Subnautica 2 Crashing on Startup Fix: AMD Driver Rollback, DX12 Error, and Steam Fixes

This article first appeared on Game Empress. For more gaming updates, visit gameempress.com.

Many players are experiencing crashes when trying to start Subnautica 2, a common issue since its Early Access release in May. Fortunately, these crashes usually have simple, well-known causes and can be easily fixed.

If you have an AMD graphics card, begin with Fix 1. If the error message mentions DirectX 12, try Fix 3. For all other situations, please follow the fixes in the order they are listed.

What Is Causing the Crash

There are five main reasons Subnautica 2 crashes on startup:

It looks like your AMD graphics driver might be causing problems with Subnautica 2. The latest driver, version 26.5.1, is known to conflict with the game. The game developers recommend going back to driver version 26.3.1 to fix this – it’s the most common cause of crashes right now.

Subnautica 2 isn’t using the correct graphics card. It requires DirectX 12, and your computer’s built-in graphics aren’t powerful enough to run it. If the game starts using those instead of your dedicated graphics card, it will likely crash.

It looks like some of your game files are corrupted. This can happen if the game didn’t download or update correctly, which prevents it from launching.

A program running on top of the game is causing problems. Background apps like Discord, MSI Afterburner, and RivaTuner can sometimes conflict with Subnautica 2 when the game launches.

Some players are experiencing a crash when the game loads shaders. This issue mainly affects those with Intel 13th and 14th generation processors, and more details can be found at the end of this document.

Fix 1: Roll Back Your AMD Driver to 26.3.1

Okay, so if you’re like me and have an AMD graphics card, and you just updated to the Adrenalin 26.5.1 driver, that’s probably why your game is crashing! I’ve seen the developers say that going back to version 26.3.1 totally fixes it. Definitely worth trying if you’re having trouble!

Don’t skip this step and try other solutions first. Checking your files or closing Discord won’t fix a problem with your computer’s drivers.

Here is what to do:

Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition on your PC.
Go to Settings → System → Driver & Software.
Click Previous Driver and install version 26.3.1. If that option is not there, download 26.3.1 directly from the AMD website.

Run AMD Cleanup Utility to fully remove the old driver files.
Turn off automatic driver updates so AMD does not reinstall 26.5.1 on its own.
Restart your PC.
Open Subnautica 2.

Leave automatic updates off until Unknown Worlds says a newer driver is safe to use.

Fix 2: Make the Game Use Your Dedicated Graphics Card

If you don’t have an AMD graphics card, or the first troubleshooting step didn’t work, your computer might be accidentally using its built-in graphics instead of your dedicated graphics card to run Subnautica 2. Here’s how to make sure the game uses the correct, more powerful card.

On Windows 11:

Go to Settings → System → Display → Graphics.
Click Browse and find your Subnautica 2 folder.
Add Subnautica2.exe to the list.
Click Options and choose High Performance.
Restart the game.

On Windows 10:

Repeat the steps listed earlier. Also, Unknown Worlds notes that you’ll need Windows 10 version 22H2, build 19045, to play the game correctly. If your Windows version is older, please update it before launching the game.

Fix 3: Fix the DirectX 12 Error

If you see a message saying DirectX 12 is not supported, here is what to check:

Follow Fix 2 to make sure the game is using your dedicated GPU.
If you have an NVIDIA or Intel Arc card, update your GPU driver to the latest version.
If you have an AMD card on version 26.5.1, do Fix 1 instead. Do not update your driver again.
If you are on Windows 10, make sure you are on Version 22H2 Build 19045 as Unknown Worlds requires.
Do not add -dx11 to your Steam launch options. Subnautica 2 does not support DirectX 11 and this will not work.

After launching the game, you can explore the optimal 4K settings for Subnautica 2 to achieve the highest frame rates and enjoy the best possible experience.

Fix 4: Check Your Game Files on Steam

If your game download didn’t finish correctly or you had problems installing, some of its files could be damaged. Luckily, Steam can automatically find and fix these broken files without requiring you to download and install the entire game again.

Open your Steam Library.
Right-click Subnautica 2 and click Properties.
Go to the Installed Files tab.
Click Verify integrity of game files.
Let it finish, then try launching the game again.

If Steam says it replaced some files, that was the problem.

Fix 5: Clear Your Steam Download Cache

Steam saves some files temporarily, and these can occasionally become damaged, leading to issues when launching games. Fixing this is quick – clearing the temporary data usually takes under a minute.

