iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
If Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul will not start from Steam, first classify the failure: a black screen that may still be loading, a missing-file warning, an immediate exit or tutorial crash, or a VR-specific error such as LowLevelFatalError. Each path needs different checks. The game supports keyboard-and-mouse or controller play without a headset, so VR hardware is not a prerequisite. Start by comparing your PC with VRWERX’s published minimums, then use Steam’s file-integrity check for file warnings. Treat the OPENSSL_ia32cap environment-variable change and old NVIDIA driver advice as limited, reversible experiments—not guaranteed fixes. The Steam listing for this 2017 game says it is no longer available for new purchase, so these steps are for existing owners.
What is actually failing when the game will not launch?
Identify the point of failure before changing drivers or Windows settings. Reports about this title describe several different stages, and a workaround for one stage may do nothing for another.
| Symptom | Likely stage | First response | Evidence and caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black screen, but the process remains open | Initial loading | Observe briefly for a finite load before ending the process; then repeat once to see whether the same delay occurs. | Some players in a March 2017 discussion said waiting eventually allowed startup. That is historical anecdotal evidence, not a guaranteed wait time or a current performance measurement. |
| Steam says files are missing or damaged | Installation or content check | Run Steam’s built-in game-file integrity verification and read the result it displays. | The exact current Steam labels can change. Do not assume every warning is an antivirus false positive, and do not download replacement DLLs from random sites. |
| Immediate exit, crash after about a minute, or crash during the tutorial | Early game or Unreal Engine startup | Confirm mode and minimum specifications, then collect the exact crash text before trying advanced changes. | A player specifically distinguished an Unreal Engine crash after entering the game from the earlier black-screen delay. |
Only VR fails, or an Unreal LowLevelFatalError appears |
Headset, runtime, or graphics-resource path | Try documented non-VR mode, then record headset, connection method, runtime, and full error. | A Quest 3 player reported different behavior through SteamVR and Meta Quest Link; another reported Direct3D CreateTexture2D in a LowLevelFatalError. These are individual reports, not compatibility guarantees. |
The symptom language used by players includes “doesn’t get past a black screen,” “Game Crashing,” “SOLVED CRASHES DURING TUTORIAL/NOT LOADING,” and “LowLevelFatalError.” A thread title containing “SOLVED” does not establish a universal solution.
Which game is this, and can a headset be required?
The affected title is Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul, developed and published by VRWERX. It was released on August 15, 2017. The Steam listing, checked October 30, 2026, says the game is no longer available on the Steam store, so troubleshooting assumes the game is already in your library.
Popular on Amazon
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
“AVAILABLE TO PLAY IN NON-VR (KEYBOARD/MOUSE AND CONTROLLER) VR HEADSET NOT REQUIRED TO PLAY.”
That sentence is VRWERX’s own description on the Steam listing. Non-VR mode accepts keyboard and mouse or a controller; VR mode is a separate path. Do not buy or connect a headset merely to make the standard PC mode launch.
Does the PC meet VRWERX’s published minimum requirements?
Check the machine before interpreting every launch failure as a corrupted installation. The figures below are VRWERX’s published requirements on Steam, not independently tested thresholds and not a promise that a qualifying PC will launch successfully.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
| Requirement | Published minimum | Additional published figure |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 | Not stated |
| Processor | Intel i5-4590 | Not stated |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB recommended |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 | Not stated |
| Graphics API | DirectX 11 | Not stated |
| Storage | 10 GB available space | This is free space, not a measured download size |
| VR software | SteamVR listed under VR support | Not applicable to non-VR play |
“Available space” means free capacity on the relevant drive. Meeting the list does not prove that drivers, runtimes, permissions, or the installation itself are healthy. If the PC is below the operating-system, memory, graphics, DirectX, or storage minimum, correct that gap before relying on software workarounds; an under-spec system can fail for reasons unrelated to a missing file.
How should you handle a black screen?
A black screen is not automatically a crash. The first question is whether the game process remains active and eventually advances, or whether Windows reports that it has stopped responding and exits.
Also popular on Amazon
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Watch for a finite initial load. Leave the process alone briefly while checking for a transition, audio, or a change in the window. Historical March 2017 reports describe startup succeeding after a wait, but they do not establish a safe or universal duration.
- Separate delay from repeatable failure. If the same screen is followed by an Unreal Engine crash, treat the crash as the problem; waiting longer is not a repair. Record how long the window remains open and the exact message shown when it closes.
- Confirm the intended mode. If a headset or VR runtime has opened unexpectedly, retry using the game’s non-VR option. This determines whether the black screen is common to both modes or confined to the VR launch path.
