Alex Ruben
How To Resolve PEAK Stuck on Loading Screen on PC
If you’ve ever played PEAK and hit that wall where it just refuses to load, gets stuck on a loading screen forever, or spins in that weird infinite loading loop, you know how maddening it can be. Sometimes it’s a bug, sometimes it’s your system messing with the game, and other times it’s something you overlooked. This collection of troubleshooting steps isn’t foolproof, but it’s what’s helped quite a few folks get their game to finally launch properly. Expect some trial-and-error—these aren’t magic fixes, but they’re worth trying to get back to gaming.
How to Fix PEAK Not Loading or Stuck on Loading Screen
Modify Launch Options to Force DirectX 12
Usually, forcing the game to run on a specific graphics API helps. Just like batching a bunch of settings in Steam’s launch options can sometimes solve weird loading issues. So, adding -force-d3d12 in the launch options forces PEAK to use DirectX 12, which has been a fix for some users. It’s kind of weird, but in some setups, this tweak helps dodge whatever crashes or freezes you’re seeing.
- Right-click PEAK in your Steam library, then click Properties.
- Go to the General tab and click on Set Launch Options.
- Type
-force-d3d12and close.
This might do the trick if the game hangs up on startup, especially if you’ve been running older or unstable graphics drivers. Sometimes, Windows just doesn’t pick the best defaults for DirectX, so this forces it to use a more compatible mode.
Try Setting PROTON_USE_WINED3D for Linux or Compatibility Layers
If you’re on Linux (via Proton or Wine) or tinkering with compatibility settings, adding PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 as a launch parameter might help. It’s an alternative to DirectX that sometimes improves stability. You’ll want to add this in Steam’s Launch Options as well, maybe combined with setting DirectX 12 mode. The full line might look like: PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 %command%.
Note that this is more for those running on Proton and can sometimes bypass issues with the DirectX translation layer. Not guaranteed, but worth a shot if nothing else works.
Workaround for Campfire Crashes – Keep Your View Down
If you’ve managed to get into PEAK but crash when reaching the campfire, here’s a trick that’s kind of strange but helped users finish that section. When entering the Tropics, keep your camera pointed down at the ground until you climb or do something else. It’s like avoiding a loaded scene bug. Light the campfire and then look away from the loading zone, so the game doesn’t hang. Once it’s ready, gently turn around and continue.
Honestly, sometimes it’s just about avoiding that one trigger that causes the game to choke. Keep in mind, don’t use Alt + Tab during these moments—it can cause more crashes.
Also, lowering your game’s FPS limit to your monitor’s refresh rate or dialling down graphics settings might help prevent crashes during heavy loading zones.
Check Monitor Output Settings
It might sound dumb, but double-check your display settings. Out-of-sync resolutions or unsupported modes can cause loading issues or black screens. Make sure your monitor is set either to 1920×1080 or a compatible 2K resolution. This can sometimes spill-over into game launch issues, especially if your display mode changes dynamically or you’re using multiple monitors.
Additional Launch Options to Experiment With
If specifying DirectX type alone didn’t do it, try these extra parameters:
-screen-fullscreen 0 -screen-width 1920 -screen-height 1080
This forces windowed mode at your preferred size—sometimes that makes loading more manageable. Handy if fullscreen crashes are happening or if your GPU is struggling with rendering during load screens.
Registry Tweaks for Deeper Fixes
In some cases, Windows registry entries related to your game settings might be corrupted or misconfigured. To check, press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter. Navigate to:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Landcrab\Peak
Here, delete any entries starting with Screenmanager. This resets your display configs for the game, which can be corrupted and cause endless loading loops. Be careful—back up your registry first if you’re nervous.
Rename or Delete PEAK Folder to Reset Settings
Sometimes, specific game data stored locally might be causing conflicts. Go to C:\Users\
Whitelist Game Executable in Antivirus/Firewall
Antivirus software or firewall can, quite annoyingly, block certain game files or network calls that cause loading stalls. Make sure to add the PEAK executable (usually located in your Program Files or Steam folder) as an exception in your antivirus or firewall settings. This prevents it from being flagged or sandboxed, which can halt the loading process.
