Emily Bennett
How To Resolve Broken Arrow Black Screen Issue on PC
Dealing with a black screen when launching Broken Arrow can be incredibly frustrating. Sometimes it’s a glitchy game file, sometimes a system setting, or even overlay conflicts. This guide is meant to walk through some of the most common fixes that have actually worked for folks pulling their hair out trying to get the game to launch properly. If you’re tired of staring at a blank screen, these steps could help you figure out what’s going wrong. Expect to see some tweaks involving your graphics drivers, overlays, or maybe even a quick deep dive into system settings.
Most of these methods are pretty straightforward, but remember—Windows loves to make stuff complicated. On some setups, things work like a charm on the first try, while on others, you might need to restart or do a bit of trial and error. Hopefully, one of these tricks fixes that stubborn black screen so you can get back to gaming.
How to Fix Broken Arrow Not Launching or Showing a Black Screen
Allow the Game Executable through Your Antivirus (or Firewall)
So, first things first—your antivirus or Windows Security might be blocking parts of the game without telling you. This is a pretty common reason for legit crashes or black screens, especially after updates. The idea is to make sure your security software knows the game isn’t malicious.
- Open your antivirus app (like Avast, Norton, Bitdefender, etc.).
- Find the section for exceptions or allowed apps. Usually under settings called “Exceptions,” “Whitelist,” or “Allowed Programs.”
- Add the game executable. It’s often located in Program Files\BrokenArrow\Game.exe, or whatever folder you picked during install.
- If you’re using Windows Security, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Settings > Add or Remove Exclusions.
- Add the game folder or just the .exe file.
On some machines, this might be a little hit-or-miss. On others, you’ll need to disable your antivirus altogether temporarily to see if that’s the culprit. Be cautious though—only whitelist the game if you’re sure it’s safe. It’s a common fix that often helps clear up black screen issues caused by security software blocking rendering components.
Verify the Integrity of Game Files
If some game files got corrupted or missed during install, the game might not launch correctly—possibly leading to a black screen instead of a menu. Verifying files is a solid step, especially if you’re playing through Steam.
- Open Steam.
- Right-click on Broken Arrow in your library and select Properties.
- Navigate to the Local Files tab and click Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- Steam will check the files—this might take a few minutes. If it finds issues, it’ll replace corrupted or missing files automatically.
- After it’s done, try launching the game again. Sometimes, this quick fix is all it takes.
Sometimes, a run of this verification can reveal corrupted files hiding behind a black screen. Not sure why it works, but it’s worth a shot — and it’s straightforward enough.
Toggle Your VPN or Network Settings
Oddly enough, VPNs or certain network configs can interfere with game startup. If you’re using a VPN, try disconnecting it to see if it helps. Conversely, some players report success when toggling VPNs. It’s a little hit or miss, but since network interference can cause rendering or connection issues, it’s worth ruling out.
- If you’re using a VPN, disconnect from it completely. Launch the game and see if it works.
- If no VPN, maybe try connecting with one—sometimes routing issues can cause strange display bugs.
- Also, check your firewall settings to ensure that the game isn’t being blocked or throttled.
Ensure .NET Framework is Enabled
Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. Many games, especially ones that use certain engine components, rely on the .NET Framework being enabled.
- Type Turn Windows features on or off in the Windows search bar.
- Look for .NET Framework 3.5 and .NET Framework 4.8; make sure both are checked.
- Click OK and wait for Windows to update the settings. Restart if prompted.
- If these weren’t enabled, this could be why the game’s renderer or initialization halts, resulting in a black screen.
Reset the Game’s Configuration Files
Sometimes config files get wonky after crashes or unusual shutdowns. Resetting them is a good way to wipe out corrupted settings.
- Navigate to
C:\Users\\AppData\LocalLow\SteelBalalaikaStudio\BrokenArrow.
If you can’t see AppData, enable hidden files in Explorer options. - Make a backup by copying the entire BrokenArrow folder to your desktop. Better safe than sorry.
- Delete or rename the original folder. When you launch the game again, it’ll recreate fresh config files.
Some folks swear this fixes black screens caused by bad settings or corrupted config data.
Disable Virtual Controller Software or USB Devices
Virtual controllers or third-party peripherals can conflict with rendering or input initialization, causing black screens.
- Disable any virtual controller drivers, like vJoy or similar.
- Disconnect non-essential USB peripherals—wheels, HOTAS, pedals, etc.
- Close any background apps that might interfere, like third-party overlay tools, screen recorders, or input remappers.
It might sound trivial, but on some setups, a virtual device can mess with the game’s renderer or input layer enough to cause a hang-up at startup.
