6 Ways to Fix Subnautica 2 Not Launching on a Windows PC

Subnautica 2 is now available in Early Access, and it’s already near the top of the Steam charts. Yet, some players are reporting technical startup issues for Subnautica 2. One player said, “I’ve been trying to play Subnautica 2 on my computer, but it won’t launch despite trying everything.” This is how you can fix Subnautica 2 not launching on a PC.

1. Verify Subnautica 2’s Game Files

First, verify Subnautica 2’s Steam files so Steam can check for corrupted or missing files and replace anything it detects. These are the steps to verifying Subnautica 2’s game files. 

1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
2. Right-click Subnautica 2 and select Properties.
3. Open Installed Files.
4. Select Verify integrity of game files.

The Verify integrity option

2. Set Windows 8 Compatibility Mode for Subnautica 2

Windows compatibility mode can change how Windows runs a game executable. It is usually meant for older software, but setting Subnautica 2 to Windows 8 compatibility mode may help if the game fails before reaching the main menu. These are the steps for setting Windows 8 compatibility mode:

1. Open the File Explorer and go into the Steam > steamapps > common > Subnautica 2 > Subnautica 2 > Binaries > Win64 subfolder.
2. Right-click the subnautica2-Win64-Shipping file to select Properties > Compatibility.
3. Select the checkbox with the Run this program in compatibility model label and select Windows 8.
4. Click Apply > OK to save your selected options.

The Compatibility tab

3. Roll Back Graphics Card Driver

Roll back your GPU’s graphics driver by opening Device Manager and selecting Roll Back Driver. Although updating GPU drivers is usually recommended, some of the latest AMD drivers have compatibility issues with Subnautica 2. You can roll back a graphics card driver like this:

1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Double-click your graphics card to open its properties window.
4. Open the Driver tab.
5. Select Roll Back Driver.

The Roll Back Driver option

4. Clear Steam’s Download Cache

Clearing Steam’s download cache is another quick troubleshooting step to try if Subnautica 2 still will not start. Steam includes a built-in option for clearing that cache. You can select that option like this:

1. Open your Steam client software.
2. Click on the Steam > Settings option.
3. Select the Downloads tab.
4. Press the Clear Cache button.

The Clear Cache option

5. Disable Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling can sometimes conflict with the DirectX 12 rendering pipeline, which can cause Subnautica 2 startup issues. To address this, try disabling the Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling setting like this:

1. Activate Settings with its Windows logo + I hotkey.
2. Click on System > Display in Settings.
3. Next, click on Graphics.
4. Click Advanced graphics settings to expand it.
5. Turn off the Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling option.

The Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling setting

6. Turn Off Overlays

Overlays are in-game interfaces that provide numerous gaming options, which you can activate with third-party software. Such overlays can sometimes conflict with Subnautica 2’s Unreal Engine. Close or disable any overlay tools that run while Subnautica 2 starts, then relaunch the game. Start with Steam’s in-game overlay, then check any other overlay software you use: – Steam – Discord – MSI Afterburner – RivaTuner – NVIDIA app – AMD Adrenaline.

The Clear Cache option

7. Other Potential Ways to Fix Subnautica 2 Not Launching

If Subnautica 2 still does not launch after the six main fixes covered above, use these as a final checklist for common Windows and driver-related causes:

• Update the graphical driver for your graphics card, as covered in this KG post.
• Add the Subnautica 2 game folder to the exclusions list for Windows Defender.
• Run a System File Checker scan as covered on this Microsoft page.
• Select the High performance graphical option for Subnautica 2 in the Windows Settings app.
• Run Subnautica 2 as an administrator.

These fixes cover the most likely Windows and Steam causes of Subnautica 2 failing to start. If the game still will not launch after trying them, send a support ticket through the Subnautica 2 help page for more specific troubleshooting.

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