Is your ARC Raiders not starting, or is it stuck during startup? Then you’re certainly not alone. Many gamers report Arc Raiders launch error​ eg: seeing a black screen, a loading cursor, or no response at all when they click Play.

This article will discuss how to resolve issues with ARC Raiders, so you can play the game again without any frustration. If your game is getting disconnected every 10 seconds, check out this guide.

Common Reasons for Arc Raiders Launch Error​

Let’s quickly review the common causes of launch failures in ARC Raiders before getting into the fixes.

Among the potential causes are:

• Missing or corrupted installation files
• Incompatible or outdated graphics drivers
• The game is being blocked by Windows Defender or antivirus software.
• Outdated redistributables for Visual C++ or DirectX
• Interfering overlays or background programs
• Absence of administrator permissions

Run ARC Raiders as Administrator

Issues brought on by restricted access can be resolved by running the game with elevated permissions.

• Right-click the ARC Raiders shortcut.
• Choose Properties.
• Select the compatibility tab.
• Make sure to run this application as an administrator.
• After selecting Apply, select OK.

Update your operating system

Unexpected problems can arise from outdated OS files. To make sure your system is up to date, follow these steps:

• Press the Start button in Windows.
• Click on the Settings icon.
• Go to Windows Update.
• To install any available updates, click Check for updates.

Update the drivers for your graphics card

ARC Raiders may crash right away or not run at all due to outdated or incompatible GPU drivers.

• Press Windows + X, select Device Manager → Display Adapters.
• To perform an automatic search, right-click on your GPU and select Update Driver.

Or manually obtain from authorized sources:

• NVIDIA Drivers
• Drivers AMD
• Drivers Intel 

As a result, starting errors are avoided, and compatibility with the most recent game engine is guaranteed.

Turn off antivirus software or add the game to exceptions

ARC Raiders can occasionally be prevented from starting by security software.

• Go to the Windows Defender or antivirus settings.
• Go to Exceptions / Exclusions.
• Include the installation folder for ARC Raiders in the list.
• Try again after restarting your computer.

As a result, game files or services are not blocked by security software.

Repair or Reinstall Visual C++ and DirectX Redistributables

Launch failures are frequently caused by out-of-date or broken runtime libraries.

• Get Microsoft’s DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer.
• Install the x86 and x64 versions of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (2015–2022).
• After that, restart your computer.

This will restore system libraries required for a seamless game launch.

Shut Down Background Programs

Recording or overlay software can interfere with the game’s startup process.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Under the Processes tab, close any unnecessary applications, such as:

1. OBS
2. NVIDIA GeForce Experience
3. Discord
4. MSI Afterburner

• Once closed, relaunch ARC Raiders.

This helps prevent software conflicts that can cause Arc Raiders launch error​, freezing, or black screen issues.

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If ARC Raiders still won’t launch after trying these fixes, ensure your system meets the minimum requirements or contact official support. Check out this guide if you can’t invite friends to the game.