DragonSword: Awakening Start-up Crash After Graphics Changes — Workaround

Official Notice — July 24, 2026

Hound13 posted a Steam news notice acknowledging that changing certain graphics options can cause the game to crash on startup. Later the same day, Patch 1.0.2 shipped Frame Generation, resolution-after-verify, and FPS Limit save fixes. Keep the workaround below if your client still fails to boot after updating.

Symptoms

• Game fails to launch and returns to desktop shortly after the splash screen
• Settings menu previously showed a custom value (resolution, Frame Generation, FPS Limit, FSR/DLSS, or similar)
• No error code shown — the process simply terminates

If your game launched normally before changing settings, this is the most likely cause. Apply the workaround before opening a Steam support ticket.

Workaround: Delete GameUserSettings.ini

1. Close DragonSword: Awakening completely (including the Steam overlay).
2. In your Steam Library, right-click DragonSword : Awakening.
3. Select Properties → Installed Files → Browse.
4. Navigate to DS → Saved → Config → Windows.
5. Delete the file named GameUserSettings.ini.
6. Restart the game. It will rebuild the file with default graphics settings.

After the Workaround

The game will boot with the default graphics preset. Re-apply resolution and upscale options one at a time after confirming Patch 1.0.2 is installed. Re-enable Frame Generation last and relaunch to confirm stability.

Save data, progression, currency, and unlocks are stored separately from GameUserSettings.ini, so deleting the file does not affect gameplay progress.

Related Issues

Continue through Patch 1.0.3 for World Boss reset and Intermediate Promotion door fixes. Track every active issue on our Launch Known Issues page.

Return to Patch 1.0.2 or browse the Launch Bugs guide for additional fixes.