How to Fix Stray Low Level Fatal Error

2022’s cat-specific cyberpunk adventure video game Stray is doing well in the market for both Windows and PlayStation platforms. BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive have done a great job by launching this title with stunning graphics as well as smoother gameplay. However, nothing is perfect, and it seems that Stray has its own issues. Meanwhile, some players face the Stray Low-Level Fatal Error on the PC while launching the game.

Yes! The ‘LowLevelFatalError’ is troubling to a lot of Stray PC version players during startup which can be considered as a startup crashing issue too. According to multiple reports, the full error message may look like “Direct3DDevice->CreateUnorderedAccessView(Texture->GetResource(), &UAVDesc” along with “LowLevelFatalError [File Unknown] [Line:258]” and then the last part says “with error E_INVALIDARG”. It’s frustrating for all.

How to Fix Stray Low Level Fatal Error

Well, the Stray game is based on Unreal Engine 4 from Epic Games that is used for game development, visualization, and more. It’s one of the best game engines right now in the market. But not fully problem free because a couple of issues mostly arise with the video games while launching on the PC. LowLevelFatalError is one of them where the GPU becomes unable to load the game properly on the PC and starts crashing with this specific error message.

Now, if you’re also one of the victims to encounter such an issue then make sure to follow this troubleshooting guide completely to fix it. Luckily, here we’ve shared a couple of possible workarounds for you that should gonna come in handy. Make sure not to skip any method because sometimes even a basic workaround can also fix the issue. So, without further ado, let’s jump into it. You can also check out our video tutorial below for your ease.

1. Reboot the PC

First of all, you should check whether the game is conflicting with the temporary glitches or not. Sometimes a normal system boot on the PC may fix a couple of issues whatsoever. You should close all the foreground running programs on the PC and then restart the system to refresh it.

2. Run the game as an administrator

The second thing you should do is to run the game executable application file as an administrator on the Windows PC to allow all permissions properly. Mostly, the User Account Control (UAC) requires admin access to run a program to its full potential. To do so:

• Right-click on the Stray exe application file on your PC.
• Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.

• Make sure to click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to checkmark it.
• Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.
• Now, you can just double-click on the game exe file to launch it.

If you use the Steam client to run the game then make sure to do the same steps for the Steam application to give it admin access.

3. Set Launch Options on Steam

Sometimes you may have to set launch options on Steam for the specific game to make it compatible or force run with the mentioned DirectX version.

• Open Steam > Click on Library.
• Right-click on Stray from the left pane > Click on Properties.
• Under the General section, you’ll find out Launch Options.
• Here just type -d3d11 and then try launching the Stray game to check if the Low Level Fatal Error is still appearing or not.

Note: If the problem is bothering you then make sure to type -dx12 in the launch options field and try running the game again.

4. Update Graphics Driver

It’s highly recommended to check for the graphics driver update because an outdated or missing graphics driver eventually causes issues with the game launching as well as errors. To do that:

• Right-click on the Start Menu to open up the Quick Access Menu.
• Click on Device Manager from the list to open the interface.
• Now, you’ll need to double-click on Display adapters to expand it.

• Then right-click on the dedicated graphics card name you’re using to bring the context menu.
• Next, click on Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.
• The system will automatically check for the available update.
• If an update is available, it’ll automatically download and install the latest version.
• Once done, make sure to restart your PC to apply the changes.

If there is no update showing on the PC then make sure to head over to the official manufacturer’s website of the respective graphics card and search manually for the latest update. If a new version is available for your specific GPU model, just download the file on your PC and install it. Whatever graphics card you use, jump to the link below as per the manufacturer.

• Nvidia GPU
• AMD GPU
• Intel GPU

5. Run the game on a dedicated GPU

You should also ensure that your using the dedicated GPU on your Windows computer instead of using the integrated HD graphics. To do so:

For Nvidia GPU:

• Right-click on the desktop screen to open the context menu.
• Now, click on Nvidia Control Panel to open it.
• Head over to 3D Settings > Select Manage 3D Settings.
• Open the Program Settings tab and choose Stray from the drop-down menu.
• Next, select the preferred graphics processor for this program from another drop-down menu.
• Finally, your Nvidia GPU should show as High-Performance Nvidia Processor.
• Save the changes and reboot the PC.

For AMD GPU:

• Right-click on the desktop screen to open the context menu.
• Now, open Radeon Settings > Navigate to Additional Settings.
• Go to Preferences > Select Power > Choose Switchable Graphics Application Settings.
• Select Stray from the list of installed applications. [If the game isn’t in the list, you can select Add Application and include the game exe file]
• Finally, select High Performance from the Graphics Settings, option > Reboot the PC.

You can also try following the steps below to set the game graphics to high performance on the PC.

