Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIf Age of Empires IV closes immediately, shows a gray or black screen, returns from Running to Play, or never opens, follow this order: update the correct launcher, install or repair the Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 Redistributable, check whether security software blocked RelicCardinal.exe, update graphics and audio drivers, verify DirectX and GPU feature levels, then reset the game’s local configuration.
There is no single universal cause. The official support checklist covers several possible launch failures, including crashes before the intro video and apparent non-launches without an error message.
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Do these three checks first
- Update Age of Empires IV through the launcher where you installed it, then restart Windows.
- Install the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2022. On 64-bit Windows, use the x64 installer.
- Open Windows Security and your antivirus quarantine or protection history. Look for a blocked or quarantined
RelicCardinal.exe.
If those steps do not help, continue in order. Avoid reinstalling the game or Windows at the start: neither action fixes a blocked executable, missing runtime, incompatible GPU feature level, or damaged local settings.
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“Crashing” can describe several different failures:
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- Nothing happens after clicking Play.
- The launcher briefly shows Running, then returns to Play.
- A gray or black window appears before the intro video.
- The game reaches the title screen and then closes.
- It crashes only while loading a campaign, skirmish, multiplayer match, or custom lobby.
- It works from one launcher but not another.
- It stopped working directly after a Windows, driver, antivirus, or game update.
- An error such as “System Failure,” a file-system error, or a missing-DLL message appears.
The official Age of Empires launch-failure guide specifically covers crashes before the intro video and games that appear not to launch.
1. Restart Windows and update the correct launcher
Restart the PC before troubleshooting. Then open the launcher that installed the game rather than an old desktop shortcut. Do not use Steam’s verification procedure for an Xbox app or Microsoft Store installation.
Steam
- Open Steam and select Library.
- Select Downloads.
- Download any pending Age of Empires IV update.
- Launch the game from Steam.
Steam’s file and build state can be different from the shortcut’s apparent state. After an update, check the build number shown on the game’s title screen. Do not assume that an older patch number found in a search result is still the newest version; update through Steam and use the title screen as your local confirmation.
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Xbox app for Windows
- Open the Xbox app and select the installed game.
- Choose Update if it is offered.
- If no update appears, select … > Manage > Files > Check for Updates.
Microsoft Store
- Open Microsoft Store.
- Open the menu beside your profile image.
- Select Downloads and updates.
- Choose Get updates.
These launcher-specific update paths are documented in the official Age of Empires IV patch instructions. The linked page includes later update sections, so treat its title build as historical rather than automatically current.
2. Check Windows and hardware requirements
The current official requirements list:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 | 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-6300U or AMD Ryzen 5 2400G; AVX support required | 3.6 GHz six-core Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600; AVX support required |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Intel HD 520 or AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 | Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 570 with 4 GB VRAM |
| DirectX | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
Steam also lists 50 GB of available storage. See the official requirements and Steam listing for platform details.
Minimum requirements are not a guarantee of stable operation. A laptop may select integrated graphics instead of its discrete GPU; a driver may lack the required feature level; and a processor can appear fast enough while lacking AVX support. Windows 10 users should also confirm that their build is 19043 or later, as specified by official support.
3. Install or repair Visual C++ 2022
A damaged or missing Microsoft runtime can prevent the game from starting before it displays an error.
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- Open Microsoft’s Visual Studio downloads page.
- Download the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2022.
- Use the x64 installer on 64-bit Windows. Use x86 only on 32-bit Windows.
- Run the installer and choose its repair or install option if offered.
- Restart Windows and test the game.
Do not download individual DLL files from unofficial websites. Those files can be outdated, altered, or the wrong architecture.
4. Verify the installation on Steam
For a Steam copy:
- Open Steam and select Library.
- Right-click Age of Empires IV and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Select Verify integrity of game files.
- Wait for the scan and any required downloads to finish.
- Restart Steam and try again.
Verification can redownload missing or damaged files. It normally does not remove saves, but do not assume that every setting, modification, or local file will remain unchanged.
