Ethan Brooks
How To Resolve theBlack Screen Problem in The Hunter Call of the Wild on PC
If the game suddenly turns into a black screen right after launching, that’s kind of annoying—like, why does that happen? Sometimes it’s a simple fix, but other times, it feels like you need to go on a little troubleshooting spree. This happens for a bunch of reasons—graphics driver conflicts, game settings accidental misconfigs, or even Windows and antivirus messing with things. Happened to me more than once, especially after a driver update or Windows patch. So, here’s a rundown of solutions that might help you get back into the wilderness without staring at a blank black screen forever. Be prepared, because some steps are more about trial-and-error than guaranteed fixes, but they’re worth a shot.
How to Fix the Hunter: Call of the Wild Black Screen Issue on PC
Use launcher launch options to force display mode
This is kinda weird, but adding launch commands can help bypass display issues. Head over to Steam and right-click on the game. Choose Properties, then go to the General tab. There, you’ll see Launch Options. Enter one of these commands:
/borderless/windowed/fullscreen
Try launching with each one, as sometimes the game defaults to a weird resolution or display mode that causes the black screen. Retry launching each time to see if things improve. Sometimes, Windows or graphics drivers get confused about fullscreen mode, so forcing windowed or borderless can jog things into working.
Disable DLCs, especially if they’re buggy
If you’ve got DLCs installed, especially newer or lesser-used ones like Revontuli Coast, try disabling them. Go into Steam, right-click the game, choose Properties, then head to the DLC tab. Uncheck the DLCs you don’t actively need—sometimes, they cause conflicts on launch, especially if they didn’t install right. After that, launch the game again. On some setups, this cleared up the black screen—but yeah, it’s hit or miss.
Turn off Steam Cloud save syncing temporarily
This one’s a weird one—I mean, Steam Cloud is supposed to back up your progress, but occasionally, syncing issues mess with the game startup. In the same Properties window, go to General and uncheck Keep my games saved in the Steam Cloud for theHunter. Then, try running the game. Sometimes, corrupted cloud saves can crash the game with a black screen—which is super frustrating because the logs are useless. If that works, maybe re-enable it later once things are stable.
Delete specific game config files
Yes, this feels a bit drastic, but sometimes a corrupted config or save file will cause startup issues. Open C:\Users\\Documents\Avalanche Studios\theHunter and make backups of these files first:
reserveworlddata_adfsteam_autocloud.vdfplayerinformation_adf
After copying them somewhere safe, delete these files. Restart the game to see if it’s any better. Not sure why, but sometimes the game’s reading corrupted data at startup and just smacks into a black screen. Deleting these resets some local configs, at least temporarily.
Unplug external controllers or peripherals
If you’ve got any game controllers, custom joysticks, racing wheels, or weird USB gadgets connected, disconnect them all first. These can sometimes interfere with display detection or input handling during launch. Launch the game, and if it loads normally, reconnect controllers one-by-one. It’s a common problem with some setups—hardware conflicts causing the game to hang on startup.
Edit display settings manually in configuration files
In your Documents folder, go to C:\Users\\Documents\Avalanche Studios\theHunter\settings.js. Open it with a text editor like Notepad. Look for the line "DisplayFullscreen": 1 and change it to "DisplayFullscreen": 0. Basically, you’re forcing the game to run windowed instead of fullscreen—which can often bypass fullscreen driver quirks that cause the black screen. Save the file and try launching again. Weird thing, but on some setups, forcing windowed mode helps avoid driver crashes during startup.
Reset or delete the settings folder entirely
If editing the config didn’t help, try deleting the whole settings folder. Navigate to C:\Users\\Documents\Avalanche Studios and rename the folder to something like settings_backup. Launch the game—it’ll recreate a fresh set of configs. This often solves issues caused by corrupted settings. If not, you can later restore your old configs from the backup if needed. Sometimes, the game’s stored settings just go haywire and cause startup hangs.
Remove or disable mods if you’re using any
This is obvious but sometimes overlooked. If you’ve installed mods, disable them and launch the game. Mods can cause conflicts, especially ones that alter core game files or graphics settings. Remove mods from your mod folder, then try playing again. On some setups, a bad mod is enough to crash the game at launch, resulting in a black screen.
Make sure your antivirus isn’t blocking the game
Background security software is your friend until it isn’t. Check your antivirus or firewall settings—add an exception for theHunter.exe. If you’re on Windows Security, go to Virus & Threat Protection, then Manage Settings, and under Controlled Folder Access, add the game directory to trusted apps. Sometimes, your security software blocks key game components, leading to a blank or non-responsive window.
