Red Dead Redemption 2 error code
RDR2 Error Code 18: Failed to Initialize Graphics Device
Error Code: 18 in one line: Red Dead Redemption 2 couldn't start because of a graphics API setting.
Try this first: switch the graphics API to DirectX 12 in the settings file.
Try this first: switch the graphics API to DirectX 12 in the settings file.
What Error Code: 18 means
Rockstar Support says: “This error occurs whenever there's an issue with your Graphics API settings.” (official page)
The full message is "Rockstar Games failed to initialize graphics device. Error Code: 18". It is a settings problem, not a hardware fault.
Likely causes
- A graphics API setting (usually Vulkan) that fails on your PC.
How to fix Error Code: 18, easiest first
- Close the game
Quit Red Dead Redemption 2 fully. - Open the settings file
Go to C:\Users\[USERNAME]\Documents\Rockstar Games\Red Dead Redemption 2 and open the settings XML file in Notepad. - Force DirectX 12
Find kSettingAPI_Vulkan and change it to kSettingAPI_DX12. Save and restart the game.
| Step | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Close the game | Official |
| 2 | Open the settings file | Official |
| 3 | Force DirectX 12 | Official |
When to contact support
If the error returns, contact Rockstar Support.
Error Code: 18 FAQ
What causes Error Code 18?
Rockstar says it happens whenever there's an issue with your graphics API settings.
Sources
Other Red Dead Redemption 2 error codes
- FFFFFFFF (Unknown error): An unknown RDR2 PC error; Rockstar lists audio-device, driver and graphics-API fixes.
- 0x99380000: RDR2 can't connect to Rockstar Game Services to download or verify content.
- ERR_GFX_INIT: Red Dead Redemption 2 couldn't start your graphics card when it launched.
- ERR_GFX_STATE: Red Dead Redemption 2 crashes at launch with a graphics state error.
- Error Code: 18: Red Dead Redemption 2 couldn't start because of a graphics API setting.
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