Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the latest addition to the AC series, but that game doesn’t start on some player’s PCs. For example, a player reported AC Shadows not starting on the Steam forum as follows, “I’m clicking the play button it looks like it (Assassin’s Creed Shadows) gonna start then it just goes back to start.” The game can fail to start in different ways on Windows PC, but players can’t play it regardless. This is how you can fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows not launching on a Windows PC.
Verify the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Files
Verifying (repairing game files) is a standard troubleshooting method for a wide variety of technical gaming issues. Although verifying doesn’t always work, it’s still a troubleshooting method you try when trying to kick-start most PC games. You can verify Assassin’s Creed Shadows by going through the steps on the Epic, Steam, or Ubisoft help pages:
The Verify integrity of game files option in Steam
Turn Off G-Sync in the NVIDIA Control Panel
Disabling G-Sync has worked for some players who’ve needed to fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows not launching. G-Sync is NVIDIA display tech for syncing monitors’ refresh rates with GPUs’ frame rates. This is how you can turn off G-Sync via the NVIDIA Control Panel:
- Right-click any area of the Windows desktop to select NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Next, double-click Display to expand it.
- Click Set up G-SYNC in the NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Unselect the Enable G-Sync option.
The Enable G-Sync option
Turn Down Your Monitor’s Refresh Rate
Another potential way to fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows not launching is to turn down a monitor’s refresh rate. Some players with 165Hz monitors say selecting a lower 120Hz refresh rate has fixed AC Shadows crashing at starting for them. You can select a lower monitor refresh rate via Settings like this:
- Activate the file search box using the Windows logo + S key combination.
- Enter advanced display and click the matching View advanced display info result.
- Select the lower setting on the Refresh rate drop-down menu.
The Refresh Rate drop-down menu
Install a New Graphics Driver
Installing new graphics drivers has worked for some players. This GeForce page confirms some game-ready drivers have extended support for Assassin’s Creeds Shadows more advanced graphical effects. However, some players also say installing alternative NVIDIA studio drivers also resolved this gaming issue for them. To apply this possible solution, check out the ways you can update graphics drivers in this KeenGamer post.
The NVIDIA driver download page
Select the Sync Now Time Setting in Windows
Some players confirm pressing Sync now button can sometimes fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows not launching. This highlights that AC Shadows startup and crashing issues can arise when a PC’s clock isn’t aligned with Ubisoft servers. To apply this potential fix, right-click your PC’s system tray clock to select Adjust date/time, and press the Sync now button in Settings.
The Sync now button
Disable RivaTuner and MSI Afterburner
Do you have the RivaTuner or MSI Afterburner software installed on your Windows PC? If you do, try disabling those programs before starting Assassin’s Creed Shadows. These programs can automatically start with Windows if set to do so. So, make sure RivaTuner or MSI Afterburner are not running in the background by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc hotkey, selecting their processes in Task Manager, and clicking End task.
The Processes tab
Run a System File Checker Scan
Some AC Shadows players have managed to fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows not launching by running system file checker scans. The SFC tool will scan for and repair missing or corrupted Windows system files detected. You can utilize System File Checker as instructed on this Microsoft guide page.
The System File Checker command
Other Possible Ways to Fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows Not Launching
If the possible solutions above don’t fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows not launching on your PC, try alternative troubleshooting methods. These are some of the alternative troubleshooting methods worth trying:
- Add the Assassin’s Creed Shadows game folder to your antivirus tool’s exclusion list, which will be Windows Security if you haven’t installed a third-party alternative.
- Reinstall Ubisoft Connect and Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
- Try running the Assassin’s Creed Shadows game with administrator rights.
- Disable (turn off) the Steam overlay feature.
I hope one of those troubleshooting methods kick-starts the AC Shadows game on your PC. They’re worth trying as their potential resolutions players confirm can fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows not launching. If you need more possible fixes, click Contact Us on this Ubisoft page to send a support ticket to the Assassin’s Creed Shadows help service.
