Far Far West can crash in a few very different ways. You might click Play and get a Fatal Error before the menu appears. Someone else may see a black screen first, while another player can play for an hour or two before the game suddenly closes.
That difference is useful. A crash on launch usually sends you toward game files, Windows runtime files, graphics setup, or a hardware-specific issue. A crash that happens only after a long session points more toward memory use, a game bug, or something that becomes unstable over time.
Far Far West has also received several stability fixes since Early Access began, including fixes for Intel AI-related crashes and shader problems. More recent updates have continued addressing performance and crash issues, including an AMD Frame Generation problem noted in September 2026.
So don’t start changing random Windows settings yet. First figure out when Far Far West crashes, then use the fixes that actually match your problem.
First, Identify When Far Far West Crashes
The point where the game fails can give you a much better starting clue than the words “Fatal Error” alone.
| What Happens | What It May Point To | Where to Start |
|---|---|---|
| Crashes immediately after pressing Play | Game files, runtime files, startup conflict | Update game, verify files, check Visual C++ |
| Black screen then Fatal Error | Graphics startup or hardware-specific issue | GPU driver, DX11, Intel AI Boost if applicable |
| Crashes when loading a mission | Game bug, bad files, graphics problem | Update, verify files, check drivers |
| Crashes after a game update | Old mods, incomplete files, new game bug | Remove mods, verify files, check hotfixes |
| Crashes after several hours | Memory use or long-session stability | Restart game, monitor RAM, update game |
| Shows a Visual C++ message | Windows runtime problem | Repair Visual C++ |
| Shows EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION | Broader crash needing more details | Note full error, check files and logs |
The game’s own troubleshooting page separates Fatal Errors on launch, random Fatal Errors, mission crashes, Visual C++ errors, and EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION into different problem types. That’s another good reason not to treat every crash exactly the same way.
Is the Problem From Far Far West or Your PC?
Sometimes the game itself is the problem. Other times, something on your PC is getting in the way. And yeah, sometimes both happen at the same time.
| More Likely Local PC Issue | More Likely Game-Side Issue |
|---|---|
| Only your PC has the problem | Many players report the same crash after an update |
| Removing a mod changes the crash | Crash starts at the same mission or location |
| Driver reinstall fixes it | A hotfix specifically mentions the crash |
| Visual C++ repair fixes startup | Problem began immediately after a game patch |
| Different PC works normally | Developers list it as a known issue |
Far Far West’s May 2026 patch notes listed Fatal Errors on launch, crashes after long sessions, and possible memory leak issues as known problems at the time. Later updates fixed some of these, including the Intel AI Fatal Error and a shader crash, so an older troubleshooting post may not always match the current build.
The simple rule is this: check the game version first, then move into local fixes. If a newer patch already fixed the exact problem, you don’t want to spend an hour changing Windows settings for no reason.
Quick Far Far West Fatal Error Checklist
If you just want the short version, work through these first:
- Make sure Far Far West is fully updated in Steam.
- Remove mods and any leftover third-party files.
- Verify the game’s files through Steam.
- Repair Microsoft Visual C++ if the crash happens at startup.
- On affected Intel systems, check Intel AI Boost only if the problem still exists.
- Test your GPU driver and try DirectX 11 if the crash looks graphics-related.
If none of those help, continue with the deeper checks below.
1. Make Sure Far Far West Is Fully Updated
This should be your first real fix because Far Far West is still getting patches. A Fatal Error caused by an older game build may already have been addressed, especially if you’re following a guide written months ago.
Open Steam, go to your Library, and check whether Far Far West has an update waiting. If Steam says everything is current but you’re not sure, close Steam fully and open it again.
This matters more with Far Far West because its developers have already pushed fixes for Intel AI Fatal Errors, shader crashes, freezes, and other stability problems.
If the game suddenly started crashing after a recent update, don’t assume updating again is pointless. A follow-up hotfix may arrive specifically because the earlier patch introduced or exposed another problem.
