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How to Fix The First Descendant Not Launching On PC?

How to Fix The First Descendant Not Launching On PC? (Fix Now!)

The First Descendant not launching on PC and you’re wondering why?

 

Well, the leading causes why The First Descendant won’t launch include corrupted game files or Windows firewall interference.

 

After going through user feedback from those who have been experiencing launching and crashing issues with The First Descendant, we have constructed a full troubleshooting guide to eliminate the problem in minutes!

To fix whenever The First Descendant doesn’t launch, run the game as administrator, input a DirectX12 command line argument in the boot options, and verify the game’s files. If the issue persists, move The First Descendant’s installation folder and cleanly reinstall the game.

 

Let’s explore the potential causes why The First Descendant is refusing to launch!

Why The First Descendant Won’t Launch (PC)?

Here are the possible reasons why The First Descendant won’t launch:

 

  • The game has not been provided with administrator privileges.
  • DirectX 12 is not supported on your system or through Steam.
  • The game files of The First Descendant have become corrupted.
  • The First Descendant has not been allowed through the firewall.
  • The executable file of the game must be optimized for compatibility.
Read further to find the most effective solutions to resolve The First Descendant’s launching issues!

The First Descendant Not Launching On PC - FIXED

Tip: Have you made sure that your PC meets the minimum requirements for The First Descendant?

1. Launch the First Descendant as Administrator

Method 1/8

Running The First Descendant as an administrator is an optimal solution for crashing, launching, or loading issues. The first step is to run the game under administrator privileges and determine if the launch will be successful or interrupted by an error code.

 

Here’s how to launch The First Descendant as administrator on your system:

 

  • Open the Steam launcher and navigate to the “Library” section.
  • Locate The First Descendant in the side menu of available games.
  • Right-click on the game and select “Properties” from the bottom.
The image shows how to access The First Descendant's game properties from the Steam launcher.
  • Navigate the “Installed Files” tab and click on the “Browse” button.
The image shows how to access The First Descentant's game directory.
  • Right-click “TheFirst Descendant” and press “Run as administrator.”
The image shows how to run an .exe file as administrator which must help when The First Descendant not launching on PC.

Tip: You can set The First Descendant to always launch as an administrator in the file’s settings!

2. Run the DirectX 11/12 Command Line Argument

Method 2/8

Like other newer games, The First Descendant requires the most current version of DirectX 12 to launch and function on your system properly. You can input a command line in Steam’s game settings to ensure The First Descendant is using the most current version of DirectX 12 available.

 

Here’s how to set the DirectX command line argument within the Steam launcher:

 

  1. Open the Steam launcher and navigate to the “Library” section.
  2. Scroll down and right-click The First Descendant’s game tile.
  3. Click “Properties” and navigate to the “General” tab on the left.
  4. Type “-dx12” under the “Launch Options” menu and press “Enter.”
  5. Save the changes, exit the properties menu, and launch the game.
  6. Determine if The First Descendant’s launch is interrupted by an error.
The image shows how to run the DirectX Command Line Argument, when The First Descendant not launching on PC.

If the “-dx12” command line argument did not alter The First Descendant’s launch, attempt writing down “-d3d12” and then “-dx11” to determine if the game will launch successfully.

Note: Older DirectX versions are known to run on less memory, which could lead to memory-related errors.

3. Verify The First Descendant's File Integrity

Method 3/8

A potential corruption with The First Descendant’s software files may prevent the game from launching properly. So, the next step is to initiate a file repair through The Other Descendant’s properties section within the Steam launcher.

 

Here’s how to verify the game files of The First Descendant on your PC:

 

  1. Open the Steam launcher and click the “Library” section at the top.
  2. Next, use the search field or manually locate The First Descendant.
  3. Right-click on the game’s tile and press on the “Properties” option.
  4. After that, select “Local Files” from the hand panel on the left side.
  5. Next, click “Verify Integrity of game files” and wait for completion.
  6. Exit the menu and test-launch The First Descendant to check now.
The image shows how to verify Steam game's file's integrity, which should help when The First Descendant not launching on PC.

If the launch is still unsuccessful, clear the Steam launcher’s download cache and attempt to rerun The First Descendant. In some cases, canceling an update midway may cause an irreversible corruption of the game files.

4. Allow The First Descendant Through the Firewall

Method 4/8

There’s a possibility that The First Descendant won’t launch due to interference with the Windows firewall. The next step is to ensure that the game’s executable file is set as a firewall exclusion by whitelisting the game’s installation folder within the firewall settings.

