How to Fix Helldivers 2 Crashes When I Press The Start Button/Escape During Gameplay

Let’s delve deeper into troubleshooting the Helldivers 2 crashes that occur when pressing the Start button or Escape key during gameplay. These frustrating interruptions can hinder your galactic battles, but fear not—we’ll explore potential solutions to get you back in action.

1. Run as Administrator:

When launching Helldivers 2, consider running it as an administrator. This step grants the game elevated privileges, potentially resolving compatibility issues. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the root folder where you installed Helldivers 2.
2. Locate the game executable (usually named something like Helldivers2.exe).
3. Right-click on the executable and select “Run as administrator.”

This workaround should allow you to start the game without encountering crashes. Keep in mind that this is a temporary fix, so you’ll need to repeat it each time you launch the game.

2. Esc Button Crashes:

Some players experience crashes specifically when pressing the ESC button or accessing the in-game menu. To address this issue, follow these steps:

1. Open the Nvidia Control Panel from your desktop (you can usually find it in the system tray or by searching for it).
2. Navigate to Manage 3D settings.
3. Look for an option related to image scaling (usually under the “Global Settings” tab).
4. Turn OFF image scaling.

By disabling image scaling, you may prevent random crashes when interacting with the menu during gameplay. Give it a try and see if it improves your experience.

3. Verify Game Files:

Corrupted or missing game files can lead to crashes. To verify the integrity of Helldivers 2 files on Steam, follow these steps:

1. Open your Steam Library.
2. Right-click on Helldivers 2 and select Properties.
3. Go to the Local Files tab.
4. Click on Verify integrity of game files.
5. Steam will check your game files and download any missing or corrupted files.
6. Restart Steam and launch the game again.

Verifying game files ensures that you’re using a clean installation, minimizing the chances of crashes.

4. Disable Steam Controller Input:

If you’re using a Steam controller, it might be causing conflicts. Try disabling Steam’s controller input for Helldivers 2:

1. Right-click on Helldivers 2 in your Steam library.
2. Select Properties.
3. Go to the Controller tab.
4. Change the setting from Use default settings to Disable Steam Input from the drop-down menu.
5. Launch the game again.

This step might resolve controller-related crashes.

5. Disable GameGuard

Disabling GameGuard is another potential solution to address crashes in Helldivers 2. GameGuard is an anti-cheat software commonly used in online games to prevent cheating and unauthorized modifications. However, sometimes it can conflict with game processes and cause unexpected crashes. Here’s how you can disable it:

1. Locate the GameGuard Folder:
   • Navigate to the installation directory of Helldivers 2.
   • Look for a folder named “GameGuard” or something similar. It’s usually located within the game’s installation folder.
2. Rename or Delete the GameGuard Folder:
   • Right-click on the GameGuard folder.
   • Choose one of the following options:
     • Rename the folder: Change its name to something like “GameGuard_Backup.”
     • Delete the folder: If you’re confident that disabling GameGuard won’t cause issues, you can delete the folder altogether.
3. Launch Helldivers 2:
   • Start the game and see if the crashes persist.
   • By disabling GameGuard, you’re bypassing its checks, which may resolve compatibility issues.

Remember that these solutions aren’t guaranteed to work for everyone, as system configurations vary. However, they’re worth trying to ensure a smoother gaming experience. Additionally, keep your graphics drivers up to date and consider checking for any game-specific patches or updates. May your intergalactic battles be crash-free!