How to fix the black screen on startup error in Helldivers 2

✓ At A Glance

• Restart the game
• Check if you have the latest drivers
• Ensure you have a steady internet connection
• Verify the integrity of the game files
• Stop the game from entering full screen mode
• Disconnect your controller
• Wait for the servers to clear up

Helldivers 2 has had its fair share of issues since it was launched back in February. While the devs are trying to fix all of the issues with the game, there are some ways you can fix the issues yourself. One issue you may have come across is what some label the “black screen of death.” Don’t worry, this issue isn’t as scary as it sounds. Let’s break down how to fix the black screen on startup error in Helldivers 2.

Our methods to fix black screen on startup error in Helldivers 2

Players report being stuck on a black screen before entering the main menu in Helldivers 2. This splash screen will stop you from protecting Super Earth and its neighbouring planets from Automatons and Terminid forces. If you’re facing this issue, here are some things you can do to fix it.

Restart the game and then your system

While this is usually the first course of action for any technical issues such as crashing or launch errors you may encounter, this might be enough to get Helldivers 2 back to normal. Restarting the game is always worth a try to see if it works. If not, move on to the next steps.

Check if you have the latest drivers

You can look for these on the official manufacturer sites like those of Nvidia and AMD. These will ensure that you have the best performance possible by updating outdated drivers. Some Nvidia players report that disabling Image Scaling in the Nvidia Control Panel can fix the black screen error.

Ensure that you have a steady VPN and internet connection

Resetting your VPN and rechecking your internet speed is a good option since Helldivers 2 is an online game. If needed, reset your internet connection and try to launch the game again. This may help you connect to the servers and prevent the black screen from appearing.

Verify the integrity of the game files

Right-click the game and hit ‘Properties.’ Here, you’ll spot this option in the ‘Installed Files’ section. In this section, click the option that says to verify the game files. This will allow you to see if there are any corrupted files in the game. If so, you can remedy the situation.

Stop the game from entering fullscreen mode via the configuration file

You can change this to windowed mode manually by heading to ‘C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Arrowhead\Helldivers2.’ This varies based on which drive you installed the game in. In this location, find ‘user_settings.config’ and delete it. This resets the config file so you’ll have to change your PC graphics settings again. You can also choose to just open this file with Notepad and change the fullscreen field from true to false. If this is the reason behind your error, remember to exit Helldivers 2 after setting it to borderless window mode.

Disconnect your controller when the game loads

While this might sound odd, disconnecting your controller (Xbox, PlayStation, or otherwise) on PC can help resolve this issue. You can continue using it once the game loads up. Reddit users report that this does indeed work.

Wait for the servers to free up

This can also occur when the game servers hit max capacity. So waiting is your best option. Server issues have plagued Helldivers 2 for a while as it hits one new player milestone after the other.