15 Ways to Fix Persona 3 Reload Keeps Crashing on Startup on PC

Persona 3 Reload is a role-playing video game that has been developed and published by Atlus. It is a remake of Persona 3, which is the fourth main installment of the Persona series. The Persona series is a part of the larger Megami Tensei franchise. However, some players have reported issues with the game crashing on startup when launching it on their PC, even though it has just been launched.

Why is Persona 3 Reload Crashing?

Many PC players of Persona 3 Reload often experience issues with the game not launching or crashing on startup. Even if their PC meets the game’s system requirements, they may not understand why this is happening. It’s crucial to understand that several possible reasons may cause this issue, which you must be aware of before attempting to troubleshoot or draw any conclusions.

An outdated game patch version, graphics drivers, or Windows operating system are common reasons why the game may not start on your PC. Other plausible explanations include missing or corrupted game files, problems with the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, or unnecessary background tasks running on your PC. Compatibility issues with your PC, overlay applications, or other background tasks may also trigger the game to crash on startup in some cases.

Fix: Persona 3 Reload Keeps Crashing on the PC

As you know the possible reasons behind the crashing issue with PC games, it’s time to get into the workarounds below. Here, we’ve shared some troubleshooting methods for you that should be useful. So, make sure to follow all methods until the problem gets fixed.

1. Check System Requirements

First of all, you should check for the PC configuration to see whether it meets the system requirements of the game or not. Sometimes, the compatibility issue between the PC and the video game can cause many crashes. If your PC build is low on specifications or outdated, upgrade the specific hardware/software to make it compatible. We’ve mentioned the system requirements of the game below.

Minimum Requirements:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i5-2300, AMD FX-4350
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti, 2 GB; AMD Radeon HD 7850, 2 GB
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 30 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Performance Target: 720p, low graphics settings, @ 30 FPS

Recommended Requirements:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i7-4790, AMD Ryzen 5 1400
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, 4 GB, AMD Radeon R9 290X, 4 GB
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 30 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Performance Target: 1080p, high graphics settings, @ 60 FPS

2. Run the game as an Administrator

If you’re not running your video game using an administrator privilege, it may cause issues with the game launching, startup crashing, or even the game not loading. So, running the game exe file as an administrator on your Windows computer is better to check whether that fixes the problem. To do so:

• Right-click on the Persona 3 Reload exe shortcut 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.

3. Verify the Integrity of Game Files

If your game files become corrupted or missing for some unexpected reason, verifying and repairing the game files using the game launcher can help you a lot. To do this:

• Launch Steam > Click on Library.
• Right-click on Persona 3 Reload 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, restart your computer.

4. Update Persona 3 Reload

We should also recommend you manually check for the game update at your end via the respective game client to ensure no outdated game version conflicts with the game launching. An outdated game patch version can trigger several potential issues that might trigger crashes. To do this:

• Open Steam and go to the Library.
• Click on Persona 3 Reload from the left pane.
• Steam will automatically search for the available update.
• If there is an update available, click on Update.
• Make sure to wait for some time until the update is completed.
• Once done, ensure to reboot the PC to apply changes.

5. Update Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

It is strongly recommended to update the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables on your PC by following the steps outlined below. If you’re using Steam or another games launcher, you can visit the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables page to download the latest version.

• Head over to the following path on your PC:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\vcredist

• You should see the following folders:
  • 2012\vc_redist.x64.exe
  • 2013\vc_redist.x64.exe
  • 2019\vc_redist.x64.exe
• Just make sure to run all of these executable files that are present. (If you’ve different folders, then run the vc_redist.x64.exe file in those folders)
• Finally, restart your PC to fix the issue.

6. Update DirectX

Sometimes, outdated DirectX versions can also trouble you a lot with PC games. It’s better to update the DirectX version manually to avoid crashing issues.

Access the DirectX folder path by navigating to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Steamworks Shared\_CommonRedist\DirectX. Then, run DXSETUP.exe to reinstall/update DirectX. Finally, restart your computer to apply changes.

7. Update GPU Drivers

It seems that multiple affected players have reported the outdated graphics driver. If you’ve also using the outdated graphics driver for a while, then make sure to check for updates by following the steps below:

• Press the Win+X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
• Now, click on Device Manager from the list > Double-click on Display adapters.
• Right-click on the dedicated graphics card that’s active.

• Next, select Update driver > Choose to Search automatically for drivers.
• If an update is available, the system will automatically download & install it.
• Once done, restart the computer to apply changes.

