The First Descendant crashing after 1.0.5 patch? Try these potential workarounds

The First Descendant players are reporting widespread crashes following the recent 1.0.5 patch update. Many users are experiencing issues ranging from crashes during shader loading to random crashes during gameplay, leaving fans frustrated and seeking solutions.

The most common problem seems to occur when players press the “Start Game” button, with the game crashing during shader preparation, often around 30-50% completion. This issue is affecting users across various hardware configurations, including both AMD and NVIDIA GPUs.

While the developers have yet to release an official fix, several community-sourced workarounds have emerged that may help players get back into the game. Some users report success by adjusting graphics settings, specifically setting all options to “Ultra” and turning off additional options at the start screen. After successfully loading into the game, settings can be readjusted as desired. Ensuring graphics drivers are up-to-date has also resolved the issue for some players, making this a good first step for troubleshooting.

One player with an AMD setup reported setting the in-game graphics to “Automatic” solved the crashing issue. More advanced users might consider editing the Engine.ini file to adjust shader pipeline settings, though this method may impact visual quality and should be approached with caution. Here are the steps shared by a user on Steam:

C:\Users\YourUserFolder\AppData\Local\M1\Saved\Config\Windows

Open Engine.ini

Add this at the very bottom of the Engine.ini

[SystemSettings]
r.ShaderPipelines=1
r.ShaderPipelineCache.Enabled=0
r.D3D.ForceDXC=1

A simpler approach that has worked for some is simply waiting 30 seconds to 1 minute at the menu before pressing Enter to start the game.

Lastly, lowering specific settings has proven effective for certain players. Setting shaders to “Low” or reducing overall graphics settings to “Low” has worked for some users, particularly when loading into specific areas like Albion. It’s important to note that these workarounds may not be effective for everyone, and results may vary depending on individual system configurations. Players are encouraged to experiment with these solutions while waiting for an official patch from the developers.

It’s important to note that these workarounds may not be effective for everyone, and results may vary depending on individual system configurations. Some players report that even after trying multiple solutions, they are still unable to play the game consistently.

The development team is likely aware of these issues and working on a more permanent fix. In the meantime, you can try these community-suggested workarounds and keep an eye out for official updates from the game’s developers.