Run the Game Directly From Its Folder
Hates to admit it, but launching the game directly from its install directory sometimes helps bypass launcher hiccups. Navigate to the PEAK folder, right-click the game’s main executable, and choose Run as Administrator. For some setups, this gets around permission issues or conflicts with Steam overlay permissions.
Verify Game Files in Steam
Corrupted or missing files are a frequent culprit. In Steam, right-click PEAK, go to Properties, then to the Local Files tab, and click Verify Integrity of Game Files. This makes Steam re-download only what’s broken, preventing you from a full reinstall.
Update Graphics Drivers
This one’s basically a no-brainer—outdated drivers are a surefire way to cause game loading issues. Head over to NVIDIA (NVIDIA Drivers) or AMD (AMD Drivers) and grab the latest version. Sometimes a new driver fixes game bugs that have been around for ages.
Make Sure PEAK Runs on Your Dedicated GPU
If your system has switchable graphics, check that PEAK is assigned to your dedicated GPU. Windows Settings > Graphics allows you to set preferred GPU for specific apps. This avoids relying on integrated graphics, which might falter during loading.
Disconnect External Devices & Close Background Tools
Unplug extra peripherals—joysticks, hotas, extra USB devices, even second monitors. Some of these can interfere during heavy loading scenes. Disable overlays from Discord, Steam, or Razer Synapse; they sometimes cause conflicts during startup or loading screens.
Revert Overclocking & Disable Overlays
If your CPU or GPU is overclocked, try reverting to default. Overclocking can lead to instability during game load. Also, disable overlays from programs like NVIDIA GeForce Experience, Steam, and Discord—they’re known to cause weird bugs during startup.
Keep Windows Updated & Install Visual C++ Redistributables
Head over to Microsoft’s page to download the latest Visual C++ Redistributables. These files are critical for many games to run smoothly. Also, make sure Windows has all the latest updates—unpatched OS bugs can cause issues that are difficult to troubleshoot otherwise.
Boost Virtual Memory
Sometimes, your system’s RAM isn’t enough for heavy loadings, and increasing virtual memory (paging file) helps. Search for Advanced System Settings, go to Performance, then the Advanced tab, and click Change under Virtual Memory. Uncheck “Automatically manage” and set a custom size of 1.5x your physical RAM (e.g., if you have 8GB RAM, set 12GB). This helps in some cases where the game loads but stalls due to memory issues.
Reinstall the Game as a Last Resort
If nothing else works, uninstall PEAK, delete its folder completely, restart your PC, and do a clean reinstall. Sometimes corrupted files or bad configs are just too stubborn. Installing on a different drive like an SSD could also help speed up loading times and avoid disk-related hiccups.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
- Always back up your save data if possible before doing major tweaks.
- Pay attention to error messages—sometimes they say what’s really wrong.
- Check for Windows or driver updates regularly—new patches fix bugs that cause these kinds of issues.
Wrap-up
Trying all these steps can feel like a lot, but usually, one of them gets PEAK moving again. It’s about trial and error—especially with launch options, drivers, and file checks. Sometimes, just updating your graphics driver or resetting a config is enough to clear up that loading nightmare. Don’t get discouraged if it takes a few tries; these problems tend to be pretty system-specific.
The hope is that one of these fixes gets things working smoothly again. Fingers crossed this helps someone save time and frustration.
Summary
- Force DirectX 12 with
-force-d3d12in launch options. - Try alternative Proton/Wine settings if on Linux.
- Adjust display output or run game in windowed mode.
- Reset game configs by deleting the PEAK folder.
- Whitelist etc. in antivirus/firewall.
- Verify game files & update graphic drivers.
- Check GPU assignment and disconnect unnecessary devices.
- Ensure Windows and Visual C++ redistributables are up-to-date.
- Adjust virtual memory if loading hangs.
- Reinstall if all else fails.