5. Sign out of Steam if DLC or ownership looks wrong
If the game briefly launches, fails after an update, or appears unable to find purchased content, sign out of Steam completely, restart Windows, sign back in, and launch the game again. Official Age of Empires support notes that this can help missing DLC content appear correctly.
6. Check Windows Security and antivirus blocks
Security software may quarantine a game file during installation or an update. An update can also change the executable or installation folder, causing an old exception to stop matching.
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- Search Windows for Controlled Folder Access.
- Open the setting and choose Allow an app through Controlled folder access or Allow a program.
- Add the legitimate
RelicCardinal.exeexecutable if Windows has blocked it.
Windows Security protection history
- Open Windows Security.
- Select Protection History.
- Look for a blocked or quarantined
RelicCardinal.exe. - Choose Actions > Allow only after confirming that the file belongs to your legitimate game installation.
Windows Defender Firewall
- Open Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.
- Select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
- Find
RelicCardinal.exe. If it is absent, choose Allow another app and browse to it. - Enable the appropriate Private and Public network options, then select OK.
Third-party antivirus
Check quarantine and blocked-application history, then add the game executable or installation folder to the antivirus allow list. If necessary, temporarily disable the antivirus only as a controlled diagnostic test. Re-enable it immediately afterward. If the game launches only while protection is disabled, create a narrow exception or contact the antivirus vendor; do not leave protection off.
Recheck these exceptions after every major game update. The official patch guidance specifically warns that updated files may need to be added again.
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7. Update graphics and audio drivers
Install drivers from the GPU or computer manufacturer:
Laptop owners should check the laptop manufacturer as well as the GPU manufacturer because OEM driver packages can differ. Update audio drivers too, especially when the crash occurs during startup video or sound initialization.
Do not use generic paid “driver updater” utilities. They are unnecessary for this troubleshooting path and can install incorrect drivers.
8. Check DirectX 12 and the GPU feature level
Having a DirectX 12 runtime reported by Windows is not the same as having a GPU that supports the feature level required by the game.
- Press the Windows key, type
dxdiag, and press Enter. - On the System tab, check the DirectX version.
- Open the Display tab.
- Check Feature Levels under Drivers.
The official support checklist expects DirectX 12. If the feature-level list starts at 11 or lower, the GPU or driver may not meet the game’s requirements. In that situation, downloading a separate “DirectX 12” package is not the solution; update Windows and the driver, then confirm whether the hardware itself qualifies.
On a laptop with two GPUs, also check Windows Graphics settings or the GPU control panel to see which adapter the game is using. Menu names vary by Windows and driver version, so treat this as a diagnostic check rather than a guaranteed fix.
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9. Test without overlays and background utilities
This is general PC troubleshooting, not a confirmed universal Age of Empires IV fix. Temporarily close or disable:
- Steam Overlay and Xbox Game Bar
- Discord overlay
- Nvidia or AMD overlays
- MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner
- RGB and hardware-control utilities
- Screen recorders and performance monitors
- Aggressive system-tuning tools
Try launching once. If it works, re-enable programs one at a time until you identify the conflict. Microsoft’s general game-crash guidance also covers isolating background-program conflicts.
10. Reset corrupted local settings safely
Damaged or incompatible local configuration data can interfere with startup. Official Age of Empires support recommends deleting the game’s My Games folder, but that can remove hotkeys and custom settings. A safer first attempt is to rename it so you have a rollback copy.
- Close the game and its launcher.
- Open your Documents folder, then My Games.
- Locate the Age of Empires IV folder.
- Rename it to something such as
Age of Empires IV-backup. - Launch the game and test it with fresh settings.
- If it works, restore only needed files gradually rather than copying the entire old folder back.
Back up the folder first. Depending on how the game stores local data, you may lose hotkeys, custom settings, mods, or other locally stored information. Renaming is a precautionary adaptation of the official reset step, not a guarantee that every local file can be restored safely.
Use the symptom to choose the next step
Nothing happens or the launcher returns to Play
Prioritize the launcher update, Visual C++ 2022, antivirus and Controlled Folder Access checks, driver updates, the DirectX check, and the configuration reset.
