Day One FixesKnown issueFixUpdated · 22 replies on Steam
Phantom Blade Zero: Crashing and "Fixes" Dont Work (Workarounds)
Short answer
No confirmed fix yet. Players suggest: It doesn’t matter what settings I use—whether in-game or externally—I’ve tried everything, but I just can’t get to the next map...
How to fix it
- Perform a clean installation of the game by deleting all related files (while making sure to back up your save file) and reinstalling.
- Clear the game's cache by deleting the "projectpbz/saved/cache" folder located in the game directory, which will require you to recompile the shaders when you restart the game.
- Lower your in-game graphics configuration by switching to medium settings, setting the display mode to borderless window, and dropping your resolution (for example, from 4K down to 1080p).
- Turn off specific heavy graphical features, including ray tracing, path tracing, realistic hair, frame generation, and external or in-game optimizations.
- Limit your frame rate to a cap of 60 or 120 FPS.
- Enable upscaling by setting DLSS to balanced mode.
- Attempt basic troubleshooting steps such as running the game as an administrator or applying a fresh driver installation.
If it still doesn't work
- The game may still crash at specific transition points, such as immediately after defeating the executioner near the large waterfall when a cutscene triggers and prevents progression to the next map.
- Persistent crashes can happen unpredictably regardless of whether you are using high-end hardware (such as a 9800X3D processor paired with a 5080 graphics card and 64GB of DDR5 RAM) or lower-end systems, and regardless of how long the game stays stable before failing.
- You can report your specific crash details and system information through the official website so the developers and support team can provide further assistance.
What players reported
have a pretty over the top PC so im not entirely sure what my issue is, i have tried to driver fix, running as admin, DX11 (which doesnt even to seem to be possible), turned off ray tracing and realistic hair, hell i turned it down from 4k to 1080p... but no matter what i do, sometimes im okay for a few hours, others a few seconds to minutes? 9800X3D 5080 64g DDR5 system memory i really shouldnt…
What players suggest
Friend, I’m having the same problem. Mine keeps closing at a specific point: after the large waterfall, once I’ve killed the executioner, a cutscene begins and the game shuts down. It doesn’t matter what settings I use—whether in-game or externally—I’ve tried everything, but I just can’t get to the next map...If anyone can help, please let me know.
Here is the fix for me, but with an AMD 7900 XTX. Try a clean install of the game; delete everything related to the game and back up your save file. Use medium settings, borderless windown, DLSS balanced in your case, capped fps to 60 or 120, no FG, RT, PT to see. Hope this can fix whatever problem you have.
You can try deleting the projectpbz/saved/cache folder in the game directory and recompiling the shaders in the game. If this doesn't help, I'd suggest submitting the information through the official website so the devs/support team can help you out
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Source: original Steam Community discussion. Quotes are shortened; all credit goes to the posters. Tags: crash, black-screen, performance, directx, nvidia, amd, save