Many players have started playing Marvel Rivals since its early December release. However, some players can’t play that game because of startup issues that occur when they try to launch it. For example, a player’s Reddit post said this: “I’ve been unable to play Marvel Rivals on my PC with both Steam and Epic for almost a week now. They both register that the game launcher has been loaded, and so does the Task Manager, but on my screen or even the hotbar, nothing is shown.” This is how you can fix Marvel Rivals not launching on a Windows PC.
Start Marvel Rivals From its Installation Folder With Admin Rights
A few players say they were able to fix Marvel Rivals not launching by running the game from its installation folder. However, I also recommend setting the game to start with elevated admin rights while you’re at it. You can run Marvel Rivals as an administrator like this.
- Click on File Explorer’s taskbar shortcut to open the Marvel Rivals installation folder, which has a steamapps\common\MarvelRivals\MarvelGame\Marvel\Binaries\Win64\ directory path for Steam players.
- Right-click the Marvel-Win64-Shipping.exe in the Win64 folder to select Properties and Compatibility.
- To run the game with elevated privileges, you must select Run this program as an administrator.
- Next, click Apply > OK to confirm.
The Run this program as an administrator option
- Double-click the Marvel-Win64-Shipping.exe file to start the game.
Verify the Marvel Rivals Game Files
Verifying the Marvel Rivals files is an easy fix to apply that has worked for some players. Applying this potential solution might fix corrupted or missing files for Marvel Rivals. You can verify the files for that game by going through the steps on these Steam help or Epic support pages.
The Verify integrity of game files option
Add a DirectX 12 Launch Option
Adding a DirectX 12 launch option is a confirmed way to fix Marvel Rivals not launching. Applying this possible fix sets Marvel Rivals to launch with DirectX 12. You can add a -dx12 launch parameter for that game within the Steam and Epic Games client software like this.
Steam
- Run the Steam gaming client and click Library in its window.
- Right-click Marvel Rivals to select Properties.
- Enter -dx12 inside the text box for launch options within the General tab.
The launch options box in Steam
Epic Games
- Start the Epic Games software.
- Click on the round user profile button and select Settings on the menu that opens.
The Settings menu option
- Next, click Marvel Rivals to view the settings for that game.
- Select Additional Command Line Arguments by clicking the checkbox for that setting.
- Input -dx12 into the text box.
The Additional Command Line Arguments checkbox
Disable HDR
Players have confirmed disabling HDR (High Definition Range) can fix Marvel Rivals not launching. Does your PC support HDR? If it does, try disabling HDR via Settings like this.
- Click the desktop area with the right button on your mouse to select Display settings.
- Next, click the Use HDR navigation option.
- Toggle off the Use HDR setting.
The HDR settings
Update Your Graphics Card’s Driver
Marvel Rivals is a new game for which an up-to-date graphics driver might be needed on your PC. If you haven’t updated your graphics card’s driver for a while, installing a new one could kick-start Marvel Rivals on your PC. KeenGamer’s guide to updating graphical drivers provides full guidelines for how to apply this potential solution.
The NVIDIA graphics drivers page
Set High Performance for the Marvel Rivals Launcher
Setting a High-Performance option for the Marvel Rivals Launcher has got the MR game working for some players. Doing this sets the MarvelRivals_Launcher.exe to run with higher-performance graphical settings. Try selecting the High-Performance option like this.
- To access the search tool, press the Windows logo button + S.
- Enter a graphics settings search phrase into the text box.
- Click Graphics settings to bring up that part of Settings.
- Next, click Browse to select the MarvelRivals_Launcher.exe file within the installation folder for Marvel Rivals and press Add.
- Press Options (or drop-down menu) for MarvelRivals_Launcher to view Graphics preference settings.
The graphics preference settings
- Select High Performance and Save to apply.
Reinstall Marvel Rivals on an SSD
SSD (solid-state drive) storage is a recommended system requirement for Marvel Rivals. If you’ve installed Marvel Rivals on a hard drive, reinstalling it on alternative SSD storage could fix that game not launching. Of course, this will only be possible if you have alternative SSD storage available. You can reinstall Marvel Rivals like this.
Steam
- Click Library inside your Steam software.
- Next, click Marvel Rivals with the right button and select Manage > Uninstall.
- Press Uninstall to confirm the selected option.
Steam’s Uninstall option
- Click Marvel Rivals and its Install option.
- Next, press the Manage Storage option to select alternative SSD storage.
The Manage Storage option
- Click Install to finish.
Epic Games
- Run Epic and click the three-dot menu for Marvel Rivals in the Library tab.
- Select Uninstall on the menu.
The Uninstall option in Epic Games
- To reinstall, click the Marvel Rivals image in the Library tab.
- Click Browse to choose an installation folder on SSD storage if you can, and press the Select Folder button.
- Select Install to reinstall Marvel Rivals.
Note that reinstalling the game could still be an effective potential resolution even if you don’t have alternative SSD storage. Doing that can repair or restore game files. Marvel Rivals should still start when installed on a hard drive, albeit with more potential issues.
Other Possible Ways to Fix Marvel Rivals Not Launching
If Marvel Rivals still doesn’t start after trying everything above, don’t give up! These are some extra potential resolutions that could kick-start that game:
- Turn off overlays in third-party apps like Steam, Discord, GeForce Experience, etc.
- Add the Marvel Rivals game to antivirus and firewall exclusion lists.
- Configure your Steam or Epic gaming client to run with administrator rights.
- Install all updates available for your Windows 11/10 platform, as outlined in this Microsoft guide.
Those potential resolutions are among the best ways to fix Marvel Rivals not launching on Windows PCs. If they’ve fixed that game not starting for other players, one of them could work for. You can also try contacting the NetEase Games support service from this contact us page for more ways to fix this gaming issue.
