Fix: Crashes & Black Screen in Monster Hunter Wilds

When launching Monster Hunter Wilds or entering cutscenes, the game may freeze, crash to the desktop, or display a black screen, often accompanied by error codes like DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG or C0000005. These errors indicate that the game attempted to access GPU or system memory in an invalid way, resulting in access violations or GPU timeout crashes.

The most common cause is a lack of sufficient VRAM and GPU compute headroom during shader compilation, especially at high settings or with ray tracing enabled. Incompatible driver versions, particularly those between 531.xx and 572.xx (as reported in community forums), can also trigger instability and device hangs.

To improve stability, try closing any background apps that might be using up your memory, like overlays, browsers, or recording tools. This frees up system memory and makes sure resources are allocated smoothly during gameplay.

Lastly, make sure your system meets the game’s official requirements before you try any other fixes.

1. Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings

Lowering the in-game graphics settings can significantly reduce GPU load, especially if you’re using a low to mid-range graphics card. High settings consume more VRAM (Video RAM), which may lead to instability, crashes, or black screens during intense scenes or shader compilation.

1. Launch Monster Hunter Wilds and open the Settings menu.
2. Navigate to Options > Graphics Settings.
3. Apply the following recommended settings:
4. Save the changes and restart the game. Monitor if the crash or black screen issue still occurs during gameplay or cutscenes.

2. Verify the Integrity of Game Files

Verifying the integrity of game files checks for any missing, corrupted, or modified files in the installation directory. Steam automatically replaces these files by downloading fresh copies from its servers. Since damaged or missing files can cause crashes or black screens, it’s strongly recommended to verify the game files before trying other solutions.

1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
2. Right-click on Monster Hunter Wilds and select Properties.
3. Go to the Installed Files tab and click Verify integrity of game files. Wait for the verification process to complete.
4. Once done, restart the game and check if the issue is resolved.

3. Configure Compatibility Settings

Configuring compatibility settings allows the game to run in an environment tailored for older versions of Windows, which can improve stability. It also helps bypass permission-related issues and enables Fullscreen Optimizations to reduce stuttering caused by Windows’ fullscreen enhancements.

1. Right-click the game’s .exe file and select Properties.
2. Go to the Compatibility tab.
3. Check “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” and select Windows 7 or Windows 8 from the dropdown menu.
4. Check “Run this program as an administrator” to ensure it has the necessary permissions.
5. Click Apply, then OK.
6. Launch the game and check if the issue is resolved.

4. Delete Temporary Files

Temporary files help reduce loading times by storing frequently accessed data locally. However, over time, these files can become corrupted or outdated, interfering with game performance or causing crashes. Deleting them allows the system to generate fresh temporary files, potentially resolving these issues.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type %temp% and click OK.
3. In the folder that opens, press Ctrl + A to select all files, then press Delete to remove them.
4. Press Win + R again, type temp, and hit Enter.
5. Repeat the same steps to delete all files in this folder.
6. Restart your PC and launch the game.

5. Update Graphics Driver

An outdated or corrupted GPU driver is one of the most common causes of crashes and black screen issues. Updating your graphics driver improves compatibility, stability, and overall performance. Installing the latest version ensures optimal support for the game and may resolve persistent errors.

1. Go to the NVIDIA Drivers Download page.
2. Select your graphics card and click Submit.
3. Download the latest driver and install it.
4. Restart your PC once the update is finished.

If the game is still crashing, consider reinstalling it to eliminate any corrupted game files or misconfigured settings that may be causing the issue.