Run the game with admin rights and compatibility tweaks
Navigate to the game folder (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\theHunter), right-click theHunter.exe. In Properties, under the Compatibility tab, check Run this program as an administrator. Also, disable Full-screen optimizations. Some people report this prevents the game from hanging in a black screen loop. It’s a simple tweak that sometimes fixes startup issues related to permissions or Windows graphics handling.
Verify the game files integrity
If files got corrupted or didn’t download properly, verify their integrity from Steam. Right-click the game in your library, select Properties, go to Local Files, then click Verify Integrity of Game Files. This process will check for corrupted files and redownload only what’s necessary. On a few machines, corrupted files are the root of the black screen problem.
Update your graphics drivers
This is the most common culprit. Make sure you’ve got the latest GPU drivers installed. For NVIDIA, visit NVIDIA Driver Download. AMD users should check AMD Driver Support. Do a clean install, because leftover old drivers can also cause conflicts and black screens. That’s the first thing I’d do because graphics driver issues are like the root of most startup problems these days.
Switch to a dedicated graphics card or roll back drivers
If you’re on a laptop with integrated and dedicated GPU options, double-check you’re running the game on the dedicated GPU. Use your GPU control panel or Windows graphics settings. If new driver versions caused the issue, consider rolling back to a stable previous version—sometimes, newer drivers bring new bugs or conflicts.
Install Visual C++ Redistributables
Sometimes missing system libraries cause startup issues. Get the latest Visual C++ Redistributables from Microsoft’s official page and install them. It’s a DIY fix, but not uncommon—missing dependencies can turn the game into a black rectangle.
Update Windows to the latest version
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates. Sometimes Windows bugs or incompatibilities cause startup issues, and Microsoft patches those in updates. Keep your OS fresh, especially if you’ve been delaying updates.
Disconnect all external devices and overlays
Remove all peripherals—joysticks, racing wheels, external microphones, whatever. Also, disable overlay apps like Discord, GeForce Experience, or Razer Synapse—these tend to cause conflicts. Launch without them, and see if the game opens normally. It’s a hassle, but peripherals can sometimes hijack display outputs or cause driver crashes.
Adjust virtual memory (page file)
Open Advanced System Settings (search it out in Windows). Under the Advanced tab, click Change in Virtual Memory. Set a custom size—something like 1.5x your RAM size (e.g., for 8GB RAM, set 12288 MB). Restart your PC afterward. Some folks say increasing virtual memory helps with startup crashes, especially on machines with low RAM or SSD issues.
Update BIOS if necessary
This is more of a last resort, but sometimes outdated BIOS causes weird compatibility issues. Check your motherboard or laptop manufacturer’s website for the latest BIOS update. Follow their instructions carefully—bricking your BIOS can be catastrophic. But in some cases, a BIOS update can stabilize hardware detection and graphical issues.
Reinstall the game
If nothing else works, uninstall fully, delete the game folder, do a quick clean reboot, then install fresh using a different drive or location. Sometimes, the simplest fix is to start fresh, especially if your installation got corrupted or heavily modded. It’s the nuclear option, but it works more often than you’d think.
Extra tips & common issues
Make sure your PC still meets minimum specs—you might be trying to run it on old hardware or an underpowered laptop. Keep checking for game patches—developers often address black screen bugs in updates. If all else fails, visit the official forums or support pages. Occasionally, certain hardware combos just don’t play nice, and the forums are full of workarounds.
Wrap-up
Most black screen issues are usually graphics or driver related, so focus on updating drivers first, then check your configs. If the game launches in windowed or borderless mode, that’s a good sign it’s a display detection glitch. The above steps cover most troubleshooting bases, but sometimes it takes patience and a bit of trial and error. Hopefully, this shaves off a few frustrating hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the black screen still shows up after trying everything?
Sometimes, even after all that, it’s a specific hardware compatibility problem. You might need to reach out to the game’s support or look for recent patches that address black screen bugs.
Can troubleshooting cause me to lose game progress?
Most steps, like deleting config files or resetting folders, might cause some saved settings to reset, but your game progress (like saved data, saves, etc.) is usually stored elsewhere—check the cloud or save locations. Always back up critical files before messing around.
Is updating BIOS risky?
It can be if not done properly, but if your system is unstable or experiencing hardware issues, it might be worth trying. Just follow manufacturer instructions carefully and don’t rush it.
Hopefully this helps someone get past the black screen. Good luck out there in the wilderness!