Jagged Alliance 3 is a tactical RPG from Haemimont Games, published by THQ Nordic. This guide helps players who can’t install or run the game, or who encounter various bugs and errors during play. It collects the main fixes that resolve most common issues.
Guides for Jagged Alliance 3
Jagged Alliance 3 won’t start, black screen – how to fix?
Developers continue to gather bug reports from players worldwide and release patches aimed at resolving issues. The following practical steps address the problems most players experience.
System requirements
First, verify that the computer meets the game’s system requirements. Incompatible hardware can cause a range of startup problems.
Minimum Requirements
- Operating system — Windows 7/8/10, 64-bit;
- CPU — Intel Quad Core or AMD Ryzen at 3.0 GHz;
- RAM — 8 GB;
- HDD/SSD — 20 GB;
- Video card — NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 2 GB or AMD Radeon R7 370 2 GB;
- Keyboard and mouse.
Recommended Requirements
- Operating system — Windows 7/8/10, 64-bit;
- CPU — Intel Quad Core or AMD Ryzen at 4.0 GHz;
- RAM — 16 GB;
- HDD/SSD — 20 GB;
- Video card — NVIDIA RTX 2070 8 GB or AMD Radeon 6700XT 8 GB;
- Keyboard and mouse.
Run the game as an administrator
If the game encounters issues, running it with administrator rights is a quick test. This step often resolves permission-related problems. Here is how to do it:
- Navigate to Jagged Alliance 3 shortcut or the game file JA3.exe in the Steam directory;
- Open the file’s Properties and go to the Compatibility tab;
- Check the option “Run this program as administrator”;
- Click Apply and OK to save changes.
Disable full screen optimization
Full screen optimization is on by default for many apps but can trigger crashes and startup errors.
- Right-click Jagged Alliance 3 in the Steam library and choose Browse Local Files;
- Find JA3.exe and open its Properties;
- Go to Compatibility and disable Full Screen Optimization, then save;
- Launch Jagged Alliance 3 again.
Check the integrity of game files
Sometimes important files are missing or corrupted after installation. Run a file integrity check through the Steam client:
- Open Steam and go to Library;
- Right-click Jagged Alliance 3 in the list of installed games;
- Choose Properties and then Local Files;
- Click Check File Integrity and wait for the process to finish;
- Restart the PC after the check completes.
Update Microsoft Visual C++
Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages are essential for many modern games. Ensure the latest updates are installed by downloading the current packages from the official site and installing them on the PC.
Update DirectX
DirectX is required for stable operation. Install or update DirectX by running the dxsetup file in the Steam distribution path or by downloading the latest version from the official DirectX site.
Update your graphics card drivers
An outdated GPU driver can cause errors and crashes. Check for updates and install the latest version:
- NVIDIA users — visit the official NVIDIA driver page;
- AMD users — download the latest drivers from AMD’s site.
Disable game overlays on Steam, Discord and other apps
Disabling overlays can fix launch issues in some setups. Overlays run in the background and can sap system resources. This guide explains how to disable the Steam overlay and manuals tests show performance improvements when overlays are off.
Disable Antivirus and Windows Firewall
Security software can block game files from running. Temporarily disable security features to test performance, then re-enable them after testing. If unsure how to proceed, consult a guide for disabling antivirus and firewall settings.
To disable Windows Firewall:
- Open Windows Firewall from the search results;
- Choose one network profile (Domain, Private, or Public) and turn it off;
- Restart the computer and try launching the game.
Start the game in windowed mode
Running Jagged Alliance 3 in windowed mode can fix startup errors. Try these steps:
- Open Steam and go to Library;
- Right-click Jagged Alliance 3 and select Properties;
- In the General tab, choose Set Launch Options;
- Enter the windowed mode command and apply it.
End background processes and applications
- Open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc;
- Look at the Processes tab and identify background programs;
- Highlight unnecessary processes, select End Task to free resources.
Reinstall Jagged Alliance 3
If none of the methods solve the problem, uninstall the game, restart the PC, and reinstall it.
Jagged Alliance 3 crashes to the desktop without errors – how to fix?
If the game crashes to the desktop without visible errors during gameplay, first confirm the PC meets the minimum and recommended requirements. If it only meets the minimum, switch to lower settings:
- Open the game and go to Options;
- Under Video, select a low configuration preset.
If crashes persist, revisit the graphics options and disable some features entirely, such as anisotropy, halos, vignetting, chromatic aberration, SSAO, reflections, and sharpness. This reduces load and often stops crashes. Experiment to balance performance and image quality.
Note: A restart is recommended after any change or update.
Error during battle. The opponent’s move is frozen – what to do?
During battle, players may see the screen freeze after a number of moves, preventing enemy actions. The current fix is to load a previous save. If you revert to the turn before, the bug might recur. Players are advised to load a prior save and share any additional fixes in the comments.
Unknown error while saving
Saving errors can occur during combat when the game tries an automatic save. If this happens, close the game and save manually. If problems continue, restart the game or load a previously saved file.
Jagged Alliance 3 could not load images – how to fix?
When images fail to load, public reports don’t pin down a single cause, but several effective fixes exist:
- Check the integrity of the game files;
- Lower the graphics settings in the game.
Chimureng bug in Pantagruel – how to fix?
Many players report a bug where Chimurenga disappears from the Pantagruel square, blocking progress. A clear cause isn’t identified yet, but several workable workarounds exist.
Restart Jagged Alliance 3
First, exit the game without saving and relaunch. This often resolves the issue.
Load a previous save
If autosave is on, select an earlier save and load it. The cause may lie earlier in the game, so this method may not fully solve the problem.
Attack the rebels and defeat Chimureng
Another approach is to engage rebels in an earlier area. This ensures Chimurenga appears in Pantagruel’s central square. Defeating the boss is optional; players may choose to spare Chimurenga after the confrontation.
Check the integrity of game files
As noted earlier, some files may be corrupted. Use the Steam launcher to verify file integrity again if issues persist.
Reinstall Jagged Alliance 3
Reinstalling and checking file integrity helps resolve lingering issues and does not affect saved data.
Start a new game
Starting a fresh game is a drastic but sometimes necessary step if problems remain after all other fixes. It can save time when progress is severely affected.