 

Here’s how to allow The First Descendant through the firewall:

 

  • Open “Start” and type “Allow an app through Windows Firewall.”
  • Press “Enter” to access the tab within the Windows control panel.
The image shows how to access the Windows Firewall settings on Windows 10/11.
  • Click “Allow another app” under the “Details” and “Remove” options.
  • In the next page, click on the “Add” to locate The First Descendant.
The image shows how to add games or apps as an exclusion to the Windows Firewall.
  • Click “Browse” and navigate to The First Descendant’s directory.
  • Head to “steamapps” → “common” → “The First Descendant.”
  • Double-click The First Descendant’s “.exe” file from the folder.
The image visualizes how to select The First Descendant's .exe file to add it as an exlusion to the Windows's Firewall.
  • In the “Add an app”, ensure “BootstrapPackagedGame” is selected.
  • Click “Add” to set The First Descendant as an exclusion to the Firewall.
The image shows how the game appears when it's excluded from the Window's Firewall, which should fix the problem when The First Descendant not launching on PC.

Tip: You can also assign The First Descandant’s installation folder as an exclusion in the “Exclusion” page within “Virus & threat protection settings.”

5. Optimize The First Descendant’s Executable File

Method 5/8

Optimizing The First Descendant’s executable file could resolve the persisting launching bugs, by providing the compatibility that the software requires. So, we’re going to guide you through the steps to optimize the executable file of the game, which will hopefully solve the problem.

 

Follow these steps to properly optimize The First Descendant’s executable file:

 

  • Open the Steam launcher and access The First Descendant’s properties.
  • Navigate to “Installed Files” and click “Browse” to open the local files folder.
  • Right-click “TheFirstDescendant” and select “Properties” to open the settings.
The image shows how to access The First Descendant's EXE file's properties.
  • Navigate to the Compatibility tab and check the following boxes:
  • “Run this app in compatibility mode for:” – Test on Windows 7 & 8
  • “Disable the fullscreen optimizations”
  • “Run this program as an administrator.”
The image shows how to optimize the game's executable file which must help when The First Descendant not launching on PC.

Next, save all of the changes and exit the configuration menu to test-launch The First Descendant!

 

If you cannot launch the game and see error code 30005, we have a specialized guide with tailored solutions that will help you out.

Tip: You can use the compatibility troubleshooter option at the top of the “Compatibility” menu to detect any issues with the game’s launch.

6. Relocate Your The First Descendant’s Game Folder

Method 6/8

Many users who have been experiencing issues with the First Descendant’s launch procedure have suggested moving the game’s folder into an alternative directory. You will be unable to run The First Descendant if Steam has not been provided with the accurate directory of the game.

 

Follow these instructions to move The First Descendant’s installation folder to another device:

 

  • Open Steam and hover over the Steam logo in the bottom-left corner.
  • From the menu, press “Settings” and navigate to “Storage” on the left.
  • Click “Local Drive” and pick the drive where The First Descendant is in.
The image shows how to move The First Descendant's folder through the Steam launcher.
  • Click the checkbox next to The First Descendant and press on “Move”.
  • Choose a new drive for the game or create a new library from “Storage.”
  • Wait until the game is successfully moved to another drive and test it.
The image shows how to select a drive in which to move a pre-selected game's folder.

Note: The speed at which your computer will move content between libraries is based on the speed of the SSD or HDD.

7. Try Running the Windows System File Checker

Method 7/8

You can check if there are missing, damaged, or corrupted files on your system by running the Windows SFC or “System File Checker.” A potential issue with one of your directories may revoke The First Descendant’s launch procedure or result in a recurring error code.

 

Here’s how to check if there are damaged files on your system in easy steps:

 

  • Open the start menu, type “CMD” and right-click the “CMD” result.
  • Choose “Run as administrator” from the drop-down options menu.
The image shows how to run the Window's Command Prompt as an administrator.
  • Type “sfc / scannow” in the CMD and press “Enter” to start the search.
  • Wait until the check’s results are displayed and follow the instructions.
The image shows how to run the Window's system file checker.

If the procedure is completed successfully, you will receive a list of all damaged files on your system, including within the directory of The First Descendant.

8. Uninstall and Reinstall The First Descendant

Method 8/8

Cleanly reinstalling The First Descendant is another reliable solution to any launching or crashing issues with the platform. There’s a possibility that the file verification failed to detect a fatal corruption of the directory, which is preventing the game from starting up successfully.

 

Follow these instructions to reinstall The First Descendant on your computer:

 

  1. Open the Steam launcher and click “Library” at the top-left.
  2. Scroll down or manually locate The First Descendant in the list.
  3. Next, right-click the game and hover over the “Manage” button.
  4. Select “Uninstall” and confirm by pressing “Uninstall” again.
  5. Once the game is uninstalled, re-initiate the download and test.
The image shows how to uninstall games from the Steam launcher, which must help whenever The First Descendant not launching on PC.
The image shows the prompt asking you whether you want to uninstall The First Descendant.

Tip: You can also uninstall The First Descendant through the game’s directory on your system.

Quick Recap!

After learning why The First Descendant not launching on PC, the most optimal solutions include running the game as administrator, repairing the game’s files, and moving the installation folder. If the fault persists, you should optimize the game’s executable file and conduct a clean reinstallation.

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