- Check the published requirements and available storage. A slow or stalled first load on a machine below the listed baseline deserves capacity and hardware attention before advanced experiments.
An SSD may reduce ordinary loading time on some systems, but the available evidence is a 2017 slow-load anecdote, not proof that buying storage hardware repairs this game. Do not treat a longer black-screen wait as evidence that an upgrade is required.
What should you do when Steam reports missing or damaged files?
Use Steam’s own integrity-verification feature rather than replacing individual files from an untrusted download. The public Steam verification guidance was identified, but current menu wording can vary, so follow the labels shown by your installed Steam client.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Open the game’s Steam management or properties screen and locate the built-in option for verifying the integrity of the installed game files.
- Start the check and wait for Steam to finish. Keep the result message; it may distinguish a clean installation from files that Steam reacquired.
- Launch the game in the same mode that produced the warning. If it still fails, note whether the symptom changed from a file warning to a crash or black screen.
- If security software displayed a quarantine or block message, record the product’s exact action and file name. Do not assume the alert is false, and do not broadly disable protection just to force a launch.
Verification cannot be promised to correct every missing-file situation. If Steam reports that files are valid but the game still exits, move to the diagnostic branch that matches the actual crash rather than repeatedly running the same check.
How do you troubleshoot an immediate exit or tutorial crash?
An exit at startup, a crash roughly a minute into play, and a tutorial crash belong to the early-crash branch. They are different from a process that is merely taking time to load.
- Capture the exact wording. Write down whether Windows, Steam, or the game reports an Unreal Engine error, a Direct3D message, or no message at all. “Game crashing” is useful as a description but not enough to identify a cause.
- Record the launch mode. State whether the attempt was non-VR, SteamVR, or another headset runtime. A crash that disappears in non-VR points toward the VR path; a crash in both modes points to a broader installation, graphics, or system issue.
- Recheck the minimums. Confirm Windows 10, an Intel i5-4590-class processor or better, at least 8 GB RAM, a GTX 980-class graphics baseline, DirectX 11, and 10 GB of free storage as listed by VRWERX. The 16 GB recommendation is not a guarantee, but low memory can make diagnosis less meaningful.
- Repeat ordinary launch checks once. Close the game and Steam normally, restart Windows, and try the same mode again after verification. This is a recovery step, not evidence that the game has been repaired.
- Avoid random DLL fixes. Do not download a named DLL from a third-party site to silence an error. Preserve the original message for support instead.
There is no reliable published statistic for how often this title fails to launch, and discussion participants cannot be converted into a failure rate or a workaround success rate.
Also popular on Amazon
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
How can you isolate a VR-only failure?
Use non-VR mode as a diagnostic control: it is officially supported and does not require a headset. If non-VR launches while VR does not, document the VR stack rather than assuming the entire game installation is broken.
Recommended Free Tools
- Launch the game without a headset, using keyboard/mouse or a controller. Note whether it reaches the title screen and tutorial.
- For a VR attempt, record the headset model, whether it is connected through SteamVR or a vendor link application, and which application was started first.
- Copy the full error, including any Unreal or Direct3D text. A reported
CreateTexture2DLowLevelFatalErroridentifies a graphics-resource creation failure message, but the available reports do not establish one universal cause. - If you use a Quest 3, you may compare the SteamVR launch path with the Meta Quest Link path as a diagnostic. One player’s account described different errors between those paths; that does not make either path universally compatible.
- Retry non-VR after any VR failure. If both modes now fail, return to the general crash and file-integrity branches.
SteamVR appears in the published VR-support information. It does not change the fact that a headset is optional for the non-VR mode.
Is the OPENSSL_ia32cap workaround worth trying?
Only consider this as an advanced, reversible community experiment after ordinary checks. Players have reported both success and failure, including failure on a 12th-generation Intel system; the reports do not prove a specific Intel-related cause.
- Before changing anything, inspect whether an
OPENSSL_ia32capenvironment variable already exists and record its previous value, if any. - If you choose to test the reported setting, create or edit the system environment variable named
OPENSSL_ia32capand set its value to0x200000200000000. - Restart Windows so processes receive the changed environment.
- Try the same launch mode and record whether the symptom changes. A change in behavior is useful diagnostic information, not proof of the underlying mechanism.
- If there is no improvement—or another program behaves unexpectedly—remove the variable or restore its prior value, then restart Windows again.
A system-wide variable affects software beyond this game. Because the reports are first-person accounts rather than an official patch or controlled test, do not leave the setting permanently without a reason and a documented rollback.
Should you roll back NVIDIA drivers to version 381.89?
No—not as a current default recommendation. VRWERX’s advice in a July 2017 discussion concerned a particular crash in the playroom at that time. One participant reported that the rollback made no difference.