• Press the Windows + I keys to open up the Windows Settings menu.
• Click on System > Click on Display.
• Select Graphics > Here make sure to add your Stray game application file to the list by clicking on Browse.
• Just select the game file from the installed directory > Once added, click on the Stray game from the list.
• Now, click on Options > Select High performance under Graphics preference.
• Then click on Save to apply changes.

6. Verify and Repair Game Files

Mostly missing or corrupted game files which are installed on your PC may trigger several issues with the game application launching properly. It’s always a better idea to verify the integrity of game files on the Steam client by following the steps below. The game client will automatically verify and repair the problematic game files to reduce errors or crashes up to some extent.

• Launch the Steam client > Click on Library.
• Right-click on Stray from the list of installed games.
• Now, click on Properties > Go to Local Files.

• Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
• You’ll have to wait for the process until it gets completed.
• Once done, just restart your computer.

7. Disable Overlay Apps

In some cases, a couple of applications may come with an additional overlay app or interface that basically allows gamers to take in-game screenshots, record gameplay videos, share with friends, chat with friends in gaming, etc. However, these overlay apps or tools require higher system resources to run in the background which can eventually put pressure on the game launching. It can cause lags, stutters, crashes, FPS drops, etc. To turn it off:

Disable Discord Overlay:

• Launch the Discord app > Click on the gear icon at the bottom.
• Select Overlay under App Settings > Turn on the Enable in-game overlay.
• Click on the Games tab > Select Stray.
• Finally, turn off the Enable in-game overlay toggle.
• Make sure to reboot your PC to apply changes.

Disable Xbox Game Bar:

• Press Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings.
• Click on Gaming > Go to Game Bar > Turn off Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using the Game bar option.

Disable Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:

• Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience app > Head over to Settings.
• Click on the General tab > Disable the In-Game Overlay option.
• Finally, restart the PC to apply changes, and launch the game again.

Disable Steam Overlay:

• Open the Steam client on the PC > Click on Library.
• Right-click on Stray from the left pane > Select Properties.
• Now, click on General > Make sure to Uncheck the Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game option.

There are some other overlay apps that can cause trouble for you something as MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB software, etc. You should turn them off as well. This method did fix the Stray Low Level Fatal Error for some players.

8. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables

If your Windows computer isn’t running the latest version or the required version of the Microsft Visual C++ Runtime then you may encounter several issues whatsoever. To do that:

• Press the Windows key from the keyboard to open the Start Menu.
• Now, type apps & features to search.
• Open Apps & Features from the search result.
• Click on the Microsoft Visual C++ program(s) from the list individually.
• Select each program and click on Uninstall.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete uninstallation.
• Next, visit the official Microsoft website and download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
• Once done, install it on your computer > Restart the system to change effects.

9. Update Windows

Just like an outdated game or application, it’s also recommended to update your Windows OS version or the build version to make the system compatible. It also improves performance and fixes bugs or stability issues whatsoever. To do so:

• Press the Windows + I keys to open up the Windows Settings menu.
• Click on Windows Update from the left pane > Click on Check for updates.
• If there is an update available, you should select Download and Install.
• Wait for the update process to be completed.
• Once done, reboot your PC to apply changes.

You should also check for the optional updates by following the steps below because some of the device driver updates and security patch updates may appear in a separate section.

• Press the Windows + I keys to open up the Windows Settings menu.
• Click on Windows Update from the left pane > Click on Advanced Options.
• Now, scroll down a bit and find the Additional options section.
• Click on Optional updates > If there is an update available, make sure to select the update.
• Click on Download & install > Reboot the system once the update is installed.

10. Try Disconnecting Other Peripherals

You should also try disconnecting other unnecessary USB peripheral devices from your computer such as additional display monitors, USB storage devices, USB flash drives, printers, webcams, controllers, RGB accessories, USB dongle for Bluetooth, etc. Just keep the mouse and keyboard connected to the PC then check for the issue again. Sometimes disconnecting and reconnecting the keyboard or mouse can also come in handy.

11. Update the Stray game

If none of the methods worked for you then make sure to check for the game update and install it to the latest version. An outdated game patch version can eventually cause multiple issues on the system or become incompatible to run properly. You can follow the steps below to update the Stray game via the Steam client.

• Open the Steam client > Go to Library.
• Click on Stray from the list of installed games at the left pane.
• Now, the client will automatically search for the available update.
• If there is an update available, you’ll see the Update option > Just click on it.
• Wait for a couple of minutes or so until the game update completes. [Depends on the storage space and internet connectivity]
• Once done, make sure to close the Steam client.
• Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes, and launch the Stray game again to check for the Low Level Fatal Error.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For additional queries, you can comment below.