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Contents hide How to try to fix DirectX 12 error in TFD Check that DirectX 12 is installed Reinstall DirectX 12 Update graphics drivers Add Steam launch parameters ✓ At a glance

Try the following possible solutions if you encounter the DirectX 12 error when launching The First Descendant:

  • Check that you have DirectX 12 installed on your PC
  • Reinstall DirectX 12 if files are corrupted
  • Update your GPU drivers
  • Add launch options parameters to TFD on Steam

After some of the most recent patches, players have reported an error stating that “DirectX 12 is not supported on your system” when launching The First Descendant. This annoying issue seems to be linked to the relationship between your GPU driver, DirectX, and Unreal Engine. It’s something that will have to wait for the devs to fix, but in the meantime, there are a few possible solutions that can tide you over. 

How to try to fix DirectX 12 error in TFD

There are no discernable reasons why you might be seeing this error, even if you’re certain that your system uses DirectX 12. There are a few viable avenues that you can try to fix it, though none of them are guaranteed to work until the devs address the problem themselves. Here’s what you can try in the meantime:

  1. Check that DirectX 12 is installed
  2. Reinstall DirectX 12
  3. Update your graphics drivers
  4. Add launch parameters on Steam

Check that DirectX 12 is installed

The first step is to make sure that you have DX12 to begin with. You’ll have to run the file called dxdiag.exe to verify that your system supports DirectX 12 in the first place. Here’s how:

  1. Press the Windows key and R on your keyboard at the same time.
  2. This will open the Run command. In the box, type DxDiag.
  3. Press Enter and let the process complete.

This will give you the confirmation if your system has DirectX 12 installed and ready to run. If it does, then move on to the next step below.

Reinstall DirectX 12

If your system has DX12 but you still get an error when launching The First Descendant, it’s possible that some of its files are corrupted. You can try reinstalling it. Before you do that, check your Windows Updates section, as there could be a DirectX update that wasn’t installed. 

After that, go to Windows Download Center and search for DirectX End-User Runtime Installer. Download and run the file, which will look for any missing DirectX components on your system. After that, reboot your PC and try launching The First Descendant again.

Update graphics drivers

This issue can easily be tied to your graphics driver being out of date and missing a crucial component. Check your GPU manufacturer driver software, depending if you’re using an AMD or Nvidia graphics card, and see if there are any updates that you missed. If so, download the latest driver and install it while following the on-screen instructions. As a note, it’s usually best to perform a clean installation whenever updating your drivers.

Add Steam launch parameters

This last fix seems to be the least effective according to players but is worth a shot if others didn’t work. Here’s how it works:

  1. Find The First Descendant in your Steam library and right-click it.
  2. Select Properties and then the General tab.
  3. You’ll see Launch Options with a text box under it.
  4. Add the following into the text box: -dx12
  5. Alternatively, try this one: -d3d12
  6. Close the window and try launching The First Descendant again.

About the Author

Miljan Truc

Miljan has been into gaming since the days of Sega Mega Drive and Amiga. During his gaming career, he has raided at a high level, coached other players, and written about games since 2016.

The First Descendant

  • Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
  • Genre(s): Action, Adventure, RPG
  • Read Review
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Related Topics

  • The First Descendant

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