2. Remove Mods and Leftover Third-Party Files
If you’ve ever installed mods for Far Far West, take them out before doing deeper troubleshooting. Even a mod that worked perfectly last week can stop matching the game’s files after an update.
Far Far West’s official troubleshooting page specifically tells players to disable mods before attempting fixes and warns that some mod files may need to be removed manually.
That last part matters. Turning a mod off inside a manager doesn’t always mean every file it added has disappeared. If you manually copied files into the Far Far West folder, check the mod’s installation instructions and reverse those changes.
Once the game works normally without mods, add them back one by one. If the Fatal Error returns after one specific mod is restored, you’ve found a much more useful clue than another generic crash message.
3. Verify the Game Files Before Reinstalling
A full reinstall takes time, so don’t jump there first. Steam can compare your local Far Far West files with the expected version and redownload anything missing or damaged.
To verify the files:
- Open Steam.
- Go to Library.
- Right-click Far Far West.
- Choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Select Verify integrity of game files.
- Let Steam finish before launching the game again.
This can help after an interrupted update, damaged installation, or leftover file problem. It won’t fix every Fatal Error, but it’s one of the cleaner tests because it repairs the game without changing unrelated Windows settings.
If Steam replaces files, launch Far Far West before reinstalling mods or changing more options. Test one clean state first.
4. Repair Microsoft Visual C++ If the Game Fails at Startup
If Far Far West crashes before the menu, especially with a message mentioning Microsoft Visual C++, check the Windows runtime files next.
Far Far West’s troubleshooting material includes a separate section for Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) errors, which tells us this isn’t just random generic advice.
Open Windows Installed Apps and look for the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable packages. If repair is available, run it. Restart your PC afterward and test the game again.
If you reinstall the package, get it from Microsoft. Don’t download individual DLL files from random websites because someone says a certain DLL will fix the crash. That can create a second problem while you’re trying to solve the first one.
This fix is most useful when the crash happens right at startup. If Far Far West runs for hours before failing, Visual C++ probably shouldn’t be your first suspect.
5. Check Intel AI Boost Only If Your PC Has It
Intel AI Boost deserves its own section because it was connected to some Far Far West launch crashes, but there’s an important catch: the game later received a fix for Intel AI Fatal Error crashes in May 2026.
So update Far Far West first. Don’t immediately disable hardware based on an older workaround.
If you’re fully updated, still getting a similar startup Fatal Error, and your PC actually has Intel AI Boost, you can test it:
- Right-click the Windows Start button.
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Neural processors.
- Look for Intel(R) AI Boost or the relevant Intel neural processor.
- Right-click it and choose Disable device.
- Launch Far Far West again.
If the game behaves exactly the same, re-enable the device and move on.
AMD users should skip this section. PCs without an Intel NPU should skip it too. There’s no point hunting for a Device Manager entry your system doesn’t have.
6. Test Far Far West in DirectX 11
A black screen or crash during startup can sometimes be related to the graphics path rather than the whole game installation. Running the game with DirectX 11 is a useful test because it changes how the game talks to the graphics stack.
Open Far Far West’s Steam Properties and find Launch Options. Enter:
-dx11
Then start the game.
If it suddenly launches normally, that’s useful information. It suggests the crash may be tied to the default graphics setup, driver behavior, or another rendering-related issue.
If nothing changes, remove -dx11 again. Don’t leave random launch arguments sitting there forever just because they appeared in a troubleshooting guide.
7. Reinstall or Roll Back the GPU Driver
Graphics drivers are another good place to look when Far Far West reaches a black screen, crashes while loading, or fails during gameplay.
For NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics, check whether your driver is reasonably current. If you’re using a very old driver, update it and restart the PC before testing.
But newer isn’t automatically better. If Far Far West worked yesterday, you installed a GPU driver today, and now it crashes, that timing matters. A clean reinstall or rollback to the previous stable driver may be a better test than blindly updating again.
AMD users have another current detail worth checking. In the September 7, 2026 patch notes, the developers said they were still seeing AMD Frame Generation-related performance problems and crashes, and recommended testing AMD FSR both on and off while the issue was being worked on.
