How to Fix Drive Beyond Horizons Crashing on Windows: A Comprehensive Technical Guide

Windows Problems

Introduction

“Drive Beyond Horizons” is an open-world racing game that offers immersive gameplay and high-quality graphics. However, many players have reported frequent crashes when launching or playing the game on Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems.

These crashes can manifest in various ways:

  • Game fails to launch
  • Immediate crash after startup
  • Random crashes during gameplay
  • Crash to desktop (CTD) with no error message

This guide provides a detailed and professional analysis of the potential causes behind these crashes, along with step-by-step solutions to resolve them effectively.


🧠 Understanding the Causes of Drive Beyond Horizons Crashes

Before applying any fixes, it’s important to understand what might be triggering the crashes:

CauseDescription
Outdated or Corrupted Graphics DriversGPU drivers are essential for rendering the game’s visuals properly.
Missing or Corrupted System FilesIssues with DirectX, Visual C++ Redistributables, or system DLLs can prevent the game from running.
Game File Integrity IssuesCorrupted or missing files due to incomplete downloads or updates.
Incompatible SoftwareAntivirus, overlays (Discord, Steam), or background apps may interfere with the game process.
Graphics Settings MismatchIncompatible resolution, texture quality, or API settings can cause instability.
Overclocking or Hardware InstabilityUnstable GPU/CPU clocks or overheating may lead to crashes.

✅ Solution 1: Verify Game Files Integrity (Steam Version)

One of the most common reasons for game crashes is corrupted or missing game files. If you’re using Steam, you can use its built-in tool to verify and repair the integrity of your local game files.

🔧 Steps:

  1. Open Steam > Go to Library.
  2. Right-click on Drive Beyond Horizons > Properties.
  3. Go to the Local Files tab > Click Verify Integrity of Game Files…
  4. Wait for the scan to complete — Steam will automatically download and replace any corrupted or missing files.
  5. Restart Steam and relaunch the game.

💡 This ensures that all core game components are intact and correctly configured.


✅ Solution 2: Update Graphics Drivers & System Dependencies

🖥️ A. Update Your Graphics Driver

An outdated or incompatible GPU driver is one of the top reasons for game crashes.

For NVIDIA Users:

  • Use NVIDIA GeForce Experience to install the latest WHQL-certified driver.

For AMD Users:

For Intel Integrated GPUs:

⚠️ Tip: Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) in Safe Mode to fully remove old drivers before installing new ones.


🧩 B. Install/Repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages

The game depends heavily on Visual C++ Runtime Libraries.

Steps:

  1. Download and install both x86 and x64 versions of the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package from Microsoft’s official site.
  2. Reboot your PC after installation.
  3. Launch the game again.

🎮 C. Ensure DirectX Is Up-to-Date

  1. Press Win + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter.
  2. Check the DirectX Version under the System tab — it should be at least 9.0c.
  3. If not, update Windows through Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

⚠️ Some games may require specific DirectX components — ensure there are no errors in the DxDiag report.


✅ Solution 3: Run the Game in Compatibility Mode & as Administrator

Sometimes, Windows permissions or compatibility issues with newer OS versions can cause the game to crash unexpectedly.

🔐 A. Run as Administrator

Steps:

  1. Navigate to the game’s .exe file (usually found in the Steam installation folder).
  2. Right-click the executable > Properties > Compatibility tab.
  3. Check Run this program as administrator.
  4. Click Apply > OK.

🛠 B. Enable Compatibility Mode

Steps:

  1. Right-click the game executable > Properties > Compatibility tab.
  2. Check Run this program in compatibility mode for: and select an earlier version of Windows (e.g., Windows 10 or Windows 8.1).
  3. Optionally, check Run in Reduced Color Mode (16-bit) and adjust performance settings.
  4. Apply changes and restart the game.

💡 This is especially useful if the game was developed for older operating systems.


✅ Solution 4: Adjust Graphics Settings & Disable Overlays

🎨 A. Reset or Lower Graphics Settings

High-end graphical features like ray tracing, ultra textures, or high-resolution shadows can overload hardware, especially on mid-range systems.

Tips:

  • Set graphics to Balanced or Performance mode.
  • Disable ray tracing and post-processing effects.
  • Lock frame rate to match your monitor’s refresh rate (e.g., 60Hz or 144Hz).

💡 You can manually edit the game’s configuration files (if available) to reset settings to default.


🚫 B. Disable Third-Party Overlays

Applications like Discord, Steam Overlay, MSI Afterburner, or OBS Studio inject into the game process and may cause instability.

Steps:

  1. Temporarily disable overlays in their respective settings.
  2. Alternatively, launch the game in exclusive fullscreen mode to reduce overlay interference.

📝 Additional Recommendations

  • Clean Boot Windows: Start your system with only essential services enabled to rule out software conflicts.
  • Monitor Temperatures: Use tools like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner to check GPU and CPU temperatures.
  • Disable Overclocking: Return GPU/CPU clocks to stock speeds if they were overclocked.
  • Check Crash Logs: Look for logs inside the game’s installation folder or under %AppData%.

📊 Summary Table

SolutionDescriptionDifficultySuccess Rate
Verify Game FilesRepairs corrupted or missing assetsEasyHigh
Update Drivers & DependenciesEnsures hardware/software compatibilityMediumHigh
Compatibility & Admin ModeResolves access and legacy compatibility issuesEasyMedium-High
Adjust Graphics & Disable OverlaysOptimizes performance and removes interferenceMediumMedium

✅ Conclusion

Crashing issues in Drive Beyond Horizons can stem from a wide range of sources — from outdated drivers and corrupted files to software conflicts and hardware limitations. By methodically applying the solutions outlined above, users can identify and eliminate the root cause of crashes.

Whether you’re encountering startup failures, in-game crashes, or random freezes, this guide provides a structured and technically sound approach to troubleshooting and resolving the issue.

With proper optimization and maintenance, you can enjoy Drive Beyond Horizons without interruptions — letting you focus on the thrill of the race rather than technical setbacks.

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