In addition to driver conflicts, other frequent causes include active background overlays (such as Discord or GeForce Experience), the game defaulting to an integrated GPU instead of a dedicated graphics card, and corrupted or missing game files due to incomplete installations or interrupted updates. Unoptimized graphics settings and outdated system software can also contribute to instability. This guide outlines proven solutions to stabilize the game and prevent recurring crashes.
1. Check System Requirements and Update Windows
Before troubleshooting, confirm that your system meets the official minimum requirements for DOOM: The Dark Ages. Also, ensure Windows is fully updated, as missing system updates can cause crashes in modern games.
2. Roll Back or Clean Install Your GPU Driver
If crashes started after a recent NVIDIA driver update, rolling back to an earlier driver can help. For persistent issues, performing a clean driver installation using a tool like Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) may resolve deeper conflicts. If rollback doesn’t help, perform a clean installation with DDU and reinstall the latest stable driver.
3. Turn Off Overlays
Overlays inject extra code into the game’s rendering pipeline, which can cause crashes, stuttering, or freezes. Disabling overlays such as Discord, Steam, GeForce Experience, and MSI Afterburner often improves stability. For a step-by-step guide on disabling overlays across the most common tools (including Steam, Discord, Xbox Game Bar, and more), check out our detailed guide: How to Disable In-Game Overlays on Windows.
4. Disable Integrated Graphics
If your system has both integrated and dedicated graphics, Windows may default to the integrated GPU, leading to crashes or poor performance. Disabling it forces the game to use the dedicated GPU.
5. Adjust Graphics Settings
Excessive graphics settings can overload your GPU and cause crashes. Reducing options like shadows, reflections, anti-aliasing, and texture resolution can improve stability. For Nvidia users, try switching between Vulkan and DirectX (if available) to see which API runs more stably.
6. Close Background Processes
Third-party apps like antivirus software, overclocking tools, and screen recorders can conflict with the game. Close unnecessary applications before launching DOOM to free up system resources and prevent crashes.
7. Verify Game Files or Reinstall
Verifying your game files replaces missing or corrupted files with fresh copies from Steam servers. If this doesn’t help, reinstalling the game ensures a clean installation. If verifying doesn’t help, reinstall the game:
8. Optional: Check Logs for Advanced Troubleshooting
For persistent crashes, reviewing crash logs or using the Windows Event Viewer can help pinpoint the cause. While this is an advanced step, it can provide detailed insight if you need to report the issue to Bethesda support.