So if you’re on an AMD GPU and the problem seems connected to graphics options, test that setting separately. Change one thing, play again, then compare.
8. Turn Off Overlays for One Test
Overlays aren’t always bad, but they do interact with games. If nothing else has explained the Fatal Error, it’s worth doing one clean run without them.
Temporarily disable:
- Steam Overlay
- Discord in-game overlay
- NVIDIA overlay
- AMD overlay
- FPS counters
- GPU monitoring tools
- Recording software that hooks into the game
You don’t need to uninstall anything. This is only a test.
Launch Far Far West after turning them off. If the crash disappears, enable the tools again one by one until you find which one changes the behavior.
If nothing improves, turn everything back on and keep going. No need to permanently lose features that weren’t causing the issue.
9. If the Crash Started After an Update, Test a Clean Setup
Game updates can fix old bugs and still expose another problem. They can also make older mods or modified files incompatible overnight.
If Far Far West worked before an update and started crashing immediately afterward, strip the setup back to something simple. Remove mods, verify the files through Steam, restart the PC, and launch the game without unusual launch options.
Don’t delete your saves just because the crash began after an update. Saves and configuration files are different things, and wiping personal data should never be an early troubleshooting move.
You should also check whether another hotfix has been released. Far Far West has received many small fixes between larger updates, so the build that caused your issue may not remain the newest one for long.
10. If Far Far West Crashes After a Long Session, Watch Memory Use
If the game works fine for a long time and then suddenly crashes, don’t keep repeating launch fixes. That’s a different pattern.
Far Far West previously listed possible memory leak issues after several hours of play as a known problem. The same notes also mentioned Fatal Errors happening after multiple hours.
That doesn’t prove your current crash is a memory leak, especially months after those notes were published. Still, you can watch what happens.
Open Task Manager before or during a long session and check Far Far West’s memory use from time to time. You’re not looking for one magic RAM number. What matters more is whether memory keeps rising while the game becomes slower, starts stuttering, or eventually crashes.
Try restarting Far Far West between long sessions too. If the game becomes stable again after every restart and only breaks after extended play, write that down. It’s useful evidence if you need to report the bug.
11. Reinstall Far Far West Only After the Easier Checks
Reinstalling sounds like the “big fix,” but it’s often unnecessary if Steam’s file verification already repaired the installation.
Use a reinstall when the game still crashes after updates, mod removal, file verification, runtime checks, and reasonable graphics troubleshooting.
Uninstall Far Far West through Steam, then reinstall it normally. If you’ve used manually installed mods, make sure their leftover files aren’t being carried into the new setup.
Be careful with save folders. Don’t start deleting folders outside the Steam installation unless you know what they contain. A fresh game install is useful. Accidentally deleting progress isn’t.
12. Check the Full Fatal Error Message
At this stage, “Fatal Error” is too vague to help much. Look at the complete crash message.
Far Far West’s official troubleshooting page separately lists “Unhandled Exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION reading address 0xffffffffffffffff”, which is a good example of why the extra text matters.
If you get an exception message, save it or take a screenshot. Also note exactly what happened just before the crash.
Was the game:
- Starting?
- Compiling or loading something?
- Opening a mission?
- Finishing a mission?
- Loading a map?
- Running for several hours?
- Recovering from sleep or alt-tab?
You can also check Windows Event Viewer for application crash information. You don’t need to understand every technical field. Look for the Far Far West process around the same timestamp and keep anything that identifies the failing application or module.
Don’t assume EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION automatically means bad RAM. That message can appear for many software-related reasons too.
13. Report a Repeatable Crash With Useful Details
If Far Far West still crashes and you can reproduce it, that repeatable pattern is valuable.
Instead of saying “Fatal Error every time,” describe what the game is doing. For example, “The game starts normally, but it crashes after the map finishes loading” gives someone a real place to start.
The developers’ troubleshooting page directs users with unresolved technical problems toward support after the listed fixes don’t help.
