Players with Early Access to Hyper Light Breaker for PC might be facing numerous crashes when trying to launch the game. Fatal errors connected to Unreal Engine can occur as gamers attempt to get past the initial loading screens after hitting the Play button. Fortunately, Heart Machine, the game’s creator, has offered a potential workaround, though it does require sacrificing some features for the game to work properly.
This issue affecting the Early Access version of Hyper Light Breaker is expected to be addressed in an upcoming update from Heart Machine. However, for now, players are unable to start the game due to this startup crash problem. It appears that the issue relates to the game’s cloud save feature, impacting only certain PCs that have the game installed.
What Is the Startup Crash Bug in Hyper Light Breaker?
Fatal Error Preventing Game from Loading
The startup crash bug appears when players attempt to open Hyper Light Breaker and receive a message stating “Fatal Error!”. This message gives the option to exit the game but does not allow players to access the main menu. The error message reoccurs every time players try to launch the game, even if they completely uninstall and reinstall it.
The likely source of the bug seems to stem from the automatic cloud save functionality linked to Hyper Light Breaker‘s online co-op feature. While the bug isn’t directly tied to playing in co-op mode, numerous players have reported that the saved files from their online sessions disrupt the startup process in some manner.
Currently, adjusting save files has only worked for some users trying to run Hyper Light Breaker on PC. It may help to delete the “Breaker” folder found in the game’s files after installation, but this solution is not effective for every setup.
How to Prevent Your Game from Crashing on Startup
Follow Developer Instructions and Play Offline
Heart Machine has provided clear guidance for playing Hyper Light Breaker without encountering startup crashes. Firstly, it’s essential to play the game in Offline mode on Steam to avoid the cloud save issue that triggers the bug when online. To go Offline on Steam, click the Steam menu and select the “Go Offline…” option from the dropdown list.
When playing Hyper Light Breaker in Offline mode, you will still retain all progress made during gameplay, even if you close the game and return later.
Heart Machine’s recommended steps include the following:
- Update All Game Files
- Launch Steam in Offline Mode
- Start the Game You Want to Play Offline
- Close the Game and Return to Steam
- Go to the “Security” Tab in Steam Settings
- Ensure “Don’t Save Account Credentials on This Computer” is Not Selected
- Switch to Offline from the Steam Menu
- Launch the Game
For more information, players can check the official post from Heart Machine, which elaborates on the issue and outlines the steps being taken to ensure a hotfix is available shortly. Running the game in Offline Mode should help you bypass the startup crash, bringing you to the game’s introductory menus.
However, please note that this workaround means you won’t be able to play online with friends while you’re in Offline mode. If you’re still eager to team up with friends after resolving the startup issue, follow these steps:
- Start the Game in Offline Mode
- While in Offline Mode, use Alt + Tab to Switch to Windows
- Return to Steam
- Go Online through the Steam Menus
- Exit the Game
- Re-launch the Game While Online
While this may not work for everyone, successfully bypassing the bug initially might prevent it from recurring. Heart Machine intends to officially resolve the startup crash issue in Hyper Light Breaker soon, so players can expect a smoother experience as the official launch date approaches.
Source: Heart Machine’s X Account