Are you facing trouble while launching Red Dead Redemption 2? Are you running into a  Red Dead Redemption 2 black screen error every time you try to play the game? Is a black screen is all you can see or a loading screen that takes forever to load? Then don’t worry, you are not alone.

According to gamers, Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most immersive games out there. After the success of the first part, this sequel was released in 2018, but many players have reported that whenever they try to launch the game, they run into a Red Dead Redemption 2 black screen error. Red Dead Redemption 2 is available to play on PC, Stadia, Xbox One, and PS4.

Many gamers have complained that while the game crashes, fixing this is relatively easy. Below we’ll walk through all the possible reasons why your red dead redemption 2 might be crashing and how to fix this issue.

What Is The Red Dead Redemption 2 Black Screen Issue?

What Is The Red Dead Redemption 2 Black Screen Issue?

Many players have complained that whenever they try to launch the game, they come across the Red Dead Redemption 2 black screen error. They say that even though they hear sound in the game perfectly well, nothing shows up on the screen. This is a common issue with video games, especially when playing on a PC. Alternatively, it can also be that maybe your drivers aren’t updated, or your smart TV system is not updated to the latest settings, causing the game to crash.

However, before going into details, make sure that your device is compatible with the game. If you want to play on the computer, then check PC requirements for Red Dead Redemption 2. This game will not launch if your Windows are older than Windows 10. Similarly, you need to ensure that you have installed and updated all the drivers required for the game, like Rockstar Games Launcher, dotNet Framework, DirectX, GPU drivers, and VCRedist.

Why Is My Red Dead Redemption 2 Not Loading?

Why Is My Red Dead Redemption 2 Not Loading?

Usually, when a launching issue arises, there is an issue is with: the software, Windows isn’t updated, the game drivers aren’t updated, or the device isn’t compatible with the game. However, if everything is updated yet, you still encounter the Red Dead Redemption 2 black screen error on launching; it might be because of some settings on your TV or PC or antivirus. Below, we have mentioned some of the most common sources of this issue.

  • Windows isn’t updated.
  • Drivers aren’t updated.
  • Antivirus software is preventing the launch.
  • You aren’t running the game as an administrator.

How Do You Fix The Black Screen On Red Dead Redemption 2?

How Do You Fix The Black Screen On Red Dead Redemption 2?

Usually, when a launching issue arises, there’s an issue with the software. It could also be that Windows or game drivers aren’t updated. Another reason could be that the device isn’t compatible with the game requirements. However, if everything is updated yet the issue persists, it might be because of some default settings of your TV or PC or that your antivirus is preventing the launch. Check out some ways you can resolve this Red Dead Redemption 2 black screen issue. 

Checking for Updates

The most probable cause is that your Windows aren’t updated to the latest version available. Fix this by following the steps below: 

  • On PC, open Windows.
  • Select the “Settings” option.
  • Select “Windows Update”.
  • Click “Check for updates” in this menu if any update is available, then update your windows.

Alternatively, if you are trying to play Red Dead Redemption 2 on TV, check your TV for system updates to run the game smoothly.

Graphics Drivers Aren’t Updated

According to Rockstar Games, one of the most common reasons for thisRed Dead Redemption 2 black screen error is that your graphics drivers aren’t updated. As they are the main component of gaming, so for a better gaming experience, you must update your drivers to the latest available version.

Antivirus Software

If the issue persists after updating, then it’s probably your antivirus. According to some players, uninstalling or disabling the antivirus while playing helps resolve the issue. If you do not want to uninstall the software, you can either disable it while playing or add the folder where the game is installed to the antivirus’s list of exclusions.

Not Running Red Dead Redemption 2 As Administrator

If Red Dead Redemption 2 is not running as administrator, this prevents the user from accessing the game’s files. To do this, check out the following steps: 

  • Locate where you have installed the game.
  • Right-click on the RDR2.exe file and select “Properties”.
  • In the “Compatibility tab”, check on “Run this Program as an Administrator” and “Disable Fullscreen Optimizations”.
  • Click on “Change high DPI settings”.
  • In this section, check on the “Override high DPI scaling behavior”. Ensure that scaling is conducted by “Application” and click “OK.”
  • In “Properties window,” click Apply> OK.

Start your game to see if the issue has been resolved or not.

Verifying Game Integrity

Loading issues for most players resolve after verifying the game’s integrity. Doing so, scan the Red Dead Redemption 2 files to check their integrity and replace or download corrupted or missing files.

The basic steps for verifying integrity in Rockstar Games Launcher and Epic Games Launcher are similar.

  • In Rockstar, you need to go to “Settings,” and in the case of Epic Games Launcher, “Library”
  • In the installed games tab select Red Dead Redemption 2
  • Click “Verify”

Once the integrity is verified, launch the game to see if it’s working or not.

Deleting the Settings Folder

Sometimes deleting the game settings works in resolving the issue. For this:

Step 1: Go to “Documents”

Step 2: From “Rockstar Games,” select “Red Dead Redemption 2” and delete the settings file “system.xml”

If this doesn’t work, delete your profile from Rockstar Games Launcher.

By going to Settings> Account information> Delete local profile

Then sign in again to your account to launch Red Dead Redemption 2.

Conclusion

This Red Dead Redemption 2 black screen isn’t an uncommon issue. Troubleshooting and checking for causes we’ve listed can help you resolve the problem. Sometimes, an outdated software driver is an issue or a corrupted file. However, it’s nothing that needs significant repair.

But still, after following the steps mentioned earlier, the issue persists. Then it’s better to contact the developer for assistance