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Fix DEATH STRANDING problems in this order: confirm that your edition and PC meet the requirements, update Windows, BIOS, drivers and Microsoft Visual C++, return any overclock to stock settings, then isolate overlays and security or performance utilities. If the symptom is stutter—especially during a cutscene—disable controller support in Steam Big Picture Mode, set the game’s Steam Input option to Off or Default, and test with vibration disabled. These are targeted publisher recommendations, not universal guarantees, so change one thing at a time and keep notes on what changes.
Start by identifying the edition, platform and symptom
The original PC release and DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT have nearly identical baseline requirements, but the published GTX 1050 memory requirement differs. Check the exact edition you own before deciding that a crash or poor performance is a software fault. Also note whether you launch through Steam or Epic: the documented direct-executable workaround applies specifically to certain Epic errors.
- Crash or Access Violation: the game closes, shows an error such as
0x887a00005orDx12-ErrorCode : 0x8007000e, or fails during startup. - Black screen: the game launches to a blank display or becomes black after a transition. Treat this as a crash investigation first, including overlay and driver checks.
- Stutter or cutscene hitching: frame delivery drops even though the game remains playable. Controller vibration and Steam Input are a documented cause in some cases.
- Controller not detected: Windows or the game does not respond to the pad. Start with Steam controller support and Steam Input settings.
- Controller detected but performance drops: use the vibration and Steam Input procedure rather than immediately replacing hardware.
- No sound: verify the Windows playback device and channel configuration.
Make a prudent backup of your saves before BIOS, driver or system changes. The official FAQ lists the save folder as %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalKojimaProductionsDeathStranding.
Confirm your PC meets the published requirements
The figures below come from 505 Games, KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS and the Steam listing. The original FAQ was published around the 2020 PC launch; the support guidance was modified in September 2023, so treat it as edition-specific documentation rather than a promise about every current driver or Windows build.
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Minimum requirements
| Component | Original PC release (official FAQ) | DIRECTOR’S CUT (Steam listing) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 | 64-bit Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-3470 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 | Intel Core i5-3470 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX 1050 3 GB or Radeon RX 560 4 GB | GeForce GTX 1050 4 GB or Radeon RX 560 4 GB |
| API and audio | DirectX 12 and DirectX-compatible audio | DirectX 12; AVX instruction-set support |
| Storage | 80 GB | 80 GB |
| Instruction set | AVX is required in the crash guidance | AVX support is listed by Steam |
The FAQ and Steam page differ only in the stated GTX 1050 video-memory figure in the material available here. Compare your complete system with the listing for the edition you own instead of assuming that every GTX 1050 qualifies.
Recommended 1080p targets in the official FAQ
| Target | Processor | Graphics | Memory |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 FPS at 1080p | Intel Core i5-3470 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 class | GeForce GTX 1050 3 GB or Radeon RX 560 4 GB class | 8 GB |
| 60 FPS at 1080p | Intel Core i7-3770 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 | GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB or Radeon RX 590 | 8 GB |
The FAQ states that gameplay framerate is unlocked, while cinematic cutscenes are capped at 60 FPS. A 60-FPS cap in a cinematic is therefore expected behavior, not automatically a performance defect.
Use this ordered crash checklist
Work through the following sequence and retest after each major change. It limits unnecessary system changes and makes it easier to identify a conflicting program.
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- Install all available Windows updates. The official crash article specifically referred to Windows 10 version 1909 or later; that was historical guidance, not a current promise that every later build is supported identically.
- Install the latest BIOS supplied by your motherboard manufacturer, following that manufacturer’s recovery instructions.
- Update graphics, chipset and other device drivers from the relevant hardware manufacturer.
- Repair or reinstall the x64 Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. The publisher lists the runtime among the components to update when investigating crashes.
- Restart Windows and test the same save or scene that previously failed.
