Fixing Satisfactory 1.0 Crashing Issues at Launch: A Complete Guide

Launching a game for the first time should be an exciting experience, but encountering a crash error, particularly with Satisfactory on its 1.0 release, can be frustrating. Game crashes can occur for various reasons, and understanding how to address them is crucial. From online games like Apex Legends to single-player experiences like Hogwarts Legacy, crashes are more common than many players realize.

If you’re eager to dive into Satisfactory, whether playing solo or on a dedicated server, you might face challenges just getting the game to start. Here’s how to resolve Satisfactory’s launch crashing issues.

“An Unreal process has crashed” Satisfactory Error Causes

During the launch of Satisfactory, an open-world factory building game, you might encounter a crash report stating “An Unreal process has crashed.” You’re not alone in this experience; players globally are facing similar problems.

The most common cause for this error could be your PC attempting to run the game on DirectX 12 API instead of DirectX 11, which is often more compatible with older hardware. If your GPU is outdated, it may struggle with DirectX 12, leading to crashes.

If the issue isn’t related to the API, it could be due to corrupted files within the game or a problematic installation.

How to Fix Satisfactory Crashes

Satisfactory first person view — Coffee Stain Studios

Changing to DirectX 11

One effective method to resolve the crashing on launch issue is to configure Steam to launch Satisfactory with DirectX 11 instead of DirectX 12. You can do this by following these instructions:

Right-click on Satisfactory in your library and select Properties.
Under the General tab, enter “-dx11” (without quotes) in the Launch Options field.

This change will set Satisfactory to launch using DirectX 11 by default.

If you are using the Epic Games Store, you can still implement this fix:

Locate Satisfactory in your library.
Select the three dots next to the title and choose “Manage.”
Go to “Launch Options” and check the box.
Type “-dx11” (without quotes) in the launched options field.

Update Drivers

In some cases, updating your drivers can solve the problem. Prioritize updating your graphics driver, as outdated drivers can hinder a game’s performance, especially those with high graphic requirements.

You can update NVIDIA drivers via GeForce Experience, and for AMD components, utilize AMD Adrenalin Edition. For Intel, driver updates are accessible through online searches.

Verify Integrity of Game Files

You can verify the integrity of your game files using Steam with these steps:

Right-click on Satisfactory in your library and select Properties.
Under “Installed Files,” click on “Verify integrity of game files.”

If you’re using the Epic Games Store, follow these steps:

Find Satisfactory in your library.
Select the three dots beside the title and choose “Manage.”
Click on “Verify.”

If these solutions don’t resolve the issue, your last resort should be to uninstall and reinstall Satisfactory. However, most crashing problems are likely related to the DirectX API, so it’s worth trying these initial fixes first.