Age of Empires 4 is a highly anticipated game, and it can be frustrating when it keeps crashing on your PC. One of the common reasons for game crashes is an outdated or corrupted graphics driver.
The graphics driver is a crucial component for running video games smoothly on your computer. It acts as a bridge between the game and your graphics card, allowing them to communicate effectively. If the graphics driver is outdated or corrupted, it can cause compatibility issues and lead to crashes.
To fix this issue, you should consider updating your graphics driver. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Identify your graphics card: Before updating the driver, you need to know the make and model of your graphics card. You can find this information by following these steps:
– Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
– Type “dxdiag” (without quotes) and press Enter.
– In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool window, go to the Display tab.
– Note down the name and manufacturer of your graphics card.
2. Download the latest driver: Once you have identified your graphics card, visit the manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver. Most graphics card manufacturers, such as NVIDIA and AMD, provide driver download sections on their websites. Look for the drivers specific to your graphics card model and operating system.
3. Install the driver: After downloading the driver setup file, run it and follow the on-screen instructions to install the new driver. Make sure to select the appropriate options based on your preferences. During the installation process, it’s recommended to choose the “Clean Install” option, which removes the old driver completely before installing the new one.
4. Restart your computer: After the driver installation is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes. This step ensures that the new driver is properly initialized and integrated into your system.
Updating your graphics driver should help resolve any compatibility issues and crashes you were experiencing in Age of Empires 4. If the problem persists, you may need to explore other troubleshooting steps, such as checking for game updates, verifying the game files, or adjusting in-game graphics settings.
It’s worth noting that Age of Empires 4 is a demanding game, and your PC’s hardware specifications also play a role in its performance. If your system doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, you may experience crashes or poor performance even with an up-to-date graphics driver. In such cases, you might consider upgrading your hardware or adjusting the game’s graphical settings to optimize performance.
In my personal experience, I have encountered game crashes in the past due to outdated graphics drivers. Once I updated the drivers, the crashes were significantly reduced, and the games ran much smoother. Therefore, I highly recommend keeping your graphics driver up to date to ensure the best gaming experience.