Keep the BIOS and driver package for your exact hardware model. If a new driver introduces a new failure, use the manufacturer’s documented rollback process rather than installing random versions.
2. Return overclocked hardware to stock
Temporarily remove CPU, GPU and memory overclocks made in the BIOS or with utilities such as MSI Afterburner, EVGA Precision X1 or Intel Extreme Tuning Utility. 505 Games reports that some users’ Access Violation (Worker #) crashes disappeared after returning hardware to stock settings. That is a reported result, not a guarantee, and it is especially useful as a controlled test: if the crash stops at stock speeds, investigate stability before restoring an overclock.
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3. Isolate overlays and resident utilities
Third-party antivirus, ransomware or malware-monitoring tools, streaming software, and system or performance utilities can interfere with the game. Steam and Discord overlays are also specifically mentioned in the black-screen and undesirable-behavior guidance.
- Close or pause one utility, then launch the game.
- Reproduce the failure in the same place.
- Re-enable that utility if it was not involved and test the next one.
Do not leave protection disabled permanently. If security software is the trigger, add a narrowly scoped game exception using that product’s supported process and folder controls, or contact its vendor for a safe rule.
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4. Try the documented Epic executable workaround
For Epic players seeing Access Violation 0x887a00005 or Dx12-ErrorCode : 0x8007000e, 505 Games recommends launching the game executable from the installed game folder instead of starting it through the Epic Games launcher. If that does not work, the article says to try running the executable as administrator. This path is documented for Epic errors; it is not a general instruction to bypass Steam or every launcher.
5. Retest without changing several variables at once
After each change, start the game normally and repeat the action that caused the crash. If the failure returns, restore the last setting and continue with the next checklist item. A clean result after several simultaneous changes does not reveal which component was responsible.
Access Violation and DirectX 12 errors
Access Violation messages are symptoms, not a single diagnosis. The publisher’s guidance points first to system stability, current Windows and drivers, Visual C++ components, and software that injects an overlay or monitors the game. Check those items before assuming that the game installation itself is damaged.
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0x887a00005: for Epic installations, try the installed executable and then the administrator test described above.Dx12-ErrorCode : 0x8007000e: use the same Epic executable procedure, then complete the Windows, BIOS, driver, Visual C++ and stock-clock checks.- Access Violation (Worker #): return overclocked hardware to stock and isolate resident utilities; 505 Games reports that this resolved the error for some users.
If the error continues after those steps, record the exact code, when it appears, your edition and launcher, and the changes you tested. That information is more useful to support than a general statement that the game “keeps crashing.”
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505 Games says that certain controllers used through Steam—particularly Xbox One controllers—have been associated with framerate drops, especially in cutscenes. Its stated cause is vibration functionality: “Vibration functionality can cause framerate drops, particularly in cutscenes.” The publisher also says that disabling vibration completely eliminates the drops in the affected scenario.
Apply the official Steam workaround
- Open Steam’s Big Picture Mode and disable controller support.
- In your Steam library, open DEATH STRANDING’s Properties.
- Open the controller settings for the game and set Steam Input per game to Off or Default.
- Launch the game and revisit a scene that previously stuttered.
- If the hitch remains, disable controller vibration in the game or controller configuration and test again.
The publisher says framerate and performance should return to normal in the reported cases after this procedure. Because it is an official workaround rather than an independent test of every controller and driver combination, treat it as “worth trying,” not a universal fix.
Separate input stutter from normal cutscene behavior
Gameplay framerate is unlocked, but cinematic cutscenes are capped at 60 FPS. A steady 60-FPS ceiling in a cinematic is normal. A sudden drop that coincides with rumble, or that disappears when vibration and Steam Input are disabled, is a different symptom and fits the controller-related guidance.
When the controller is not working
The official FAQ says the game has full controller support and can also be played with keyboard and mouse. Use the symptom that matches your case:
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The game does not detect the controller
- Confirm that Windows sees the controller before launching the game.
