Fix: Blacklight Retribution won’t launch

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Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Blacklight Retribution is a cyber first-person shooter for Windows and PlayStation 4 that doesn’t always start. Some Blacklight Retribution players have stated on forums that thegame isn’t launching in Steam. If you’re among those who can’t launch BLR, these are a few resolutions that might fix the game.

How to fix Blacklight Retribution launch issues and errors

1. Check the Game’s System Specifications

If you’ve never ran Blacklight Retribution in Windows before, and it isn’t launching, double-check that your desktop or laptop meets or eclipses the game’s system requirements. BLR is not a new game, so it doesn’t have especially high system requirements. A dual-core CPU, two GB RAM and 256 MB GPU are a few of the game’s specifications. Below is a snapshot of BLR’s full system specifications listed on Steam.

If your desktop or laptop doesn’t meet one of those specs, that might be why the game isn’t running. Even though Windows 10 and 8 aren’t listed as supported platforms on BLR’s Steam specifications, Blacklight Retribution does run in Windows 10. However, you could try running it in backward compatibility mode in Windows 8 and 10. To do that, right-click the BLR.exe, selectProperties, click the Compatibility tab and select theRun this program in compatibility modeoption.

2. Don’t Launch the Game Through Steam

Blacklight Retribution not launching can be due to the Steam launcher not launching it. Some BLR players have fixed the issue by starting the game from outside Steam. So enter the keyword ‘Blacklight Retribution.exe’ in your Windows search box, and then select to run BLR from there. Alternatively, open the Blacklight Retribution folder in File Explorer; and click the BLR.exe to open the game from its folder.

3. Adjust the AllowD3D11 Setting in the PCConsole-FoxEngine File

Some BLR players have fixed the game not starting by adjusting the AllowD3D11 setting in the PCConsole-FoxEngine file. This is an especially effective fix for Windows laptops or desktops that don’t support DirectX 11. This is how you can adjust the AllowD3D11 setting.

4. Reinstall Blacklight Retribution in Steam

As previously mentioned, running this game without initializing the Steam launcher is a potential resolution for BLR not starting. Some players have also fixed the game by reinstalling in it Steam and then starting BLR with a Windows shortcut. That will update the game with the latest patches without the launcher.

5. Verify the Game’s Cache

6. Close Background Software

It might be the case that background software is conflicting with BLR’s launcher. For instance, some Blacklight Retribution players have got the game starting by closing theTeamViewer remote desktop software. As conflicting software can vary widely from platform to platform, your best bet is close as many non-essential programs as you can via Task Manager. This is how you can close programs and background services with Task Manager.

Those are a few fixes that could kick-start Blacklight Retribution. If not, check outthis articlethat provides further details for fixing Steam games that aren’t launching.

Fix: Blacklight Retribution won’t launch#

How to fix Blacklight Retribution launch issues and errors#

1. Check the Game’s System Specifications#

2. Don’t Launch the Game Through Steam#

3. Adjust the AllowD3D11 Setting in the PCConsole-FoxEngine File#

4. Reinstall Blacklight Retribution in Steam#

5. Verify the Game’s Cache#

6. Close Background Software#