A significant number of RuneScape Dragonwilds players have voiced their frustrations regarding the ongoing crash-on-startup error. Many have found themselves unable to move past the initial loading screen, leading to severe issues, including save file corruption that results in the loss of in-game progress.
This article aims to delve into the possible causes behind these startup crashes and offer actionable solutions to help players regain access to the game.
Common Causes of RuneScape Dragonwilds Startup Crashes

Identifying the exact reasons behind these crashes can be challenging, but there are several potential culprits. Here are the most common issues players may encounter:
- Corrupted Game Files: Game files can become corrupted during installation or while playing, which is a prevalent issue, especially with online games that receive frequent updates. Steam users can utilize the “Verify integrity of game files”feature to address this.
- Outdated Graphics Drivers: As a newly launched game, RuneScape Dragonwilds may require the latest drivers from Nvidia or AMD for optimal performance. Using outdated drivers might lack the necessary optimizations.
- Background Application Conflicts: Other applications running in the background, such as Epic Games Services, can interfere with gameplay. Closing such apps may provide a smoother experience for players.
Effective Solutions for Crash Issues on Startup
1. Verify and Repair Game Files
To mend corrupted files, follow these steps:
- Launch Steam.
- Navigate to your Library.
- Right-click on RuneScape Dragonwilds and select Properties.
- Switch to the Installed Files tab and click on Verify integrity of game files.
2. Disable Frame Generation
If you own an Nvidia RTX graphics card, the default Frame Generation settings may lead to issues—especially as they aren’t fully optimized yet. Here’s how to turn it off:
- Open File Explorer.
- Navigate to the C: drive.
- Open the Users folder and select your personal or PC name folder.
- Access the AppData folder (enable Hidden items if necessary via the View menu).
- Proceed to Local and find the RSDragonwilds folder.
- Go into the Saved folder, followed by Config, then Windows.
- Open the GameUserSettings file with Notepad.
- Find bFrameGeneration=True and change it to False.
3. Experiment with Different Launch Options
Gameplay can improve by switching the graphics API. Here’s how:
- Start Steam.
- Go to your Library.
- Right-click on RuneScape Dragonwilds and select Properties.
- In the General tab, locate Launch Options. Here, enter -dx11, -dx12, or -vulkan accordingly.
4. Terminate Epic Games Services
If the Epic Game Store is installed, it likely also runs the Epic Games Services app, which can cause issues with Steam games. Close it temporarily as follows:
- Open Task Manager.
- Locate the Epic Games Launcher and right-click to select End Task.
5. Update Your Graphics Drivers
If the previous solutions have not resolved the issue, consider updating your graphics drivers. Given that RuneScape Dragonwilds is new, accessing the latest drivers from Nvidia, AMD, or Intel’s official websites or their respective applications could be essential for optimal performance.