Gray or black screen before the intro
Prioritize the DirectX feature-level check, a graphics-driver update, overlay testing, security exceptions, and a fresh configuration folder.
The problem began after a game update
Confirm that the update completed, verify Steam files if applicable, restart the launcher and PC, and recheck firewall and antivirus exceptions. Then consult the official patch notes for known issues. Reset local settings only after these less-destructive checks.
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It crashes only in a campaign, skirmish, or custom lobby
Record the exact map, mission, factions, mods, and whether the crash affects every match. Disable mods and overlays before reinstalling anything. A mode-specific crash may be a game issue rather than a general PC failure; for example, official patch material documents a custom-lobby crash involving Valley Battle and Arena for non-host players.
Compatibility mode and administrator access
Windows includes Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. Microsoft’s compatibility guidance is primarily for older or newly incompatible applications.
Do not force Windows 7 compatibility mode on a current installation as a routine fix. Running the game as administrator can be a limited diagnostic test, but it should not be the default permanent solution because it can create permission inconsistencies in user folders.
When reinstalling is reasonable
Reinstall only after checking the launcher, runtime, security blocks, drivers, DirectX, files, and local configuration. A reinstall may not fix the underlying cause and can preserve a blocked executable, incompatible driver, or damaged user settings. Do not switch from the Xbox app or Microsoft Store to Steam merely as a troubleshooting step; that creates a separate purchase, license, and installation path.
If nothing works: prepare an effective support ticket
Contact official Age of Empires Support rather than repeating the same fixes indefinitely. Include:
- Your launcher: Steam, Xbox app, or Microsoft Store.
- Windows edition and build.
- The Age of Empires IV build shown on the title screen, if available.
- CPU, GPU, RAM, and available storage.
- GPU and audio driver versions.
- The exact point of failure: no window, gray screen, intro video, title screen, or game-mode loading.
- Whether the issue began after a Windows, driver, antivirus, or game update.
- Whether Windows Security, Controlled Folder Access, or antivirus reported a block.
- A
dxdiagreport. - The requested crash logs.
This information helps support distinguish a missing runtime, security block, hardware compatibility problem, corrupted local data, and a reproducible game or mode-specific bug.
What not to install
- Random DLL files from download websites
- Registry cleaners
- “FPS booster” or game-optimizer utilities
- Generic paid driver-updater subscriptions
- Unrelated antivirus software purchased solely to fix this launch failure
The reliable path uses Windows, the official launcher, Microsoft’s redistributable, official GPU drivers, and the game’s support tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Age of Empires IV crash before the intro video?
The official support guidance identifies several possible causes, including an outdated or damaged installation, missing Visual C++ runtime, antivirus blocking RelicCardinal.exe, incompatible drivers or GPU feature levels, and corrupted local settings.
Can a processor without AVX support prevent the game from launching?
Yes. AVX support is part of the official minimum CPU requirement, even if the processor otherwise appears fast enough.
Is DirectX 12 the same as Feature Level 12?
No. dxdiag reports the DirectX runtime and the GPU’s supported feature levels separately. A DirectX 12 runtime does not guarantee that the GPU supports the feature level the game needs.
Should I permanently disable antivirus?
No. Check quarantine and create a narrow exception for the legitimate game executable or folder. Re-enable protection immediately after any diagnostic test.
Should I delete the My Games folder?
Back it up and rename it first. Resetting the folder can remove hotkeys, custom settings, mods, or other local data.
Do I need to reinstall Windows or buy another copy of the game?
Usually not. Follow the launcher, runtime, security, driver, DirectX, and configuration steps first. Switching storefronts is not a general fix.
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Start with the correct launcher update, Visual C++ 2022, and a security check for RelicCardinal.exe. Then verify files, update drivers, confirm DirectX 12 and GPU feature levels, and rename the DocumentsMy GamesAge of Empires IV folder only as a later step. If the game still fails, send official support your DxDiag and crash logs instead of repeatedly reinstalling.
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