How to Fix Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Keeps Crashing on Startup

Daniel Hidalgo

2025-02-03 09:29:33

startup crashes in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 with our expert tips and solutions. Get back to swinging through the city!

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has finally made its way to PC, and excitement is at an all-time high! However, some players are encountering frustrating crashes, either on startup or during gameplay. If you're one of them, don't worry – this comprehensive guide is here to help you troubleshoot and resolve these issues so you can get back to swinging through the city.

Understanding the Crash Culprits

Before we delve into the fixes, let's explore the common reasons why Spider-Man 2 might be crashing on your PC. Understanding the potential causes is crucial for effective troubleshooting.

Outdated Graphics Drivers: Incompatible or outdated drivers are a frequent source of game crashes.
Corrupted Game Files: Damaged or missing game data can prevent the game from launching or cause instability.
Overlay Conflicts: Overlays from applications like Steam, Discord, or GeForce Experience can sometimes interfere.
Resource Exhaustion: Running too many background processes can strain system resources, leading to crashes.
Outdated System Software: An outdated version of Windows or DirectX can cause compatibility issues.
Security Software Interference: Antivirus or firewall software might mistakenly flag the game.
Hardware Limitations: Your PC might not fully meet the game's demands, especially at higher settings.
Overheating: Overheating components can trigger crashes to prevent damage.
Software Conflicts (Beyond Overlays): Other applications can sometimes conflict with the game.
Driver Conflicts (Beyond GPU): Issues with other device drivers (e.g., audio, chipset) can sometimes cause unexpected behavior.
Power Supply Issues: An insufficient power supply can lead to system instability and crashes, particularly under heavy load.
Windows User Profile Corruption: In rare cases, a corrupted Windows user profile can be the culprit.
Game Settings: Incorrect or overly demanding in-game settings can lead to instability.

Fix Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Keeps Crashing on Startup

Let's address these potential problems with the following troubleshooting methods. Work through them systematically to identify the most effective solutions for your specific setup.

1. System Requirements Verification (Detailed):

Ensure your PC meets the game's minimum and recommended system requirements. Don't just glance at them – understand what they mean.

Minimum Requirements: These are the absolute bare minimum to potentially run the game, likely at very low settings and with significant performance compromises.
Recommended Requirements: These suggest a system capable of running the game at more reasonable settings with a smoother experience. However, even with "recommended" hardware, you might need to tweak settings for optimal performance.

2. Run as Administrator:

Granting administrator privileges can sometimes resolve permission-related crashes.

Right-click the game's executable file (or shortcut).

Select "Properties" > "Compatibility" tab.

Check "Run this program as an administrator."

Apply the changes.

3. Verify Game File Integrity (Detailed):

Corrupted game files are a common cause of crashes.

Steam: Right-click the game in your Library > "Properties" > "Local Files" > "Verify Integrity of Game Files." Steam will check each file and re-download any corrupted or missing ones.
Epic Games: Click the three dots next to the game > "Verify." The Epic Games Launcher will perform a similar check.

4. Graphics Driver Update (and Clean Install - Advanced):

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are a frequent culprit.

Identify your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).

Download the latest drivers from the official website.

Crucially: Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode to completely remove old drivers before installing the new ones. This is highly recommended, especially if you've had previous driver issues or have switched graphics card manufacturers.

5. Overlay Application Disabling (Thorough):

Disable overlays from all applications that might have them, including:

Steam Overlay
Discord Overlay
GeForce Experience Overlay
AMD Radeon Overlay
Xbox Game Bar
MSI Afterburner (or similar overclocking/monitoring software)
OBS Studio or other streaming software

6. Windows and DirectX Update (Check for Optional Updates):

Ensure your Windows installation and DirectX are up-to-date. Don't just check for the main updates – also look for "Optional Updates," as these can sometimes include important fixes.

7. Antivirus and Firewall Check (Detailed):

Temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall software completely (not just real-time scanning) to see if they are interfering. If this resolves the issue, you'll need to configure your security software to create an exception for Spider-Man 2.

8. Game Reinstallation (Clean Install):

As a last resort, try uninstalling and reinstalling the game. But don't just uninstall – manually delete the game's installation directory after uninstalling to ensure any leftover files are removed.

9. Background Process Management (Advanced and Ongoing):

Use Task Manager to identify any processes consuming significant resources, even if they don't appear directly related to the game. Pay attention to CPU, RAM, disk, and network usage. Close any unnecessary applications. This should be an ongoing practice, not just a one-time check.

10. Overheating Check (Detailed):

Monitor your system's temperature using monitoring software (e.g., HWMonitor, Core Temp). If components are running hot (especially the CPU and GPU), improve cooling.

11. Software Conflicts (Beyond Overlays - Detailed):

Consider any recently installed software that might be conflicting with the game. Try temporarily uninstalling recently installed programs to see if they are the cause.

12. Check Event Viewer (Windows - Advanced):

The Event Viewer can provide more detailed information about system crashes. Look for error messages related to Spider-Man 2 in the "Application" and "System" logs.

13. Adjust Virtual Memory (Page File - Advanced and Cautious):

Improper page file settings can contribute to crashes. Research how to correctly configure the page file size for your system based on your RAM. Incorrect settings can cause instability, so proceed with caution.

14. Hardware Diagnostics (Advanced - Thorough):

If you suspect a hardware problem, run memory diagnostics (Windows Memory Diagnostic or Memtest86), check your hard drive for errors (using chkdsk in the command prompt), and test your power supply if you have the means to do so.

15. Check for Game-Specific Patches (and Beta Versions):

Developers often release patches to address crash issues. Make sure your game is up-to-date. Sometimes, beta versions of patches might contain fixes, but use them with caution as they might introduce new issues.

16. Clean Boot (Advanced - Systematic):

A clean boot helps isolate if a startup program is the culprit. Systematically disable startup programs to pinpoint the problematic one.

17. Windows User Profile Check (Advanced):

Create a new Windows user profile to see if the crashes persist. If they don't, your original profile might be corrupted.

18. Game Settings Optimization (Beyond the Basics):

Experiment with different in-game settings. Lowering settings isn't just about the big ones like textures and shadows – sometimes, less obvious settings can have a significant impact. Try disabling or lowering things like motion blur, depth of field, ambient occlusion, and volumetric fog.

19. Driver Conflicts (Beyond GPU - Advanced):

Check for updates for all your device drivers, including audio drivers, chipset drivers, network drivers, etc.

20. Power Supply Check (Advanced):

An insufficient or failing power supply can cause instability and crashes.1 If you suspect this, try using a different power supply if possible.

21. Overclocking (If Applicable - Advanced and Cautious):

If you've overclocked your CPU or GPU, try returning them to their default clock speeds to see if that resolves the crashes. Overclocking can sometimes lead to instability.2

By systematically working through these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the crashing issues in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on PC. Remember to test the game after each change to see its impact. If you continue to experience crashes, consider contacting the game's support team or seeking help from online communities. Providing detailed information about your system specifications, the specific crash messages you're seeing (if any), and the steps you've already taken will greatly assist in getting the help you need.

Platform(s): PlayStation 5 PS5

Genre(s): Action-adventure

Developer(s): Insomniac Games, Marvel Games, Nixxes Software

Publisher(s):Sony Interactive Entertainment

Release date: October 20, 2023

Mode: Single-player

age rating (PEGI): 16+

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