How to Fix Crashing PC in RuneScape: Dragonwilds

Image Credit: Jagex, RuneScape Dragonwilds

If RuneScape: Dragonwilds keeps crashing on you—sometimes with a “Fatal Error,” sometimes with no warning at all—you’re definitely not alone. The game is in Early Access and running on Unreal Engine 5. Here’s what you can try to get it stable, or at least crash less often.

1. Basic Fixes to Start With

Let’s cover the basics first:

• Restart your PC — yes, the classic. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. Worth a shot.

• Verify Game Files
  On Steam:
  Right-click RuneScape: Dragonwilds > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files
  This replaces any broken or missing files.

• Update Your Drivers
  Especially your graphics card drivers (AMD/Nvidia/Intel). Outdated ones are crash magnets.

2. Check Storage and Install Location

Some users report fewer crashes after moving the game to a different drive (especially if you were using an external or secondary SSD/HDD).

3. Try Launch Options

In Steam, right-click the game > Properties > General > Launch Options.

Try adding:

• -dx11 or -dx12
  (The game defaults to DirectX 12, but you can try forcing an older one)

• -vulkan
  (Another graphics API option that can help some systems)

4. Lower Graphics Settings (Manually)

The in-game settings are minimal, but you can try the following:

• Set Resolution to your monitor’s native.

• Set DLSS/FSR to Off or Balanced. Some users crash more often with Frame Generation on.

• Limit Frame Rate to 60.

• Try Windowed Mode if Fullscreen crashes immediately.

Currently, there is no easy way to access config files, so you’re stuck with what the game allows.

5. Check Windows Event Viewer

If the game crashes with no error:

• Open Event Viewer

• Go to Windows Logs > Application

• Look for an “Error” around the time of the crash

Sometimes it’ll list a DLL or driver issue that gives you a clue (like kernelbase.dll or nvlddmkm.sys for Nvidia problems).

6. Clean Boot and Background Apps

• Close everything except the game. No browser, no Discord, no Twitch, no RGB unicorn apps.

• If it still crashes, try booting in Safe Mode with Networking just to test if a third-party program is interfering.

7. Intel-Specific Fix

If you're on Intel (12th gen or newer) and getting random crashes:

• Download Intel Extreme Tuning Utility

• Lower the P-Core frequency by a small amount (like -100 mHz)

• Reboot and test

Some users report this fixed crashes on modern Intel chips due to aggressive boosting behavior.

8. ReShade and Shader Conflict?

Some suspect crashes may be tied to shader compilation, which the game doesn’t currently let you manage. For now:

• Don't use ReShade or overlays

• Don’t alt-tab while the game is loading

9. Still Crashing? It Might Be Them, Not You

Let’s be honest—this game is not well optimized yet. Even users with high-end systems are reporting random crashes. The devs will likely need to patch this on their end.

Final Blurb

RuneScape: Dragonwilds is a promising survival game wrapped in some unstable code. If it keeps crashing, go through the basics—update drivers, try launch options, change settings—and if nothing works, you might just be ahead of the curve. The game’s still finding its footing, and for now, so are we.

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