair if Visual C++ is already installed, or Install if it is missing.
- Restart Windows.
- Verify PEAK’s files again and test the game.
Do not assume Visual C++ is the cause unless an error message or crash log points that way.
Some antivirus products can quarantine game files or block required data from being saved. Add Steam and PEAK to the product’s exclusion list, verify the files again, and relaunch. If necessary, temporarily disable third-party antivirus software only to test the theory, then re-enable protection immediately. Landfall notes that this step is generally unnecessary for Windows Defender. Do not exclude your entire Steam library without a specific reason.
8. Reset PEAK’s display settings
If the crash or black screen began after changing resolution or fullscreen mode, Landfall recommends resetting PEAK’s saved display values.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11- Press Windows key + R, type
regedit, and press Enter. - Back up the relevant key by right-clicking it and choosing Export.
- Go to
ComputerHKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARELandcrabPEAK. - Delete only the values whose names begin with
Screenmanager. - Close Registry Editor and launch PEAK.
Registry editing can affect Windows or other applications if done incorrectly. Use this step only for display-setting-related startup failures, back up the key first, and do not delete unrelated values.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.9. Try administrator mode as a later diagnostic step
Running as administrator is not the default fix, but Landfall lists it as a troubleshooting option when permissions may be involved.
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- In Steam, right-click PEAK and choose Manage > Browse local files.
- Right-click
PEAK.exeand select Properties. - Open Compatibility.
- Enable Run this program as administrator, select Apply, and test the game.
If it makes no difference, turn the setting back off. Permanent administrator access can create unnecessary permission and security complications.
If PEAK still crashes
Reproduce the crash once more, then retrieve the log immediately because it records the latest game session. Open:
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
C:Users<your username>AppDataLocalLowLandCrabPEAKSend the file named Player to [email protected]. Include your GPU, CPU, RAM amount, Windows version, the point at which PEAK crashes, the graphics API used, whether mods and overlays were removed, and any exact error message or Unity version. Landfall’s FAQ hub contains its player-log instructions.
Reinstalling PEAK is reasonable after these steps, especially if verification repeatedly finds problems, but it is not a guaranteed solution. A reinstall may also leave mod-loader files or unrelated software conflicts behind.
When the problem is probably the PC rather than PEAK
A normal application crash usually returns you to Windows. A complete power-off or reboot points to a broader stability problem. Check:
- CPU and GPU temperatures under load.
- Power-supply stability and cable connections.
- GPU, CPU, and RAM overclocks or undervolts.
- Windows Event Viewer for display-driver, hardware, or unexpected-shutdown errors.
- Whether other demanding games also crash.
- Possible failing RAM, GPU, storage, or motherboard hardware.
Do not treat a system shutdown as something reinstalling PEAK alone will fix. Likewise, if several games crash, the cause is more likely to be a driver, unstable tuning, overheating, power delivery, Windows, or failing hardware than one PEAK installation.
Quick Recap
The quickest reliable order
- Restart Windows and fully reopen Steam.
- Verify PEAK’s files.
- Remove mods, mod loaders, and unrelated launch options.
- Disable overlays and conflicting background applications.
- Update Windows and the graphics driver.
- Force the dedicated GPU on laptops.
- Cap FPS and enable V-Sync.
- Test DX11, DX12, and Vulkan separately.
- Repair Visual C++, test antivirus exclusions, and use administrator mode only if relevant.
- Reset display registry values only after a resolution or fullscreen-related crash.
- Send the latest
Playerlog to Landfall if the issue remains.
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