Ethan Brooks
How To Fix PEAK Not Launching on PC
If PEAK refuses to start on your Windows machine, you’re definitely not the only one. Plenty of users run into this weird issue where the game just sits there, unresponsive or crashes at launch. Sometimes, it’s because of outdated drivers, bad settings, or conflicting background apps. This guide collects a bunch of the tried-and-true methods pulled from troubleshooting threads and personal experience—stuff that’s helped get PEAK up and running again without needing a full reinstall every time. Following these steps, you’ll learn how to tweak launch options, adjust graphics, clear out corrupted config files, and check system settings—because Windows is… well, Windows. The goal? To get PEAK to launch smoothly, hopefully without too much fuss. So, buckle up and try these fixes one by one.
How to Fix PEAK Game Not Launching in Windows
Modify Launch Options to Force DX12
First off, the most common culprit is incorrect graphics API settings or a hiccup with how the game interacts with DirectX. If the game isn’t launching, adding a launch command like -force-d3d12 to your Steam properties sometimes nudges it into working. This forces the game to use DirectX 12, which is more compatible with modern graphics cards. It’s kind of weird, but on some setups this alone helped the game launch. To do this:
- Right-click PEAK in Steam Library.
- Choose Properties.
- Go to the General tab, then click on Launch Options.
- Type in
-force-d3d12exactly, then close the window.
After that, try launching the game again. Sometimes, it’s just that little nudge that does the trick. If not, move on to other tweaks.
Use Proton or Compatibility Layers for Windows
If you’re on Windows but the game still refuses to cooperate, some folks found that adding compatibility options like setting PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 can help, especially if your graphics driver is acting up. It’s more common for Linux users, but on Windows, testing compatibility layers with updated launch options sometimes does the trick, especially if you’re using newer hardware or Windows versions where the game’s optimizations aren’t fully baked in. To try this:
- In the same Launch Options field, add
PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1. - Try launching again. If it runs, you might get around some DirectX issues this way.
Honestly, this is a shot in the dark, but worth trying if everything else fails. Sometimes your system just hates some particular API calls, and switching to an older or alternative renderer helps.
Workaround for Campfire Crash at a Critical Spot
Had a user mention that the game crashes at the campfire in the Tropics area—that was a real pain. The trick is to avoid triggering the crash intentionally while still progressing. This works a bit like a cheat, but it’s actually workaround for a known bug. Do the following:
- When entering the Tropics, look down at the ground and keep staring downward—don’t look around too much.
- Light the campfire while looking away from the loading zone—try not to focus on the campfire itself.
- If you see “Forest Day 2,” then slowly, carefully turn around. This avoids the crash trigger.
Also, turn off overlay apps (Steam, Discord, Nvidia GeForce Experience) and lower your graphics settings to minimum if possible. Limiting FPS to match your monitor’s refresh rate can prevent some weird glitches. Yeah, Windows likes to be self-destructive sometimes.
Set Proper Video Output & Resolution
Sometimes, simple things like screen resolution or output settings cause launch problems. Check in Display Settings (right-click desktop > Display settings) that your resolution is 1920×1080 or 2K, matching your monitor’s native resolution. Just cranking this down or resizing the game window to windowed mode can help if the game engine is choking on ultra-wide or unsupported resolutions.
Additionally, you can tweak the game’s launch parameters for display:
-screen-fullscreen 0 -screen-width 1920 -screen-height 1080Pop that into the same Launch Options box, and see if it helps to stabilize the startup.
Clean Registry & Reset Settings
Sometimes, leftover config files or corrupted registry entries cause launch issues. Accessing and cleaning the registry isn’t fun, but it’s worth a shot. Be warned: messing with the registry can break things if you go wild. Here’s a safer approach:
- Press Windows + R, then type
regeditand hit Enter. - Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Landcrab\Peak.
- Look for any entries starting with “ScreenManager” or related to graphics & display stuff. Delete those entries—they’ll regenerate fresh configs on startup.
Back up your registry first if you’re paranoid—just export the branch before deleting. That way, you can restore it if needed. Not exactly foolproof, but sometimes Windows just keeps corrupting its own settings.
Reset the Game’s Config Files by Renaming the Folder
Corrupt config files can stop the game from launching. This is kind of an easy one:
- Navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\LocalLow\LandCrab.
(Show hidden files if needed: View > Hidden items) - Make a backup somewhere else, then rename the PEAK folder to something like PEAK_Backup.
- Start the game to generate fresh configs—you might lose some custom settings, but it’s less hassle than starting from scratch.
Check Antivirus & Windows Defender
It’s maddening, but sometimes Windows’ built-in security messes with game files. Ensure that your antivirus or Windows Defender isn’t blocking the PEAK executable. To check:
- Open Windows Security from the settings menu.
- Go to Virus & threat protection > Protection history.
- Look for any blocked files related to PEAK, and if found, restore or allow the game folder.
Adding the game to the allowed list in your antivirus can save you a headache in the future.
Run the Game as Admin & Verify Files
Running the game with admin privileges can sometimes bypass permission issues:
- Right-click PEAK.exe in its folder (usually in Program Files or wherever you installed it).
- Select Run as administrator.
Also, verify the game files in Steam—this checks for corrupted or missing files:
- Steam Library > Right-click PEAK > Properties.
- Under Local Files, click Verify Integrity of Game Files.
Update Graphics Drivers & Windows OS
Outdated drivers or Windows OS can cause a lot of issues. Hit the manufacturer sites for the latest drivers—
And run Windows Update from Settings > Update & Security. Keep everything current—because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Ensure Hardware is Properly Configured & Not Overclocked
If you overclocked your graphics card or CPU, revert to default. Overclocking can cause instability, especially with the game engine that might not be stable outside stock settings. Use your overclocking software to reset clocks, and disable any overlays or hardware monitor tools during gaming.
And check your graphics card isn’t being blocked from your display settings by going to Graphics Settings in Windows and assigning PEAK to run on your dedicated GPU.
Check External Devices & Peripherals
Disconnect unnecessary USB devices—joysticks, wheels, external controllers—sometimes they interfere with the game’s input detection. Also disable any monitoring or overlay software from Razer, MSI, or Nvidia.
Update Windows & Install Redistributables
Ensure your Windows is fully updated—just in case some system component is missing or outdated. Also, install the latest Visual C++ Redistributables from Microsoft’s site; many games require these libraries to run properly.
Adjust Virtual Memory & Reinstall if Necessary
If your system is low on RAM, bump up virtual memory: go to Advanced System Settings > Performance > Virtual memory, and set a custom size based on your RAM (1.5x to 3x). If desperate, uninstall and reinstall PEAK—sometimes starting fresh is the easiest fix after all these weird workarounds.
Extra Tips & Avoiding Common Pitfalls
While working through all this, keep in mind:
- Patience—you might need to reboot after some changes.
- Always backup configs or registry entries before editing—better safe than bricking your system.
- Don’t get frustrated; sometimes Windows just refuses to cooperate for no good reason.
Wrap-up
All these methods have helped some folks get PEAK to launch again, even when it seemed impossible at first. It’s a bit of trial and error, but patience pays off. If nothing works, it might be worth reaching out to the support team or checking community forums for specific issues related to your hardware or OS version. Usually, one of these fixes lights the way.
Summary
- Try launching with -force-d3d12.
- Check graphics drivers and Windows updates.
- Clear config files and registry entries.
- Adjust display and virtual memory settings.
- Run as admin and verify game files.
- Disable overlays and disconnect external devices.