Game Error ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders Launch Failure After Raid - Game Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 6 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Verify the integrity of the game files through the Steam client to repair corrupted or missing data preventing the game from launching.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The ARC Raiders launch failure is a post-crash initialization error where the game executable fails to load after an unexpected termination, typically during a gameplay transition state. This error exclusively affects the Windows PC platform via Steam. The issue manifests in the initial release version of the game and is classified as a common occurrence following an in-game crash. The severity is game-breaking, as it prevents the application from starting, blocking all access to gameplay. The specific error message is not provided in the user report, but the failure point is consistent: the game terminates during the raid preview screen and subsequently will not launch.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The primary symptom is the ARC Raiders executable failing to initialize after a previous crash. The application terminates without reaching the main menu. This occurs specifically during the attempt to launch the game from the Steam library or desktop shortcut following an unhandled exception. The user experiences the game process appearing in the Windows Task Manager for a brief period before it closes. In some instances, a generic Windows error dialog may appear stating the application stopped working, but no specific ARC Raiders error code is displayed. The Steam client may show the game status as "Running" for 5-15 seconds before reverting to "Play."

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Game Bug / Data Corruption Specific technical explanation: Corrupted or missing game asset files following a crash during a map load or preview screen. The crash can interrupt a write operation to a local configuration or cache file, leaving it in an invalid state that the game cannot parse on the next launch attempt. Why this causes the problem: The game's initialization routine attempts to load required data from these damaged files, encounters an unrecoverable read error, and triggers a fail-safe shutdown. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Overlay software conflict, particularly from Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, or MSI Afterburner/RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS). These hooks into the DirectX or Vulkan runtime can cause instability if the game crashes, leaving the overlay in a bad state that blocks a clean re-launch. Why this causes the problem: The overlay DLL remains loaded in memory or maintains a lock on the game process, preventing a new instance from initializing graphics subsystems correctly. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Invalid or corrupted local user configuration files located in %LOCALAPPDATA%\ARC Raiders\Saved\Config\WindowsClient. A crash can write erroneous settings, such as an unsupported resolution or graphics API command. Why this causes the problem: The game engine reads these corrupted settings on launch, attempts to apply them, and fails to create a valid rendering context, forcing an exit. Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: GPU driver timeout or TDR (Timeout Detection and Recovery) event triggered by the initial crash. The Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) marks the driver or GPU as in a faulted state. Why this causes the problem: Subsequent launch attempts fail because the graphics driver is not in a ready state to initialize the game's rendering pipeline. Category: Network Problem Specific technical explanation: Steam client service or authentication state corruption. The crash may disrupt the handshake between the Steam API and the game's anti-cheat or licensing system. Why this causes the problem: The game cannot validate ownership or establish a secure connection with platform services, causing the executable to terminate as a security measure. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Outdated or incompatible graphics driver, specifically NVIDIA driver versions 535.x and 536.x which have known stability issues with Unreal Engine 5 titles, or AMD drivers preceding version 23.7.1. Why this causes the problem: The driver lacks specific optimizations or contains bugs that cause memory allocation failures during the engine's post-crash re-initialization sequence.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Verify Integrity of Game Files

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5-10 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None Steps:

Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
Right-click on ARC Raiders in the game list and select Properties.
In the Properties window, select the Installed Files tab from the left sidebar.
Click the Verify integrity of game files button.
Wait for the process to complete. Steam will check all local files against the master version on its servers and download replacements for any that are missing or corrupted.
Once complete, close the Properties window and attempt to launch ARC Raiders.

Technical Explanation: This process replaces any game binaries, configuration files, or asset packs that were damaged during the previous crash with clean versions from Steam's content delivery network, removing the source of the initialization error. Verification: The game launches successfully and proceeds to the main menu. The Steam verification dialog will report "All files successfully validated."

Solution 2: Clear Local Game Configuration

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None Steps:

Ensure ARC Raiders and the Steam client are fully closed.
Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type %LOCALAPPDATA%\ARC Raiders\Saved and press Enter. This opens the local save data directory in File Explorer.
Locate the Config folder and the SaveGames folder within the Saved directory.
Rename the Config folder to Config_OLD. Rename the SaveGames folder to SaveGames_OLD.
Launch ARC Raiders through Steam. The game will generate new, default configuration files.

Technical Explanation: This isolates the problem by forcing the game to create fresh configuration (.ini) files, eliminating crashes caused by corrupted video settings, keybinds, or game state data written at the moment of the previous failure. Verification: The game launches with default settings (resolution, graphics quality). Progress is retained as it is typically stored on server-side profiles, but local settings are reset.

