If The Last of Us Part I keeps crashing on PC, start by updating the game, verifying its files, installing the current graphics driver for your GPU, and letting shader compilation finish before playing. These are Naughty Dog’s recommended first checks—not a guaranteed fix for every crash. The right next step depends on whether the game fails at startup, during shader building, or later in a session.
Try these fixes first
- Update the game. Install the latest update available for your Steam or Epic Games copy. The fixes in older patch notes apply only to the versions they identify.
- Verify the game files. Use the file-integrity verification option in the storefront where you own the game. This checks the installed files and replaces damaged or missing ones.
- Update your graphics driver. Get the current driver for your specific GPU directly from its manufacturer. Driver versions listed in 2023 patch notes are historical and should not be treated as current recommendations.
- Wait for shader compilation to finish. On a first launch or after an update that triggers a rebuild, let the PSO cache complete before starting a session. Naughty Dog notes that compilation time varies by PC configuration and that playing before shaders are fully built may cause poor performance.
If the crash continues, note exactly when it happens and use the matching checks below.
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The Last of Us: Escape the Dark Board Game | $72.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Match the fix to when the game crashes
It closes before the main menu or during startup
Update the game and verify its files first. Windows 11 users should also make sure they are running a version newer than the one addressed by the May 9, 2023 v1.0.5.0 patch, which listed a fix for a crash on boot on Windows 11. That was a specific, version-dependent fix; it does not establish that every Windows 11 startup crash has the same cause.
It crashes while compiling shaders
Allow the PSO cache or shader build to finish, including after updates that prompt a rebuild. Naughty Dog identifies complete PSO compilation as a support check, and past patches included fixes for shader-build crashes or related problems. If compilation repeatedly fails after the game is updated, record the point at which it stops and include that detail in a support report.
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- Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards.
- Includes the complete The Last of Us single-player story and celebrated prequel chapter, Left Behind, which explores the events that changed the lives of Ellie and her best friend Riley forever.
You use an Intel Arc GPU
For the Intel Arc issue Intel documented, use driver 31.0.101.5081 or newer; Intel says that issue was corrected in that driver. This threshold applies to the identified Arc problem, not to every crash on Intel hardware.
You have an AMD X3D CPU
The v1.0.4.0 patch notes listed an AMD CPU-affinity crash fix involving X3D cores. Treat this as a relevant clue only if your hardware and crash match that documented case, and make sure the game is updated. The patch note does not establish CPU-affinity changes as a general fix for other systems.
Rank #2
- Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards.
- Includes the complete The Last of Us single-player story and celebrated prequel chapter, Left Behind, which explores the events that changed the lives of Ellie and her best friend Riley forever.
It crashes at a repeatable scene or after extended play
Record the location or activity, how long the game had been running, and whether the crash repeats under the same conditions. Update and verify the game, then provide those details when reporting the issue; the available official guidance does not identify one universal fix for these different crash patterns.
Check whether your PC meets the published requirements
PlayStation’s PC specification page lists the following requirements and performance targets. These are publisher targets, not a guarantee that a system will be free of crashes or achieve the stated frame rate in every configuration.
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| Tier | Published specification |
|---|---|
| Minimum | Windows 10 64-bit, version 1909 or newer; 16 GB RAM; 100 GB SSD storage |
| Recommended | 60 fps at 1080p with High settings |
| Performance | 32 GB RAM; 60 fps at 1440p with High settings |
| Ultra | 32 GB RAM; 60 fps at 4K with Ultra settings |
The published operating-system requirement specifies Windows 10; it does not state a Windows 11 minimum. If your PC is below the listed RAM or SSD requirement, compare your hardware with the relevant tier and check component compatibility before considering an upgrade. Meeting or exceeding a requirement does not by itself rule out a software or driver problem.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Send Naughty Dog the details needed to investigate
If the crash persists after the first checks, Naughty Dog asks players to submit system and crash information through its support channel. Include:
- CPU and GPU models, graphics-driver version, and installed RAM.
- Storage device or drive type, Windows version, and game version.
- Game settings and storefront (Steam or Epic).
- Where the crash occurred and what you were doing immediately beforehand.
- A DxDiag report and relevant logs, save data, or crash data where available.
Naughty Dog’s support instructions explain where to find logs, save files, and crash data, as well as how to save a DxDiag report. A precise description—such as “crashes during shader compilation” or the name of a repeatable scene—is more useful than reporting only that the game crashes.
Quick Recap
Official sources
- Naughty Dog Support: I need help submitting a ticket
- Naughty Dog: The Last of Us Part I v1.1.5.0 Patch Notes for PC
- Naughty Dog: The Last of Us Part I v1.0.5.0 Patch Notes for PC
- Naughty Dog: The Last of Us Part I v1.0.4.0 Patch Notes for PC
- Intel Support: The Last of Us Part I Crashing with Intel Arc
- PlayStation: The Last of Us Part I for PC
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