When reporting the issue, include:
- Your CPU
- GPU
- RAM
- Windows version
- Far Far West version or current Steam build
- Full error text
- Exactly when the crash happens
- Whether mods are installed
- Whether DX11 changes anything
- Whether the crash happens every time
- Fixes you’ve already tested
The more repeatable the problem is, the easier it becomes to compare your case with other reports.
Why Does Far Far West Show a Black Screen Then Crash?
A black screen before a Fatal Error usually means the game started but failed before everything was fully displayed. That can happen during graphics initialization, startup file loading, or another early part of the game process.
Start with the current game update, file verification, and graphics driver. On Intel systems with the relevant NPU hardware, Intel AI Boost used to be another known path, although Far Far West later received a fix for Intel AI Fatal Errors.
DX11 is also worth testing because it changes the rendering path. Just don’t assume every black screen is a GPU failure. The symptom alone isn’t enough to prove that.
Can Visual C++ Cause Far Far West Fatal Error?
Yes, a damaged or missing Microsoft Visual C++ runtime can stop a Windows game from starting correctly. Far Far West’s own troubleshooting information includes Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable x64 errors, so this is a relevant check when the game fails at startup.
It isn’t the answer to every Fatal Error, though. If Far Far West launches normally and crashes much later during gameplay, you’d usually check other causes first.
Why Does Far Far West Crash After an Update?
An update can change game files, graphics code, mod compatibility, or other systems that were working before. Sometimes the update itself contains a bug. Other times, old third-party files no longer match the new game version.
Start by removing mods and verifying the game files. Then check whether a follow-up hotfix has been released.
Far Far West’s patch history shows frequent small hotfixes and stability changes, so the exact game build matters when you’re comparing your crash with someone else’s.
Fixes That Usually Should Not Be Your First Move
When a game crashes, it’s easy to end up with a list of 25 generic Windows tricks. Most aren’t where I’d start.
Clearing your browser cache isn’t going to repair a native Steam game crash. Far Far West doesn’t depend on Chrome’s cache to load its Unreal Engine files.
Avoid downloading random DLL files too. If a Visual C++ component is damaged, repair or reinstall the official Microsoft runtime instead of replacing individual files from unknown sites.
BIOS changes should also stay far down the list unless you have a separate reason to suspect a hardware or firmware problem. Same thing with resetting Windows. A Far Far West Fatal Error alone isn’t a good reason to wipe or heavily reconfigure your PC.
Stick with changes that match the symptom. That’s slower than clicking every “ultimate fix” you see, but it usually gets you to the real cause faster.
How to Prevent Far Far West Crashes in the Future?
You can’t prevent every crash, especially while a game is still being patched. You can at least keep your setup clean so there are fewer extra things to troubleshoot when something does go wrong.
A few habits help:
- Keep Far Far West updated through Steam.
- Check your mods after major patches.
- Use a stable GPU driver.
- Don’t download replacement DLL files from random websites.
- Keep Microsoft Visual C++ runtime packages working properly.
- Verify game files after an interrupted update.
- Avoid stacking lots of overlays if you’re already chasing stability issues.
- Restart the game between very long sessions if you notice performance getting worse.
The biggest one is simple: change one thing at a time. If you change your driver, launch options, mods, overlays, and Windows settings together, you may fix the crash and still have no idea what caused it.
Final Thoughts
The best way to fix a Far Far West Fatal Error is to match the troubleshooting to the crash pattern. If it fails immediately on launch, focus on updates, game files, Visual C++, graphics startup, and hardware-specific checks. If it only crashes after a long session, watch memory use and look for a game-side stability problem instead.
Far Far West has already had several crash fixes across its Early Access updates, so keep the current game version in mind too. An old workaround can still be useful as a test, but it shouldn’t automatically be treated as the current fix for everyone.
If you’re still stuck, comment with one specific detail: does Far Far West crash before the menu, on a black screen, while loading a mission, or only after you’ve been playing for a while?
Published on September 30, 2026 under .
