Quick Answer: Summary of Steps

  1. Update your graphics driver. Rockstar's first fix for ERR_GFX_STATE is the latest NVIDIA or AMD driver.
  2. Switch the Graphics API to DirectX 12. Settings → Graphics → Advanced Settings (Unlocked) → Graphics API → DirectX 12.
  3. Disable fullscreen optimisation on RDR2.exe. Rockstar's next ERR_GFX_STATE step, done from the game folder.
  4. Fix the Vulkan memory leak. PCGamingWiki: switch to DX12, disable triple buffering, or turn off Resizable BAR in the BIOS.
  5. Fix ERR_GFX_INIT and FFFFFFFF. Rockstar: reset the Settings folder, switch the API in system.xml and delete sga_ files.
  6. Verify files and clean-boot. Rockstar's general Windows troubleshooting removes conflicting software.

Prerequisites & Materials Needed

Required tools & items

  • The launcher that owns your copy — Rockstar Games Launcher, Steam or Epic Games Launcher.
  • A Windows administrator account — needed for compatibility settings and clean boot.
  • A text editor such as Notepad — only for the system.xml fix in Step 5.
  • Access to your UEFI/BIOS — only if you choose the Resizable BAR workaround in Step 4.
  • Estimated time — Preparation: about 5 minutes; Execution: 5–15 minutes for most fixes; 20–30 minutes if you change BIOS settings or do a clean boot

Estimated time

  • Preparation: PT5M
  • Execution: PT30M

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Step 1: Update your graphics driver

Rockstar recommends always running the latest GPU driver, and it is the first fix in its ERR_GFX_STATE article.

  • Download the latest driver from nvidia.com/Download or amd.com/support and install it, then restart.
  • Pro Tip: Install only drivers from your GPU maker's site, not third-party "driver updater" tools.

How you know it worked: The game reaches the main menu.

Step 2: Step 2: Change the Graphics API from Vulkan to DirectX 12

This is Rockstar's official second step for ERR_GFX_STATE, and the order matters.

  • Launch Red Dead Redemption 2 and open Settings → Graphics.
  • Under Advanced Settings, choose Unlocked.
  • Set Graphics API to DirectX 12.
  • Save your settings, but do not restart when prompted.
  • Return to the main menu, exit the game, then launch it again.
  • Pro Tip: PCGamingWiki notes DirectX 12 may perform slightly worse than Vulkan on some GPUs.

How you know it worked: The game loads on DirectX 12 without ERR_GFX_STATE.

Step 3: Step 3: Disable fullscreen optimisation and run as administrator

If changing the API does not help, Rockstar says to change compatibility settings on the game's executable.

  • Open your game folder:
  • Rockstar Games Launcher: Settings → Red Dead Redemption 2 (under My Installed Games) → View installation folder → Open.
  • Steam: Library → right-click the game → Properties → Installed Files → Browse.
  • Epic Games Launcher: Library → three dots → Manage → Installation → folder icon.
  • Then right-click RDR2.exe → Properties → Compatibility, tick Run this program as administrator and Disable fullscreen optimizations, and click OK. Launch from your launcher.

How you know it worked: The crash at launch stops.

Step 4: Step 4: Stop the Vulkan video-memory leak (PCGamingWiki workarounds)

PCGamingWiki documents that on Vulkan with Resizable BAR (ReBAR, called Smart Access Memory on AMD) enabled, video memory climbs until the game is unplayable. These are community workarounds, not Rockstar fixes. Try them in this order:

  • Switch to DirectX 12 (Step 2). Easiest, possible small performance cost.
  • Disable triple buffering in the game's graphics settings. PCGamingWiki says this *may* prevent the leak.
  • Disable ReBAR in your UEFI/BIOS. PCGamingWiki notes that disabling it at driver level (NVIDIA Profile Inspector or AMD software) has no effect.
  • Pro Tip: Turning off ReBAR affects every game on your PC; turn it back on when you stop playing RDR2 if other games benefit from it. Related PCGamingWiki note: On NVIDIA with Vulkan, stutter and frame-pacing problems can occur with triple-buffered vsync and the driver's DXGI swapchain mode. PCGamingWiki suggests double-buffered vsync or setting the driver's *Vulkan/OpenGL present method* to *Prefer native*.

How you know it worked: VRAM use in an overlay such as your GPU software stays level over a long session.

Step 5: Step 5: Fix ERR_GFX_INIT, error FFFFFFFF or a broken API switch by editing system.xml

Rockstar has official articles for ERR_GFX_INIT ("Failed to initialize graphics device") and Unknown error FFFFFFFF, and both use the same settings-file fix. PCGamingWiki adds that ERR_GFX_D3D_DEFERRED_MEM after switching API is solved the same way.

  • Close Red Dead Redemption 2 and the Rockstar Games Launcher.
  • Open Documents\Rockstar Games\Red Dead Redemption 2\Settings.
  • For ERR_GFX_INIT, Rockstar first says to delete every file in this folder except system.xml, then relaunch.
  • If that fails, open system.xml in Notepad, find kSettingAPI_Vulkan and change it to kSettingAPI_DX12 (or the other way round), and save.
  • Delete any files whose names start with sga_ in the same folder, such as sga_vulkan_final_init.vkPipelineCacheHeaderWindows.
  • Launch the game.
  • Pro Tip: For error FFFFFFFF, Rockstar also says some external audio devices cause it; plug headphones or speakers in after the game has started. PCGamingWiki warns not to change the graphics adapter setting in system.xml.

How you know it worked: The game starts and you can set graphics options again.