This method should fix the Persona 3 Reload crashing issue on PC. If not, you can head over to the next method.

8. Disable Overlay Apps

Some players have reported that disabling the Steam overlay on their Windows computer has helped them easily fix the issue of the game not launching. When you launch the game client, the in-game overlay app runs in the background, which can cause problems with system resources or processes.

• Open the Steam client > Go to Library.
• Now, right-click on Persona 3 Reload > Select Properties.
• Head to the General section > Here, uncheck the Enable Steam Overlay checkbox.
• Return to Library > Re-open Squad to check for the not launching issue.

9. Install Pending Windows Updates

It is possible that some Windows bugs or system files may conflict with the game, preventing it from running properly. An incompatibility issue can also occur when the software has not been updated for a while. To avoid this, ensure that all pending Windows updates are installed individually and that your operating system is updated to the latest build. Follow these steps to update your system:

• Press the Win+I keys to open Windows Settings.
• Next, click on Update & Security > Select Check for updates under the Windows Update section.

• If there is a feature update available, select Download and Install.
• Wait for some time until the update gets completed.
• Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes immediately.

10. Disable Antivirus and Firewall Program

To turn off the Windows Firewall, follow these steps:

• Click on the Start menu.
• Type “Control Panel” and click on it.
• In the search box, type “firewall”.
• Click on “Windows Firewall”.
• In the left pane, click on “Turn Windows Firewall on or off”.
• Select “Turn off Windows Firewall” for the Private, Domain, and Public Network Settings.
• Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes and check if the issue is resolved.

Now, you will need to disable the anti-virus protection (Windows Defender) by following these steps:

To turn off real-time protection on your PC, follow these steps:

1. Go to Windows Settings > Privacy and Security.
2. Click on Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection.
3. Click on Manage settings and then turn off the Real-time Protection option.
4. Finally, make sure to reboot your PC to apply the changes.

If, in case, you’re using any third-party antivirus program, then make sure to turn it off manually.

11. Launch the Game in Windowed Mode (Steam)

Try launching the game in Windowed display mode to check if that helps you. Sometimes, a computer with an average hardware specification can cause several issues with the fullscreen display mode while running the game.

• Open the Steam client and go to the Library.
• Right-click on Persona 3 Reload > Select Properties.
• In the General section, click on Set Launch Options.
• Next, copy & paste the following command-line argument:

 -windowed -noborder

• Make sure to save changes and try rerunning the game to check if Persona 3 Reload is launching properly.

12. Perform a Clean Boot

• Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Now, type msconfig and hit Enter to open the System Configuration window.
• Go to the Services tab > Enable the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox.

• Click on Disable All.
• Click on Apply and then OK to save changes.
• Now, click on the Startup tab > Click on Open Task Manager.
• Under the Startup tab from the Task Manager interface, click on the tasks enabled for startup boot > Click on Disable.
• Select the high-impact startup programs and disable them one by one.
• Once all is done, restart your PC to apply changes.
• Finally, check whether or not the Persona 3 Reload crashing on the PC has been fixed.

13. Close Background Processes

• Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.
• Click on the Processes tab > Select the task that you want to close.

• Once selected, click on End Task. Make sure to do the steps for each task individually.
• Once done, restart your computer to change effects immediately.

14. Reset Persona 3 Reload

• Press the Windows (Start) + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
• Select Apps and Features > Click on Persona 3 Reload from the list of installed programs to select it.
• Now, click on Advanced options > Select Reset.
• Once done, reboot your computer and try to launch the game.

15. Reinstall Persona 3 Reload

If none of the methods worked for you, try reinstalling the Persona 3 Reload game to check if that helps you fix the game not launching issue. To do so:

• Click on the Start menu and search for Control Panel.
• Open Control Panel > Click on Uninstall a Program.
• Locate and right-click on Persona 3 Reload > Select Uninstall.
• If prompted, click on Uninstall again to confirm.
• Wait for the uninstallation process to complete. You can follow the on-screen instructions to do so.
• Once done, make sure to reboot the PC to apply changes.
• Finally, head over to the game launcher you use (Steam Games Launcher) and reinstall Persona 3 Reload.

I hope this guide was helpful in resolving the crashing issue while playing the Persona 3 Reload. If you’re still encountering problems or have any other queries related to the game, please leave a comment below for further assistance. Remember, gaming issues can sometimes be complex, but they can often be resolved with the right troubleshooting steps. Don’t hesitate to seek more help or share your solutions that might aid others in the gaming community. Happy gaming!