Solution 3: Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 15 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Administrator access required Steps:

Identify your GPU model: Press Windows Key + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter. Navigate to the Display tab to see your GPU name.
For NVIDIA GPUs: Download the latest Game Ready Driver from NVIDIA's website or use the GeForce Experience application. During installation, select Custom installation and check the box for Perform a clean installation.
For AMD GPUs: Download the latest Adrenalin Edition driver from AMD's website. Use the AMD Cleanup Utility for Windows before installing the new driver for a pristine installation.
For Intel Arc GPUs: Download the latest driver from Intel's website.
After installation, restart your computer and attempt to launch ARC Raiders.

Technical Explanation: A clean driver installation removes old driver files and registry entries that can cause conflicts, ensuring the GPU can properly handle the DirectX 12 or Vulkan API calls made by the game engine during startup. Verification: Check driver version in GPU control panel. Launch the game; successful initialization indicates the driver fault is resolved.

Solution 4: Disable Conflicting Overlay Software

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None Steps:

Discord: Open Discord User Settings > Activity Privacy > disable Game Overlay.
Steam Overlay: In Steam Library, right-click ARC Raiders > Properties > under the General tab, uncheck Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.
NVIDIA GeForce Experience: Open the application, click the Settings (gear icon), and toggle off In-Game Overlay.
Xbox Game Bar: Press Windows Key + G to open Game Bar settings, or go to Windows Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and toggle it Off.
MSI Afterburner/RivaTuner: Exit these applications completely from the system tray (right-click their icons and select Exit).
Restart your computer and launch ARC Raiders without starting any of the above applications.

Technical Explanation: Overlays inject DLLs into the game process. If the previous crash left these hooks in an unstable state, disabling them allows the game to initialize without external interference to its rendering and input pipelines. Verification: The game launches without any secondary UI elements (FPS counters, chat widgets) appearing. This confirms overlays are not active.

Solution 5: Perform a Clean Steam Client Restart

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 3 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None Steps:

Exit the Steam client completely via Steam > Exit.
Press Windows Key + R, type steam://flushconfig and press Enter. Click OK to confirm. This command resets Steam's local configuration without affecting installed games.
Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam (or your Steam installation directory). Delete all files and folders except the steamapps folder and the Steam.exe executable.
Launch Steam.exe from that directory. It will rebuild the deleted client files.
Log in and attempt to launch ARC Raiders.

Technical Explanation: This clears Steam's cached library data, download cache, and login tokens, which can become desynchronized after a game crash, preventing proper license verification and launch coordination. Verification: Steam restarts and requires a fresh login. The game library repopulates, and ARC Raiders launches from a clean client state.

Solution 6: Temporarily Disable Antivirus and Windows Defender Real-Time Protection

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Low Prerequisites: Administrator access required Steps:

Press Windows Key + I to open Settings. Go to Privacy & security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
Under Virus & threat protection settings, click Manage settings.
Temporarily toggle Real-time protection to Off. Note: Windows may re-enable this after a short period.
For third-party antivirus software, locate its icon in the system tray, right-click it, and look for an option to disable protection temporarily (e.g., "Disable for 10 minutes").
Attempt to launch ARC Raiders.
Critical: Immediately re-enable real-time protection after testing.

Technical Explanation: Security software can mistakenly quarantine or block a game file that was altered during a crash, interpreting the change as malicious activity. Disabling it tests for a false-positive block. Verification: If the game launches only with protection disabled, add the entire ARC Raiders installation folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARC Raiders) and its Saved folder (%LOCALAPPDATA%\ARC Raiders) as exclusions in your security software.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain system stability by scheduling regular graphics driver updates, checking for updates monthly. Configure Windows Update to deliver driver updates automatically. Before launching ARC Raiders, ensure no unnecessary background applications are running, particularly other game clients or recording software. Establish a practice of cleanly exiting the game to the desktop before shutting down the PC to prevent file lock issues. Monitor system temperatures using hardware diagnostic tools to prevent thermal-induced crashes that can corrupt data. Regularly use Steam's "Verify Integrity of Game Files" feature after major game patches or system updates.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Embark Studios support if all documented solutions fail and the game consistently fails to launch. Required diagnostic information includes the latest crash dump files from %LOCALAPPDATA%\ARC Raiders\Saved\Crashes, the Game.log file from %LOCALAPPDATA%\ARC Raiders\Saved\Logs, and a DirectX Diagnostic (dxdiag) report. Provide your full system specifications and a detailed sequence of events leading to the failure. Official support channels are accessed through the ARC Raiders website or the game's official Discord server's support section. Do not submit reports based on third-party forum suggestions.