`VK_ERROR_DEVICE_LOST` with 2K parts textures

[Dantei]

Game Version​

v2026.6.7.4631

Operating System​

Windows 10

What Happened​

If and only if I choose in the launcher dialog the 2K/16MB option for parts textures, then KSA crashes after logging about an VK_ERROR_DEVICE_LOST error.
The effect is 100% reliable/reproducible so far.
According to KSA itself, to the TaskManager and to my ProcessExplorer clone, there's still plenty of VRAM available.

Examples:
- Always crash: 2K-parts-textures, with "Earth only", all settings to MINimum --> about 6 / 24 GB VRAM in use, before crash.
- Always okay: 1K-parts-textures, but with "Solar system", all settings to MAXimum --> about 16 / 24 GB VRAM in use.

What Was Expected​

Choosing the 2K-parts-textures shouldn't lead to crashes.

Reproduction Steps​

1. Start KSA
2. Choose "2K / 16MB" parts textures in the launcher dialog
3. Try to proceed to the actual game
4. Watch the game loading/initializing until "Loading complete" appears,
   and just disappearing about half a second later

Reproduction Rate​

Always. 100% reliable.

Additional Info​

• System
  • 64 GB RAM
  • Nvidia RTX 3090 with 24 GB VRAM
  • Neither CPU nor GPU are overclocked/undervolted
• From the KSA log file after a crash:

  • 07:54:33.594  INFO Application Initialization Complete
    07:54:33.603  INFO Controlling 'Rocket'
    07:54:33.671 DEBUG master server version: 'v2026.6.7.4631'
    07:54:33.671  INFO you are running the latest version
    07:54:35.414 ERROR Unhandled exception Brutal.VulkanApi.VkResultError: Vulkan call to vkWaitForFences failed with error: VK_ERROR_DEVICE_LOST
       at Core.Renderer.TryAcquireNextFrame()
       at KSA.Program.OnPreRender(Double dtPlayer)
       at KSA.Program.OnFrame(Double currentPlayerTime, Double dtPlayer)
       at KSA.App.Run()
       at KSA.Program.Main(String[] inArgs).

• From the Window Event Viewer about the KSA crashes:
  • Faulting application name: Brutal.Monitor.Subprocess.exe, [...] Exception code: 0xe0434352
• Video/Screenshots:
  • Screenshot atttached of last sign of life of KSA before crashing ("Loading complete")
  • Screenshot attached of my ProcessExplorer clone showing VRAM usage (up to ~16 / 24 GB)

 

[Kiwi Shark]

I've been seeing this in the Discord lately, thanks for the breakdown. I'll try to reproduce later.

 

[Dantei]

PS: The Windows Event Log also contains another error during those crashes, about dotnet-dump.exe not being found.
I guess that's rather a symptom than a cause here, though.

Exception Info: System.AggregateException: One or more errors occurred. (An error occurred trying to start process 'dotnet-dump.exe' with working directory 'C:\Users\***\Documents\My Games\Kitten Space Agency\crashdumps\LastChance'. The system cannot find the file specified.)