Although Don’t Starve first released many years ago, players can still run into various errors. One of the most frequent is “Error during initialization.” This guide explains practical steps to fix the problem and get back to gameplay quickly.
The guide is divided into several sections. Each section covers a different approach that can resolve the error. Start with the simplest checks and progress through the more detailed fixes. First, verify that all system drivers are installed and up to date. Since some installers pull in additional components, consider using up-to-date driver tools such as Snappy Driver Installer or DriverPack Solution. Pay close attention to drivers for video hardware from AMD, NVIDIA, and Intel HD Graphics.
Installing Intel HD Graphics
Some players encounter the issue when the Intel HD Graphics driver is missing. If that happens, follow these steps:
- Visit the manufacturer’s official site from the provided link to access the driver page.
- Click the “Start of work” button and on the opened page choose “Download now” to download the Intel Driver & Support Assistant. This tool can automatically install all Intel drivers.
- Alternatively, navigate to the section labeled “Graphic art” and locate your graphics adapter in the list. Use the left-side filter to download and install the appropriate components for your device.
Installing and updating VCRedist and DXRedist from the game folder
After drivers are confirmed, begin downloading VCRedist and DXRedist. Use the steps below to install or reinstall missing components:
- Open the Steam client and access the game’s Properties section.
- Go to Local Files and select Review to open the game folder.
- Navigate to the video recorder folder and run vcredist_x86 or vcredist_x64, depending on your operating system’s bit depth. For example, path: C:/Program Files/Steam/steamapps/common/dont_starve/VCRedist.
- Install the components.
- Go to the DXRedist folder and run DXSETUP. Example path: C:/Program Files/Steam/steamapps/common/dont_starve/DXRedist.
- Install the components.
Installing and updating VCRedist and DXRedist from the Microsoft website
If there are no suitable files in the folders from the previous step, download the installers directly from Microsoft. Follow these steps:
- Open the DirectX Web Installer page and choose Download.
- Open the DirectX End-User Runtime page and click Download.
- Open the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2013 page and click Download. Choose the appropriate package and use Next to proceed. The three files can be downloaded one by one.
- Run all three downloaded files in sequence. When prompted for a download folder, create a new folder with sufficient free space, place the files there, and run DXSETUP to install the components.
- Try launching the game after these installations.
- If the error persists, restart the computer and relaunch Don’t Starve.
Both DirectX files, directx_Jun2010_redist and dxwebsetup, will install DirectX components, but it is recommended to run both programs one after the other.
How to fix the error with DXFix
The initialization error may stem from conflicts between DirectX versions or improper functionality. A DirectX dependency remover named DXFix can help resolve this:
Follow the link to download the patch automatically. Note that the program modifies system files, so if antivirus software is active, disable it temporarily. After launching the application, the fixes are applied automatically. If needed, reboot the device and start Don’t Starve again.
Caution is advised when installing files from unfamiliar sources. The DXFix link is shared on the Open Broadcaster Software forum, and many players have resolved the error using this method.
Disable third-party software
Some users report that certain third-party programs interfere with Steam games. Before starting Don’t Starve, disable any unrelated applications, such as MSI Afterburner. Issues may also arise with Duet Display, which should be uninstalled before launching Steam.
Integrated video card error
A common reason for the error is a weak built-in graphics processor. The game may fail to start on systems with less than 256 MB of VRAM, typical of some laptops and low-end PCs.
The problem can also occur if the operating system prioritizes the built-in video card. In that case, set the device to use a discrete graphics processor. Detailed steps are provided in a separate guide.
Install Windows updates
In rare situations, the issue is tied to missing Windows updates. Consider the following:
- Click Get started and access Settings.
- Open Update & Security and select Check for updates.
- If updates are found, install them.
- Restart the computer to apply changes and try the game again.
Note that if some OS components were manually disabled previously, such as 3D hardware acceleration, it may be necessary to restore those settings.
Cache Integrity Check
The cache integrity check is a frequent recommendation on forums and can help resolve the issue. Follow these steps:
- Open Steam and select Don’t Starve from the game list.
- Right-click the game title and choose Properties.
- Go to Local Files.
- Click Check the integrity of game files.
- After verification finishes, launch the game.
Note: This guidance reflects common solutions shared within the gaming community for this title.
All information above is referenced to user reports and community discussions in the field.