- Open Steam Big Picture Mode and review controller support.
- Open the game’s Steam Properties and test Steam Input set to Default, then Off, restarting the game after each change.
- Disconnect other gamepads and remapping devices while testing, so only one input path is active.
The Steam Input setting is reversible. If one mode makes the pad disappear, return to the previous mode rather than changing several controller layers simultaneously.
The game detects the controller but stutters
Disable vibration and apply the Big Picture Mode and per-game Steam Input procedure in the preceding section. This is the publisher’s targeted response to controller-linked frame drops, particularly with Xbox One controllers.
You want to try different hardware
505 Games says it has not experienced the cited vibration-related behavior with PS4 controllers. A PS4-compatible controller, including a wired PS4 controller for PC, is therefore a reasonable alternative to test after the free settings changes. It is an option, not a guarantee that every controller, adapter or driver will behave identically.
The controller problem appears with a crash or black screen
Do not treat this as an ordinary input-mapping issue. Follow the crash checklist: update Windows and drivers, return overclocks to stock, and isolate overlays, security monitoring, streaming and performance utilities.
Black-screen crashes and overlay conflicts
A black screen can occur before the game is fully rendering or when an overlay hooks into the process. Disable Steam and Discord overlays while testing, and temporarily isolate third-party antivirus, ransomware-monitoring, streaming and performance tools one at a time. Also complete the BIOS, driver, Windows and Visual C++ updates and the stock-clock test.
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After a successful launch, re-enable one overlay or utility at a time. If the black screen returns, keep the conflicting feature off while you contact that software’s support team or configure a narrowly scoped exception. The official guidance does not establish that one particular overlay is always responsible.
Fix missing audio
If the game runs but there is no sound, use the Windows Sound Control Panel:
- Open the Windows Sound Control Panel.
- Select the playback device you intend to use.
- Choose Configure.
- Check that the audio channels are configured correctly, then apply the setting and retest.
This check is for selecting and configuring the Windows output device. It does not change the game’s graphics or controller settings.
Choose the next action by symptom
| Symptom | First action | Next action if it remains | Change type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access Violation or DirectX 12 code on Epic | Launch the installed executable; test administrator mode | Complete updates, stock-clock and utility-isolation checks | Free configuration and system maintenance |
| Crash after an overclock | Return BIOS and utility settings to stock | Update BIOS, drivers, Windows and Visual C++ | Reversible stability test |
| Black screen | Disable Steam and Discord overlays | Isolate security, streaming and performance tools | Reversible configuration change |
| Cutscene or gameplay stutter with an Xbox One controller | Disable vibration; set Steam Input to Off or Default | Disable controller support in Big Picture Mode and retest | Free input-layer change |
| Controller not detected | Check Steam controller support and per-game Steam Input | Test with one controller and keyboard/mouse | Free configuration change |
| No sound | Configure the intended Windows playback device | Record the device and channel settings for support | Free Windows setting |
Prepare a useful support request
If the issue survives the ordered checks, contact 505 Games support. Steam Support identifies 505 Games as the customer-support provider for DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT, and the 505 Games FAQ says players can create a support ticket or use chat.
Include:
- Edition (original PC release or DIRECTOR’S CUT) and launcher (Steam or Epic).
- Windows version, CPU, GPU, RAM, motherboard and whether AVX is supported.
- The exact error code or a precise description of the black screen, stutter, controller or audio failure.
- Whether the hardware was overclocked and whether the issue changed at stock settings.
- Which overlays, antivirus or monitoring tools were isolated, and the result of each test.
- For stutter, the controller model, vibration state, Big Picture Mode setting and Steam Input mode.
- For a crash, the time and in-game action that triggered it, plus any logs or diagnostic information requested by support.
Keep your save backup at %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalKojimaProductionsDeathStranding before major system changes. Do not delete that folder while troubleshooting unless support specifically instructs you.
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