Game crashes on startup

[Linuxgurugamer]

Game Version​

2026.8.19.5261

Operating System​

Windows 11

What Happened​

I've been trying to get into the game, have been running into a situation where it just crashes/exits during startup.
I've been able to trace it down to the Cascaded Shadows. When the Shadows are set to 16K, it crashes. Reducing to 8K allows it to continue.
ALL other settings are set to max, it's only this one. I've tried reducing some of the other settings, it doesn't seem to make a difference

What Was Expected​

Continue to game

Reproduction Steps​

1. At the configuration during startup, set all setting as high as possible
2. Start KSA
3. Reduce the Cascaded Shadows from 16k to 8k, it then works

Reproduction Rate​

Always happens

Additional Info​

• System specs:
  AMD 9950X3D
  64 G memory
  Windows 11
  Graphics: AMD 9070XT with 16G onboard memory
  Resolution: 3440x1440

Not sure what log files might help, if any needed, please reply

 

[Linuxgurugamer]

Note: I suppose this may be a result of running out of VRAM, but the display stops about 5g, the graphics card has 16g of VRAM

 

[Kiwi Shark]

This wouldn't be the first time a specific setting causes a crash at maximum. Part thumbnails used to this too.

Could you try this again on the latest build and see if it still happens?

 

[Frosty]

Seems to work on my system with the settings cranked up to max, including Cascaded Shadows at 16k. At the very least, it doesn't appear to be a hard VRAM limit. I'm on v2026.8.19.5261, haven't gotten around to updating.

My specs are as follows:
AMD 9800X3D
32GB DDR5
Artix Linux
AMD 7800 XT (16GB)
Resolution: 3440x1440

 

[Linuxgurugamer]

Seems to work on my system with the settings cranked up to max, including Cascaded Shadows at 16k. At the very least, it doesn't appear to be a hard VRAM limit. I'm on v2026.8.19.5261, haven't gotten around to updating.

My specs are as follows:
AMD 9800X3D
32GB DDR5
Artix Linux
AMD 7800 XT (16GB)
Resolution: 3440x1440

Interesting. However. Our specs are different. It could be an issue with the 9070XT that I have

 

[Linuxgurugamer]

Just downloaded and installed the latest build.
Sadly, still happening.

Version v2026.8.22.5348

Not sure what log files might help, if any needed, please let me know

 

[JPLRepo]

My very strong guess is you are running out of VRAM. Yes even with the specs you have. If you dial everything up. Especially the shadows.
I recommend you dial them down and it will work.

 

[Linuxgurugamer]

I agree that's probably what's happening. I'm reporting this because the display of how much VRAM is used stops at 2.2g with a line underneath saying "Global Shader Bindings", and in the menu it says that the Shadows would be using 6g.

Monitoring with GPUz, and over multiple runs (to be sure I didn't miss a quick peak), it topped out at 7620mb used.
MSI Afterburner topped out at 7163mb

If it's trying to get memory and unable to, it should report an issue rather than just crashing. At least that would give the user a chance to understand what was wrong and make appropriate adjustments

 

[Linuxgurugamer]

Just a small update: When loaded using the next lower setting, it loaded, but the VRAM is essentially full.

GPUz reports about 14500Mb
MSI Afterburner reports 16285Mb

So it's obvious that the higher setting is running out of VRAM.

I'm not complaining about that, it's the CTD which is annoying. As I said, it should either just refuse to run, or at least stop with an error rather than just crashing