Step 6: Step 6: Verify files, then clean-boot Windows

Rockstar's general Windows troubleshooting finds programs that stop games running.

  • Verify the game files in your launcher (Rockstar Games Launcher: Settings → My Installed Games → Red Dead Redemption 2 → Verify Integrity; Steam and Epic have their own verify options). Then follow Microsoft's clean-boot guide (support.microsoft.com/help/929135), which Rockstar links, and test the game. If it works, re-enable startup programs one at a time to find the culprit.

How you know it worked: The game runs after a clean boot, and you know which program was interfering.

How this guide was made: researched and drafted with AI assistance from the official support pages and references listed in the sources, and published under Tulasiram Pemmadi's byline. We have not tested these fixes on our own hardware.

This guide helps you stop Red Dead Redemption 2 crashing on PC, from the ERR_GFX_STATE launch crash to the Vulkan video-memory leak and the error you can get after switching graphics API. Rockstar Support's official steps come first; workarounds documented by PCGamingWiki, a community-maintained PC reference, are labelled as such.

Game page: Red Dead Redemption 2 on NextPlayIntel · Still installing? See how to install Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC · Online connection problems: GTA V and GTA Online troubleshooting covers Rockstar service status, ports and DNS, which apply to Red Dead Online too.

The Problem

On PC, Red Dead Redemption 2 can crash at launch with ERR_GFX_STATE, slow to a crawl or crash after an hour or two of play under the Vulkan renderer, or throw ERR_GFX_D3D_DEFERRED_MEM ("unexpected shutdown due to lack of memory") after you change between Vulkan and DirectX 12. Rockstar also documents ERR_GFX_INIT ("Failed to initialize graphics device") and Unknown error FFFFFFFF at launch. Rockstar has a support article for ERR_GFX_STATE, and PCGamingWiki documents the Vulkan leak and the API-switch error with workarounds.

Likely Causes

  • Outdated graphics drivers — Rockstar's first recommendation for ERR_GFX_STATE (official).

  • The Vulkan renderer on your system — Rockstar's fix for ERR_GFX_STATE is to change from Vulkan to DirectX 12 (official).

  • Windows fullscreen optimisation — Rockstar lists disabling it as a fix (official).

  • Vulkan with Resizable BAR enabled — PCGamingWiki reports that video memory gradually fills until the game becomes unplayable (community reference).

  • A broken API setting after switching renderer — PCGamingWiki traces ERR_GFX_D3D_DEFERRED_MEM to changing between Vulkan and D3D12 (community reference).

  • Conflicting background software — Rockstar's Windows basic troubleshooting article recommends a clean boot to find it (official).

Error codes for this game

When to contact official support

If crashes continue, collect the files Rockstar asks for — a DxDiag report, an MSInfo export and your launcher.log (Documents\Rockstar Games\Launcher\launcher.log) — and open a ticket at support.rockstargames.com.

How we checked this guide

Checked 31 October 2026 (IST). Rockstar Support could not be reached directly on this date; wording was checked against search-indexed copies of each article.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Restarting straight away after changing the API Rockstar's steps say save, decline the restart, exit from the main menu, then relaunch.
  • Disabling ReBAR only in driver software PCGamingWiki says that has no effect on the leak; it has to be off in the BIOS.
  • Editing system.xml without a backup One wrong edit can stop the game starting; keep a copy.
  • Reinstalling the full 150 GB-class game first Driver, API and file-verify fixes are far quicker and solve most crashes.
  • Treating PCGamingWiki tips as Rockstar fixes They are community-documented; if they don't help, go back to Rockstar Support.

Frequently asked questions

How do I fix ERR_GFX_STATE in Red Dead Redemption 2?

Update your GPU driver, switch the Graphics API to DirectX 12, and disable fullscreen optimisation on RDR2.exe. Those are Rockstar's official steps, in that order.

Should I use Vulkan or DirectX 12 in RDR2?

Use whichever is stable on your PC. Rockstar's crash fix moves you to DirectX 12, while PCGamingWiki notes Vulkan can be faster on some GPUs but leaks video memory when Resizable BAR is on.

Why does RDR2 get slower the longer I play?

On Vulkan with Resizable BAR enabled, PCGamingWiki documents a video-memory leak. Switch to DirectX 12, disable triple buffering or turn ReBAR off in the BIOS.

How do I fix ERR_GFX_INIT in RDR2?

Update your GPU driver, then delete everything in the game's Settings folder except system.xml. If it still fails, Rockstar says to switch the API in system.xml and delete the sga_ files.

What is ERR_GFX_D3D_DEFERRED_MEM?

It is a "lack of memory" shutdown that PCGamingWiki links to switching graphics API. Change the API value in system.xml back and the game should start.

Did Rockstar patch the PC crashes?

Rockstar's Title Update 1.14.1 notes (25 November 2019) list fixes for many PC crashes, including crashes after switching between Vulkan and DirectX 12. Keep the game updated through your launcher.

Does this guide fix Red Dead Online connection errors?

No. For service status, ports and DNS, see our GTA V and GTA Online troubleshooting guide; the same Rockstar network steps apply.

Sources & verification

Sources last verified on . This article covers published information, not hands-on testing.

About the Author

Tulasiram Pemmadi · Owner and editor

Tulasiram Pemmadi is the owner and editor of NextPlayIntel, which operates from India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He sets the site's editorial policy and publishes its gaming news, GTA guides, explainers and hardware reference pages. Articles are researched and written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the linked sources. Unless a page says otherwise, guides summarise published information and are not hands-on tests.

Editorial & update notes

New troubleshooting guide, 31 Oct 2026.

Our editorial standards and corrections policy