Also popular on Amazon
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Widely Compatible: Transform any USB-C port into a USB-A port and USB-A port into a USB-C port, and connect up a wide range of USB-C(including MacBook, iPad Pro/Air/Mini, iPhone models with USB C ports, Samsung Galaxy series, and Google Pixel series. ) and USB A devices(including external hard drives, phones, mice, printers, and more)
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
That historical advice is relevant only if your failure matches the old playroom scenario and you understand the security, compatibility, and maintenance costs of installing an obsolete driver. It does not address every black screen, missing-file warning, tutorial crash, or VR error. Do not downgrade a present-day graphics driver solely because the number appears in an old thread.
Which fixes fit which failure stage?
The following comparison keeps the evidence and reversibility visible. A store or developer statement carries more authority than a single-machine forum report, while an old date reduces how confidently it applies to a current Windows and driver stack.
| Action | Best match | Mode | Evidence quality | Reversibility | Date context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observe a finite initial load | Black screen with process still running | Non-VR or VR | Player reports | Immediate; no system change | Reports from March 2017 |
| Steam integrity verification | Missing or damaged-file warning | Non-VR or VR | Steam’s built-in function | Steam-managed; read its result | Current client wording may vary |
| Compare non-VR and VR launch paths | Headset-only failure or LowLevelFatalError |
VR versus non-VR | Developer mode statement plus player reports | High; changes launch path | Current diagnostic use; reports vary |
OPENSSL_ia32cap=0x200000200000000 |
Reproducible early crash after ordinary checks | Either, if the crash is reproducible | Mixed community reports | Reversible, but system-wide | Community reports include 2023-era discussion activity |
| NVIDIA 381.89 rollback | Specific July 2017 playroom crash | Graphics-driver dependent | Historical developer advice and a contrary player report | Reversible with driver management, but disruptive | July 2017; obsolete as a general recommendation |
What information should you send to VRWERX support?
If verification, mode isolation, and requirement checks do not resolve the problem, escalate with a concise diagnostic record. Steam identifies VRWERX as the official support contact and displays info@vrwerx.com. A response time or current responsiveness has not been established, so do not assume an immediate reply.
- The exact Steam warning, Unreal message, or
LowLevelFatalErrortext - Windows version and whether the system meets the published minimums
- CPU, GPU, installed RAM, DirectX version, and free storage
- Non-VR or VR mode; for VR, headset model and connection method
- Whether Steam integrity verification reported a problem and what it said
- Whether the black screen eventually changed, and approximately how long it remained
- Any environment-variable change tested, including the previous value and whether it was restored
This record lets support distinguish an installation problem from a mode-specific or graphics-runtime failure without asking you to repeat unrelated experiments.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchCan a controller, headset, or SSD fix the launch problem?
A PC-compatible game controller is optional because keyboard and mouse already work in non-VR mode. A controller does not repair a black screen, crash, or missing file. Likewise, buying a VR headset is unnecessary for non-VR play, and no particular headset model is established as a repair.
Also popular on Amazon
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
An SSD can change ordinary storage latency, but the available evidence is only a historical slow-loading anecdote. There is no demonstrated purchase that guarantees a fix for this title’s launch errors. Resolve the failure stage first and preserve your money until the error points to a genuine hardware shortfall.
When should you stop experimenting?
Stop after you have identified the stage, checked the published baseline, run Steam’s integrity check for a file warning, compared non-VR with VR where relevant, and documented the exact error. The environment-variable test is the furthest reasonable community workaround because it changes system-wide behavior; the obsolete driver rollback should remain limited to the specifically dated playroom case. If the game still will not launch, send the diagnostic record to VRWERX rather than stacking unrelated changes that make the original cause harder to identify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul the same game as Paranormal on Steam?
No. The troubleshooting here concerns the VRWERX title Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul (Steam app 467660), not a separate game with “Paranormal” in its name. Check the app identity in your library before applying these steps.
What does a Direct3D CreateTexture2D LowLevelFatalError indicate?
It means the game reported a failure while creating a Direct3D texture resource. The message narrows attention to the graphics or VR launch path, but the available player reports do not establish whether the cause is a driver, runtime, headset path, or another system condition.
Can I diagnose the game without connecting my headset?
Yes. VRWERX documents a non-VR mode using keyboard/mouse or a controller. A successful non-VR launch is useful evidence that the installation can start and that the remaining problem may be confined to the headset or VR runtime path.
Is there a known success rate for the environment-variable workaround?
No reliable success-rate statistic has been published. Individual players have reported both improvement and failure, so treat the setting as a reversible experiment and remove it if it does not help.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors
