How to Fix Cities Skylines 2 Black Screen

Dealing with a black screen issue in Cities Skylines 2 can be frustrating, but worry not! In this guide, we'll walk you through some friendly and effective solutions to get your game up and running smoothly again. So let's dive in and fix that pesky black screen!

Cities Skylines 2 is a popular city-building simulation game that allows players to create and manage their own virtual cities. With stunning graphics and immersive gameplay, it's no wonder why players from all around the world are eager to jump into this virtual world. However, like any other game, Cities Skylines 2 is not immune to technical issues, and one of the most common problems players encounter is the dreaded black screen. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve this issue. Let's explore them together.

One Steam player suggested lowering the GPU power target by 5-10%. This simple tweak can improve stability without compromising performance. It's worth noting that this solution may not work for everyone, but it's definitely worth a try. To lower the GPU power target, you'll need to access your graphics card's control panel. Look for an option related to power settings and adjust it accordingly. Remember to save your changes and restart the game to see if the black screen issue is resolved.

Depth of Field is a visual effect that simulates the focus of a camera, blurring objects that are far away or up close. While this effect adds realism to the game, it can also cause compatibility issues, including black screens. Disabling Depth of Field in the Options menu has resolved the black screen issue for many players. To do this, launch the game and navigate to the Options menu. Look for the Depth of Field setting and turn it off. Apply the changes and restart the game to see if the black screen problem is resolved.

Outdated GPU drivers can cause compatibility issues with games, including Cities Skylines 2. Keeping your GPU drivers up to date is crucial for optimal performance and stability. To update your GPU drivers, visit the manufacturer's website and look for the latest drivers specifically tailored for your graphics card. Download and install the drivers, following the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Once the drivers are updated, restart your computer and launch the game again to see if the black screen issue persists.

For some players, reinstalling the game on a different SSD than the primary Steam installation drive has proven helpful in resolving the black screen issue. If you have multiple drives, consider giving this solution a try. To reinstall the game on a different SSD, first, uninstall it from the primary Steam installation drive. Then, choose a different drive during the installation process. After the game is successfully installed, launch it and check if the black screen problem is resolved.

Sometimes adjusting display settings within the launcher's Game Settings can do wonders in fixing black screen issues. Launch the game and navigate to the Game Settings in the launcher. Look for display-related options such as resolution, refresh rate, and fullscreen mode. Experiment with different settings until you find the combination that works best for your setup. Apply the changes and restart the game to see if the black screen problem is resolved.

If all else fails, consider installing the game on an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) instead of an SSD (Solid State Drive). While SSDs are generally faster and more reliable, some players have reported that installing Cities Skylines 2 on an HDD solved their black screen issues. This solution may seem unconventional, but it's definitely worth trying if you're running out of options. Uninstall the game from your current drive and reinstall it on an HDD. Launch the game and see if the black screen problem is resolved.