The Last of Us Part 1 PC black screen after startup – how to fix?

The Last of Us Part 1 PC black screen after startup – how to fix?
Eva Black Updated on by

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For those wondering how to fix the black screen after startup issues gamers have been having with The Last of Us Part 1 PC, don’t worry. You’ve come to the right place.

Since The Last of Us Part 1 was released for PS5 back in 2022, gamers have been waiting for The Last of Us Part 1 to arrive for PC. On March 28, 2023, that day finally arrived. Developed by Naughty Dog LLC and available on Steam and Epic Games, The Last of Us Part 1 PC promised to be a game changer. Unfortunately, some gamers are now experiencing a black screen after startup.

The good news is that Naughty Dog has heard the multiple complaints and a patch may be in the works. (For more details see: The Last of Us Part 1 PC patch.) However, while we’re waiting for the issues to be fixed, we’ve found a few ‘hacks’ that could help fix the black screen after start up issue gamers have been facing.

Let’s get into it.

The Last of Us Part 1 PC black screen after startup – how to fix?

As with any gameplay issue there could be a variety of issues causing the problem. As such, we’ve picked three ‘hacks’ to help try and solve the issue.

  1. Check Windows updates.
  2. Verify the game files.
  3. Lower the graphics settings in-game.

1. Check Windows updates.

Our first potential fix is to check your Windows updates and make sure everything is up to date. The minimum required to run The Last of Us Part 1 PC is Windows 10 (Version 1909).

Check your updates by hitting Windows + I on the keyboard. A pop up will appear showing your Windows Settings menu. Hit Updates & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates. This should show you if there are any updates pending. Install any updates waiting. Once your PC has finished updating don’f forget to restart it.

2. Verify the game files.

If making sure your PC is fully updated didn’t work, try verifying the game files. This can be done for Steam by opening up your Steam Account, hitting Library, then right-clicking on The Last of Us Part 1 PC game file. Now hit Properties > Local Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files. Once the verification process is completed, shut down your PC and restart it.

3. Lower the graphics settings in-game

Our last option is more of a prevention ‘hack’ to stop the black screen from happening again once you make it into the game, than a quick fix for the black screen after start up itself.

You can change in-game graphics settings by heading over to the game menu. The settings we would focus on are lowering the fps, lowering Detail and Texture Quality options, and disabling V-Sync.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Last of Us Part 1 only for PS5?

While there is a PS5 version of the game, The Last of Us Part 1 PC version was released on March 28, 2023 and is available to buy and play now from Steam.

Who made The Last of Us Part 1 PC?

The Last of Us Part 1 PC was developed by Naughty Dog LLC and published by PlayStation PC LLC.