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If Middle-earth: Shadow of War keeps crashing, will not launch, stutters, or runs at low FPS, start by checking your installed edition and optional content, then update Windows and drivers, return overclocked hardware to stock settings, and verify the Steam files. For low frame rates, reduce graphics load before considering hardware changes. No one fix is established for every PC crash, so note when the problem occurs and the exact error message as you troubleshoot.
Check your PC and installed content first
Compare your PC with the Steam requirements published by WB Games. They are listed thresholds, not a guarantee of a particular frame rate. Optional content also changes the storage and hardware requirements, so check whether you installed either pack before treating a specification mismatch as a game fault. WB Games lists the requirements and optional content specifications; Steam also publishes the game requirements on its store listing.
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| Installation | Published requirements | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Base game, minimum | 64-bit Windows; DirectX 11; AMD FX-4350 or Intel Core i5-2300; 6 GB RAM; AMD HD 7870 2 GB or NVIDIA GTX 660 2 GB | 70 GB |
| Base game, recommended | AMD FX-8350 or Intel Core i7-3770; 12 GB RAM; AMD RX 480/RX 580 4 GB or NVIDIA GTX 970 4 GB/GTX 1060 6 GB | 70 GB |
| High Resolution Texture Pack | 16 GB RAM; GPU with 8 GB VRAM | 85 GB total |
| 4K Cinematic Pack | 12 GB RAM; GPU with 4 GB VRAM | 95 GB total |
The store listing still shows Windows 7 SP1 in the game’s minimum requirements, but it also states that the Steam client supports Windows 10 and later as of January 1, 2024. The legacy game requirement is not a guarantee that the current Steam client will run on Windows 7.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsBefore changing settings, note when the issue occurs: on launch, while loading, during ordinary gameplay, or at a repeatable scene. Record the exact error text, Windows version, CPU, GPU and VRAM, RAM, free drive space, graphics and sound driver versions, and any recent driver, Windows, game, or hardware change. This makes it easier to distinguish a likely resource shortfall from a problem introduced by a recent change.
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Try these checks for crashes or a failed launch
Update Windows and graphics and sound drivers
Install available Windows updates, then check for current graphics and sound drivers from your PC maker or the component manufacturer. The right driver depends on your exact hardware and Windows installation; use the manufacturer’s supported release rather than assuming one version fits every system. WB Games notes that DirectX is updated through Windows Update. See its PC troubleshooting guidance.
Return overclocked components to stock settings
If you have overclocked the CPU, GPU, or another component, or changed its boost settings, temporarily restore the manufacturer’s default settings and test the game again. WB Games recommends this as a crash-prevention check. It is a diagnostic step, not evidence that an overclock is necessarily the cause.
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Verify the Steam game files
- Open Steam and select Library.
- Right-click Middle-earth: Shadow of War and choose Properties.
- Open Local Files and select Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- Let Steam finish, then try launching the game again.
If verification does not help, WB Games lists uninstalling and reinstalling as a further option. Before uninstalling, check whether your saves are synchronized or backed up; the support guidance does not specify a save-backup procedure.
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Check antivirus quarantine and software conflicts
Look in your security software’s quarantine or detection history to see whether it actually blocked or removed a Shadow of War file. If it did, follow that product’s instructions to restore the file or add an appropriate exception. Do not disable protection or create a broad exclusion without confirming a game file was affected.
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- Turn on the Bright Lights: With the built-in RGB lighting, take your gaming experience to the next level by pressing the MSI LED button to cycle through lighting options. Customize lighting even further with MSI Center software.
Close applications you do not need before launching. If the problem persists and you suspect another startup program, a temporary Windows clean boot can help test for a software conflict. Treat it as a diagnostic only: follow Microsoft’s instructions for your Windows version, note the settings you change, then restore normal startup settings and restart normally after the test.
Improve low FPS and stuttering by reducing load
Higher graphics options increase hardware workload and can affect performance or stability even on a PC that meets the listed specifications. Lower graphics-related options in the game’s Options menu, then test whether frame pacing or stability improves. Close unnecessary applications to free system resources.
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Shadow of War also includes Dynamic Resolution. Its PC FAQ says the setting defaults to a 30 fps target and dynamically scales resolution from 100% down to 10% of Scaled Resolution based on GPU performance to pursue the selected target. This can reduce image sharpness as the game lowers resolution; it does not guarantee a particular frame rate or fix a crash. Read the WB Games PC FAQ for the feature details.
Choose the next step based on the symptom
| Symptom | Useful first checks |
|---|---|
| Game will not launch or crashes at startup | Check Windows and driver updates, inspect antivirus quarantine, verify Steam files, and test whether unnecessary startup software is interfering. |
| Crash while playing or at a repeatable scene | Record the scene and error, return overclocked hardware to stock settings, verify files, and lower demanding graphics options. |
| Low FPS or stuttering without a crash | Compare the PC with the requirements for the installed content, close unneeded applications, reduce graphics settings, and consider Dynamic Resolution’s image-quality trade-off. |
| Problem began after a system change | Record what changed and when; check the relevant driver, Windows, game, firmware, or security-software settings before making unrelated changes. |
Do not follow the old Ryzen workaround as current Windows advice
WB Games’ PC FAQ documents a historical report of poor performance on some AMD Ryzen systems and says the issue was reproduced internally. The page’s then-listed remedy included updating the AMD chipset driver and motherboard firmware, along with Windows 10 version 1703 (OS Build 15063.674). That Windows build reference is historical, not current advice: do not downgrade or install that old build to troubleshoot a present-day PC. Use currently supported Windows, chipset, and firmware updates intended for your exact hardware instead.
When to contact WB Games Support
If the checks above do not resolve the problem, contact WB Games Support, which Steam identifies as the game’s official support provider. Include the symptom and when it occurs, the exact error text, Windows version, CPU, GPU and VRAM, RAM, driver versions, installed optional packs, and the steps you have already tried. Steam lists [email protected] and [email protected] as support email addresses.
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