Update first and avoid forcing DirectX 12 while investigating an AMD crash. The 1.0.4 default is DirectX 11.
Start with the confirmed graphics change
Patch 1.0.4 makes DirectX 11 the Windows default to address AMD GPU crashes. The notes describe -force-d3d12 as an optional way to use DirectX 12. If that option is already in your launch settings, remove it while checking an AMD crash so you can test the default configuration.
That change is an official fix attempt, not proof that all driver timeouts on all cards are solved. Keep a note of your GPU model, driver version and whether the failure happens before the menu or during play.
Check the installation once
Steam’s official verification process checks whether installed game files are correct. Open the game’s Library properties, choose Installed Files and use Verify integrity of game files. Wait for it to finish before trying again. This is different from editing your world or deleting save data.
If the game launches, repeat a short, consistent test. Start with the same world and action that caused the failure. Change one setting at a time. If several settings change together, a successful run does not tell you which one mattered.
Create a useful crash report
Separate three symptoms: it never opens, a new world crashes, or only one existing world fails. Also record whether the problem appears while joining co-op, teleporting, switching tools or opening a large base. Those distinctions narrow the investigation without claiming a cause.
The developer statement acknowledged remaining stability work around launch. Send a fresh report with the current version, exact message and smallest repeatable sequence. Preserve a backup before trying save-related advice. Avoid applying an old DirectX 12 recommendation simply because it appears first in a search result.
Common questions
Should I force DirectX 12 to fix AMD crashes?
That is not the 1.0.4 default. Begin by testing DirectX 11, which the developer selected to address AMD crashes.
Will verifying game files repair every crash?
No. It checks the installed game files; it is one diagnostic step rather than a universal fix.
Sources & verification
Checked: 2026-10-26. Official Steam details and patch notes take priority. Community reports are labeled. We have not independently play-tested the Steam game. Guides show sources and verification dates; later patches may change the advice.
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