How to Fish Crash on Launch and Desktop Fix

Why does How to Fish crash on launch?

If you need a How to Fish crash on launch fix, first identify whether you see an immediate Unity crash, a black screen, or a gray screen. As of Patch 1.0.10, Steam threads show all three startup outcomes. Patch 1.0.4 officially fixed one gray-screen case, so an older report does not automatically describe the current build.

One thread includes the Unity identifier 6000.4.4f1_360f97ecca93. Two players said renaming a D3D12-related folder let the game start. That is useful evidence for a narrow graphics-backend problem, but it is not an official diagnosis and should not be the first step.

Which crash fixes should you try in order?

Work through this How to Fish crash on launch fix from the safest checks to the narrower workarounds:

1. Restart the computer and Steam. Launch the game from the Steam library without other changes.
2. Verify installed files. In Steam, open the game’s Properties, choose Installed Files, then verify integrity.
3. Update the GPU driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. Restart again after installation.
4. Disable overlays and capture tools for one launch. Test Steam Overlay, Discord overlay, GPU overlay, and recording software separately.
5. Try a different display state. Disconnect unusual secondary displays temporarily and test fullscreen versus windowed if the menu is reachable.
6. Run the executable as administrator once. A player reported mixed results; if it changes nothing, return to normal launch rather than leaving elevated access enabled.
7. Reinstall the game only after verification fails. Back up saves first. Reinstallation is not a confirmed way to restore progress.

If the crash matches the Unity identifier above and every safer step fails, back up the installation folder and rename, rather than delete, the D3D12-related folder described in the source thread. Verify files to restore it afterward. This workaround may force a different rendering path and may reduce performance or stop working after an update.

What about a black or gray screen?

For a gray screen, Patch 1.0.4 should already contain the forced-fullscreen fix. Confirm the game is actually updated, then remove custom launch options and retry. For a black screen before the menu, wait once, then restart and disable overlays. For a black screen only while joining co-op, use the multiplayer connection guide instead.

Do not delete saves to troubleshoot a display-only symptom. A crash does not perform a final save, so use the save and progress guide to protect the last good slot. If the crash follows very high GPU usage or an uncapped frame rate, apply the low-FPS fixes before returning to the same save.

The beginner walkthrough is safe to use for a short fresh-slot test after the game launches, but do not overwrite the original slot.

Which claimed fixes are uncertain?

Administrator mode, reinstalling, and renaming the D3D12 folder have only community-level evidence in the reviewed threads. One person reporting a fix does not prove the cause. Avoid downloading replacement DLL files, “registry cleaners,” or unofficial executables; none are supported by the developer sources reviewed here.

When reporting a crash, include the full Unity code, exact point of failure, GPU model and driver, display mode, and whether a new local slot reaches the menu.

Sources

• Official Steam announcements and patch notes — Patch 1.0.4 gray-screen fix and Patch 1.0.6 crash/save behavior. Accessed 2026-09-01.
• Steam discussion: Game crashing on launch — player startup-crash report. Accessed 2026-09-01.
• Steam discussion: Unity 6000.4.4f1 crash and D3D12 workaround — two-player workaround evidence. Accessed 2026-09-01.
• Steam discussion: Startup black screen — mixed administrator and reinstall reports. Accessed 2026-09-01.