Open Steam → Settings → Downloads.
Click Clear Download Cache.
Steam will close and ask you to log in again.
Try opening Subnautica 2.

Fix 6: Turn Off Overlays and Check Your Antivirus

Sometimes, programs running in the background can prevent Subnautica 2 from launching. Make sure to close any unnecessary applications before starting the game.

Discord Overlay — go to Discord Settings → Game Overlay and turn it off
MSI Afterburner — right-click it in the system tray and close it
RivaTuner Statistics Server — close it from the system tray
Razer Cortex or Synapse — turn off any overlay options in the app
Steam Overlay — go to Steam → Settings → In-Game and uncheck the overlay

Also add Subnautica 2 to your antivirus exclusion list so Windows Defender does not block it:

Open Windows Security → Virus & Threat Protection → Manage Settings.
Scroll to Exclusions and click Add or remove exclusions.
Add the Subnautica 2 folder, usually found at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Subnautica2.

Fix 7: Getting the “Your Game Might Not Have Exited Correctly” Popup

If you repeatedly encounter this message when starting the game, it means the game is crashing during the launch process, and this message is simply an indicator of that crash – it’s not the root cause of the issue.

Even before details about Subnautica 2 appeared online prior to its planned Early Access release, players were reporting problems with the game’s drivers and launch process. This error message is a strong indication of those technical issues.

Work through this in order:

If you have an AMD card, do Fix 1 first. It stops the loop for most people.
Do Fix 2 to make sure the game uses your dedicated GPU.
Do Fix 4 to check your game files.
Do Fix 5 to clear your Steam cache.
Do Fix 6 to turn off overlays.
Restart your PC after all of that, then try again.

If you’re still having trouble, please send a screenshot of the error message to Unknown Worlds support, along with details about your graphics card (GPU model) and the version of its driver. This information helps them figure out what caused the problem.

Shader Crash on Startup (Intel CPU Users)

Some players with Intel 13th and 14th generation desktop processors are experiencing a specific crash. Crash reports for this issue include errors related to “ShaderCodeArchive” or “Oodle.” This crash is different from the one affecting AMD users, and currently, Unknown Worlds doesn’t have an official solution.

Intel has previously stated that certain CPUs can be unstable due to issues with voltage and internal settings. If your computer is crashing and the error logs mention these terms, check your motherboard manufacturer’s website for the newest BIOS update. Unless you’re an experienced user, avoid changing any advanced settings in the BIOS.

The legal disagreement between Unknown Worlds and Krafton is still happening, and this could slow down how quickly they release updates and fixes while the game is in Early Access. For the latest information, check the Unknown Worlds support page and the Subnautica 2 Steam community hub.

Common Questions

Okay, so I’m super excited for Subnautica 2, but it keeps crashing for me right when I try to launch it! I’ve been doing some digging, and it seems like a lot of other people are having the same problem. Apparently, the biggest issue is with the AMD Adrenalin 26.5.1 driver – it’s causing conflicts for a lot of us. Another common thing is the game trying to run on the wrong graphics card – it’s using the built-in one instead of my powerful GPU! It could also be that some game files got messed up during the download, or that something running in the background, like an overlay or even my antivirus, is blocking the game. And if you’ve got a newer Intel processor – a 13th or 14th gen – it might be a problem with how the game handles shaders.

If you’re having crashes with an AMD graphics card, here’s how to fix it: Downgrade to AMD Adrenalin version 26.3.1, use the AMD Cleanup Utility to remove old drivers, disable automatic driver updates, and then restart your computer. The game developers at Unknown Worlds have confirmed this resolves the issue for those affected.

If you’re getting an error saying DirectX 12 isn’t supported, here’s how to fix it. Open the Graphics settings in Windows and make sure Subnautica 2 is set to use your powerful graphics card with the ‘High Performance’ option. If you’re using Windows 10, update to version 22H2, build 19045. If you have an AMD graphics card and are using driver version 26.5.1, try using an older driver instead of updating.

If your game keeps crashing, it’s best to try verifying the game files and clearing your Steam download cache before reinstalling. These steps can fix corrupted files without needing a full reinstall. However, if you have an AMD graphics card with driver version 26.5.1, reinstalling the game won’t solve the problem – the issue lies with the graphics card driver itself.

Wondering if Subnautica 2 will be available on Xbox Game Pass? Our guide has the full details on its potential release on the service.

2026-05-21 03:30