Fix Split Fiction Crashing on Startup and Stuck on Loading Screen or Not Launching

After the massive success of It Takes Two, the developers of Hazelight Studios are back with another co-op that seems to have improved on the previous game in many aspects. The game is already the highest-rated game on Metacritic this year. Unfortunately, not everyone is having a good time with the game. Players report issues such as Split Fiction crashing on startup, getting stuck on the loading screen, or not launching. Here are some solutions that can help you troubleshoot the issue.

Fix Split Fiction Crashing on Startup and Stuck on Loading Screen or Not Launching

There are several reasons why Split Fiction crashes on startup and gets stuck on the loading screen. Regardless of the cause, this guide has covered all potential workarounds to resolve it.

Launch on Windows 7 or 8 Compatibility Mode

The next fix that seems to have worked for a lot of players is to launch the tool in Windows 7 or 8 compatibility mode. Below are the steps to replicate the fix.

1. Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Split Fiction
2. Right-click on Split_Fiction
3. Click on Properties > Compatibility
4. Check Run this program in compatibility mode for and select Windows 7 or Windows 8 from the drop down menu.
5. Click on Apply and OK

Now, attempt to play the game and hopefully your issue has been resolved. If not there are a bunch of other fixes you can try.

Restart Your PC

First and foremost, simply restart your PC and check if the issue is resolved. If the problem is occurring due to a minor glitch, the issue will be resolved after restarting your device.

Make Sure the Game is Installed on SSD

It is advisable to install your game on an SSD because today’s modern online games consume a lot of resources and SSDs offer faster speed in reading and writing data than traditional HDDs.

Lowering Performance Per Core Tuning (Intel CPUs)

For Intel CPUs, especially 13th Gen, lower the per-core tuning and that may resolve the issue. For some reason, the RTX 40 Series GPU and Unreal Engine 5 games do not handle the power load.

1. Download and install Intel Extreme Tuning Utility
2. Go to “Performance Core Ratio” and lower it from 55x to 54x or just a notch from whatever the value you have currently set.

Verify Integrity of Game Files

Any missing or corrupted game files can prevent the game from functioning properly so try repairing such game files from the Steam client. Here is how you can do it:

1. Go to Steam Library
2. Right-click on the game >> Properties >> Local Files >> Verify integrity of game files.
3. Once the scanning is done, relaunch the game.

Try Running the Game as an Administrator

Some intense games require certain permissions to access the game smoothly on your device. So, the next workaround is to try running the game as an administrator and check if the issue is resolved. For that: Find the executable (.exe) file in the game’s folder >> Right-click on it >> Properties >> Compatibility tab and check the “Run this program as an administrator” box.

Edit the Game Settings (If Crashing In-Game)

If you can access the in-game settings, try changing the below settings to improve performance and avoid crashing issues:

1. Play on Recommended Graphics Settings
2. Disable Ray Tracing
3. Change to Windowed Mode or Fullscreen
4. Lower the Resolution
5. Limit the FPS to 60
6. Disable VSync
7. Lower the Graphics Settings Preset

Delete the Save & Config File

If you are still struggling to fix the crashing and stuck problems, try deleting the save and config file. However, be sure to backup these files before removing them.

Clean Installation of the GPU Driver

The next workaround includes clean installation of the GPU driver. Follow these steps:

1. Download the latest GPU driver
2. During installation, choose Custom Install and select “Perform a clean install”
3. Download the drivers from the official AMD or NVIDIA websites

Setting Overclock to Default

Just in case, if you have overclocked your CPU or GPU to improve the gaming experience, try resetting them to their default settings. It is always advisable to avoid overclocking especially while playing online games built with UE5 (Unreal Engine 5).

Disabling Steam Overlay

If you are still experiencing crashing or startup and are stuck on a loading screen issue, try disabling Steam overlay. Here are the steps to do so: Go to Steam >> Right-click on the game >> Properties >> General >> toggle off “Enable the Steam overlay while in-game”

Enter Steam Launch Options

Next, try running the game on DX11 or DX12 versions which will help to improve performance and visual quality.  Here is how you can do it:

1. Go to Steam Library >> Right-click on the game >> Properties >> General >> Launch Options
2. Next, enter -dx11 and close the window. Then, relaunch the game.
3. If the issue persists, try putting -dx12 and then try again.
4. if both do not work, empty the field and try the other fixes.

Unplug All External Devices

To fix the crashing issue of the game, try unplugging all external devices connected to your system such as controllers, joysticks, additional monitors, etc. Ensure to reboot your PC after disconnecting them.

Installing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

If the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable crashes, it can cause several issues while running the game. In that case, try downloading and installing both the x86 and x64 versions from the official Microsoft website.

Disabling Your Antivirus and Firewall Program

Sometimes, your antivirus or firewall program prevents the game from functioning properly so try disabling your security program and check if this trick works to resolve the issue. If you do not want to disable the security software, set an exception. Use the linked post for steps on all popular antivirus and firewall programs.

Performing a Clean Boot

By performing a clean boot, you can pinpoint the issue between programs and the services running on your system and help to fix the crashing problem. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the System Configuration tool (config)
2. Go to the “Services” tab, check “Hide all Microsoft services,” and then disable the remaining services
3. Then, go to the “Startup” tab and disable all startup items
4. At last, reboot your PC

Increase the Virtual Memory

Split Fiction is a highly intensive game so your system might run out of physical RAM. If that happens, you will need to increase the virtual memory. If you have no idea how to do it, follow these steps:

1. In Windows Search, type and click on View Advanced System Settings
2. In Advanced, under Performance, click on Settings
3. Go to the Advanced tab and click on Change under Virtual Memory
4. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives
5. Check Custom Size and enter values based on your RAM
   • Initial Size (MB) – 1.5 X Total RAM (For 16 GB RAM, 16 x 1024 MB = 16,384 MB, 16,384 MB x 1.5 = 24,576 MB)
   • Maximum Size (MB) – 3 X Total RAM (For 16 GB RAM, 16 x 1024 = 16, 384 MB, 16,384 MB x 3 = 49,152 MB)
6. Once done, click on Set and then Ok

Reinstall the Game

As a last resort, uninstall the game completely from your device and then reinstall it. This method will also make sure to fix any missing or corrupted game files.

That’s all for this guide. In this guide, we have covered all potential methods to fix Split Fiction crashing on startup and stuck on the loading screen issue.