7 Ways to Fix PEAK Not Launching on a Windows PC

PEAK is one of the most popular Steam games at the moment. Yet, some players can’t play it because it doesn’t start on their PCs. For example, a player said this, “I have a problem with launching the game (PEAK)… When I turn it on, it just black screens, but I have a cursor and I hear the music.” This is how you can fix PEAK not launching on Windows PCs.

Repair PEAK’s Game Files

The Landfall support service recommends running a repair (verification) scan to fix PEAK not launching. Verifying a game repairs corrupted or missing files detected for it. You can repair PEAK’s files as instructed on Steam’s help page for running verification scans.

The Verify integrity of game files

Select to Play PEAK Using Vulkan or DirectX 12

Some players have been able to fix PEAK not launching by selecting to play the game with Vulkan. However, DirectX 12 might work better for others. Try starting PEAK using Vulkan or DirectX 12 as follows:

1. Start up the Steam client for games.
2. Click the Library tab to view your games.
3. Press the Play button for the PEAK game.
4. Select the Play PEAK using Vulkan option.
   
   

   The PEAK launch options

5. Click on the Play option to launch.
6. If the game still doesn’t start, try selecting the DirectX 12 option instead.

Delete the Screenmanager Registry DWORDs

Deleting Screenmanager DWORDs for the PEAK registry key is a more widely confirmed way to fix PEAK not launching. Applying this potential fix resets the resolution for PEAK. I recommend backing up the registry before applying this possible fix, as covered on this Microsoft page. You can erase the Screenmanager DWORDs for PEAK like this:

1. Open the utility for file searching with the Windows logo + S key shortcut.
2. Next, input the Registry Editor search phrase and select the matching app found.
3. Go to the Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\LandCrab\PEAK key path within the Registry Editor.
4. Hold the Ctrl key and select all the Screenmanager DWORDs in the PEAK registry key.
   
   

   The PEAK registry key

5. Right-click to select the Registry Editor’s Delete option.
6. Select the confirmation prompt’s Yes option.

Set a Custom Screen Resolution Launch Option

Some players have also confirmed that setting an HD resolution launch parameter can fix PEAK not launching. You can set variable launch options for games with the Steam client. This is how you can set the required screen resolution launch option:

1. Open Steam’s Library tab.
2. Click the PEAK game in the sidebar with the right mouse button to select Properties.
3. Enter -screen-fullscreen 0 -screen-width 1920 -screen-height 1080 in the launch options text box.
   
   

   The launch options box in Steam

Set PEAK to Run in Windowed Mode

Some users have also fixed the PEAK game not starting by setting the game to run in windowed mode. To apply this possible resolution, go through steps one and two of the previous resolution. Then, input a -windowed launch option in the text box.

The -windowed launch parameter

Run PEAK With Admin Rights

Players confirm that running PEAK with admin rights can resolve crashing issues for the game, which can be in-game or startup-related. So, setting elevated privileges might be worth trying to fix PEAK not launching. You can run PEAK with admin rights like this:

1. Open Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\PEAK directory.
2. Right-click the PEAK.exe file to select Properties and its Compatibility tab.
3. Select the setting with the Run this program as an administrator label.
   
   

   The Run this program as an administrator option

4. To save selected options, click Apply and OK.

Update Graphical Drivers

Landfall also recommends players update graphical drivers to resolve PEAK startup issues. That troubleshooting method is especially recommended for resolving blank screen startup issues. This KeenGamer guide for updating GPU drivers provides details for how to apply this possible fix.

The NVIDIA graphics driver page

The possible solutions covered here are more widely confirmed ways to fix PEAK not launching on PCs, but they might not work for everybody. Landfall also has a support service you can try asking for more potential ways to fix the PEAK game not launching. The email address for that service is: Su*****@******ll.se.