Horizon Zero Dawn — How to Fix "Black screen and shader compilation crash"
What causes the Black screen and shader compilation crash error in Horizon Zero Dawn, and the fixes in the order that works.
Last updated 2026-09-25 · evergreen reference
The "Black screen and shader compilation crash" failure in Horizon Zero Dawn has a specific cause, and knowing it saves you from working through a dozen unrelated fixes. This page covers what the error actually looks like, why it happens, and the fixes ranked by how often they work.
What the error looks like
Confirm you are dealing with the same failure.
Recognising "Black screen and shader compilation crash"
The game goes black during the optimisation or shader compilation step, crashes to desktop, or launches to a black screen while audio continues.
Why it happens
The cause determines the fix.
Cause 1
A corrupt shader cache. PSOCache.bin in the LocalCacheDX12 folder is roughly 1.4 GB and is the single most common culprit.
Cause 2
Insufficient memory for the compilation pass. Shader compilation is memory-hungry, and a small page file or a nearly full drive makes it fail.
Cause 3
In the audio-continues case, the window opened on a disconnected display or at a refresh rate the monitor will not accept.
Fixes, in the order that works
Cheapest and most reversible first.
Delete PSOCache.bin
Navigate to the game install folder, open LocalCacheDX12 and delete PSOCache.bin. Relaunch — the game rebuilds and recompiles shaders. This resolves a very large share of optimisation-stage crashes.
Free disk space and raise the page file
Shader compilation needs room on the install drive. Separately, open advanced system settings, go to Performance > Advanced > Virtual Memory and let Windows manage the paging file size, or set the system drive to a system-managed size.
Restart after compilation finishes
Once shaders have compiled, quit and relaunch. The game holds memory from the compile pass that it only releases on a fresh start.
Try Alt + Enter for the audio-only black screen
If you can hear the game, the window is on a display that is not active. Alt + Enter forces windowed mode. Otherwise delete the display settings in EE.cfg-style config so the game rebuilds them.
Disable Game Mode, Game Bar and background recording
All three sit under Settings > Gaming and consume RAM during exactly the pass that is failing.
How to confirm it is fixed
One successful launch is not proof.
Retest properly
Run a full launch cycle including a complete shader rebuild, then a second launch that should skip compilation. Both must succeed before you call it fixed.
If none of this works
What to do after the list is exhausted.
Gather evidence before asking
Collect your crash log, a DxDiag and the list of fixes you already tried. For Horizon Zero Dawn, support will ask for all three, and a report with evidence gets a far better response than "it crashes".
Reinstall last, not first
A reinstall is the most time-consuming fix and repairs the same files that verification and cache repair handle in minutes. Try it only after the targeted fixes above have failed.
Related pages
This is an independent player reference and is not official documentation for Horizon Zero Dawn. GameRulePro does not host or link to copyrighted assets. Modding guidance is for single-player use only — never use mods in online multiplayer. Verify current requirements, prices and policies with the publisher before acting.
Keep fixing
Can I run it? FPS calculator
Check whether your hardware, not the settings, is the limit.
Open →All fix & optimization guides
Every crash, black-screen and FPS guide we have published.
Open →Game database
System requirements and projected FPS for 335 titles.
Open →Release calendar
Launch dates and platforms for upcoming games.
Open →