Reset Overclock Settings & Disable Overclocking Software
Overclocking your CPU or GPU is cool, but it can also cause instability—or at least weird bugs. Reset everything to stock speed if you’re experiencing graphics issues or black screens.
- Revert overclock settings in MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, or Intel XTU.
- Close overclocking software before launching the game.
- Disable any overclocking profiles and see if stability improves.
- Also, turn off Steam overlays and overlays from Discord, Nvidia, or AMD—these overlays sometimes interfere with rendering pipelines.
Switch to Power Saver Mode
This sounds weird, but forcing power-saving profile can sometimes stabilize performance that’s flaky at high power states.
- Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
- Select Power Saver plan.
- Launch the game and see if the black screen issue goes away. Not sure why, but in some cases, keeping GPU clocks at stock helps with initial rendering glitches.
Adjust Performance Core Ratio with Intel Extreme Tuning Utility
Overclocked or tweaked CPU settings can cause instability in games. Perhaps give the CPU a breather:
- Download and install the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility.
- Run the utility, and if you’ve already overclocked, lower the Performance Core Ratio or reset to default.
- Apply settings and restart your PC.
Clean Install Graphics Driver
Graphics drivers are often the root cause. Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause a black screen on launch.
- For NVIDIA, head over to the NVIDIA Driver Download.
- For AMD, visit the AMD Driver Support.
- Download the “clean installation” option if available, or use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) in Safe Mode to completely wipe existing drivers before reinstalling.
- Install the latest stable driver and reboot.
Force the Game to Use Your Dedicated GPU
Sometimes, the game defaults to integrated graphics—bad news for performance or display issues.
- Open Graphics Settings in Windows (type it into the search).
- Add the game’s executable, and set it to use High Performance.
Launch the Game Directly from the Install Folder
Instead of launching via Steam, try running the game directly:
- Navigate to the installation folder—probably somewhere like C:\Program Files\BrokenArrow.
- Right-click the main executable and select Run as Administrator.
- For stubborn issues, try setting compatibility mode to Windows 8 or 7, right-click, go to Properties > Compatibility.
Adjust Launch Options for DirectX
Sometimes, forcing a specific DirectX version helps with compatibility. This can be a game-changer for black screens or crashes.
- Right-click on the game in Steam library, choose Properties.
- Under Launch Options, enter
-dx11or-dx12. - Close the window and launch the game. Try both options if one doesn’t work.
Update Windows
Keeping Windows up-to-date is basic but crucial. Sometimes, patches fix compatibility issues that cause black screens.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates.
- Install all available updates and reboot.
Install Visual C++ Redistributables
Many games depend on the latest Visual C++ redistributable packages. Missing these can lead to launch failures.
- Visit the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable page.
- Download and install both x86 and x64 versions, then reboot.
Increase Virtual Memory
If your system’s running low on RAM, increasing virtual memory might help. It’s a simple tweak but often overlooked.
- Search for Advanced System Settings and open it.
- Click on Settings under Performance.
- Go to the Advanced tab and click Change under Virtual Memory.
- Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
- Set a custom size based on your RAM — something like 1.5 times your total memory for initial size, and 3 times for maximum.
- Apply, then reboot.
Update Your BIOS
In some cases, outdated BIOS versions cause compatibility hiccups with new hardware or software. Carefully follow your motherboard or laptop manufacturer’s instructions for BIOS updates. It’s not perfect, but newer BIOS versions can help with GPU or display issues.
Reinstall the Game
If all else fails, a fresh re-install can clear out stubborn bugs. Uninstall via Steam, delete leftover files in the install folder, then install anew. Ideally, do this on your C drive or an SSD with plenty of space.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Always check your graphics settings, and make sure your system checks out with the minimum requirements. Backups are smart—if you’re changing configs or BIOS, do back up your data first. Sometimes, a simple driver update, or tweaking overlay settings, can make all the difference.
Wrap-up
Hopefully, one of these steps gets that black screen to vanish so you can actually get into the game. It’s usually something tweakable—just takes some patience or a bit of fiddling around. If nothing helps, reaching out to the game’s support forums or developer might be the next move. But chances are, doing some combination of these fixes will get you back in action.
Summary
- Allow game through antivirus/firewall
- Verify game files
- Disable conflicting overlays & peripherals
- Ensure .NET framework is enabled
- Reset game configs
- Update drivers and Windows
- Adjust graphics settings & power profiles
- Reinstall or update drivers & Visual C++ redistributables
- Try launching directly or via specific DirectX command-line args
Good luck fixing that black screen — hope it works out.