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:
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Outdated or Corrupted Graphics Drivers | GPU drivers are essential for rendering the game’s visuals properly. |
| Missing or Corrupted System Files | Issues with DirectX, Visual C++ Redistributables, or system DLLs can prevent the game from running. |
| Game File Integrity Issues | Corrupted or missing files due to incomplete downloads or updates. |
| Incompatible Software | Antivirus, overlays (Discord, Steam), or background apps may interfere with the game process. |
| Graphics Settings Mismatch | Incompatible resolution, texture quality, or API settings can cause instability. |
| Overclocking or Hardware Instability | Unstable 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:
- Open Steam > Go to Library.
- Right-click on Drive Beyond Horizons > Properties.
- Go to the Local Files tab > Click Verify Integrity of Game Files…
- Wait for the scan to complete — Steam will automatically download and replace any corrupted or missing files.
- 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An outdated or incompatible GPU driver is one of the top reasons for game crashes.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:
- Visit the AMD Driver & Support page and download the latest driver for your GPU model.
For Intel Integrated GPUs:
- Download the latest driver via the Intel Driver & Support Assistant.
⚠️ 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:
- Download and install both x86 and x64 versions of the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package from Microsoft’s official site.
- Reboot your PC after installation.
- Launch the game again.
🎮 C. Ensure DirectX Is Up-to-Date
- Press
Win + R, typedxdiag, and press Enter. - Check the DirectX Version under the System tab — it should be at least 9.0c.
- 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:
- Navigate to the game’s
.exefile (usually found in the Steam installation folder). - Right-click the executable > Properties > Compatibility tab.
- Check Run this program as administrator.
- Click Apply > OK.
🛠 B. Enable Compatibility Mode
Steps:
- Right-click the game executable > Properties > Compatibility tab.
- Check Run this program in compatibility mode for: and select an earlier version of Windows (e.g., Windows 10 or Windows 8.1).
- Optionally, check Run in Reduced Color Mode (16-bit) and adjust performance settings.
- 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:
- Temporarily disable overlays in their respective settings.
- 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
| Solution | Description | Difficulty | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verify Game Files | Repairs corrupted or missing assets | Easy | High |
| Update Drivers & Dependencies | Ensures hardware/software compatibility | Medium | High |
| Compatibility & Admin Mode | Resolves access and legacy compatibility issues | Easy | Medium-High |
| Adjust Graphics & Disable Overlays | Optimizes performance and removes interference | Medium | Medium |
✅ 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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