There are different factors that can prevent the Steam version Black Desert Online from launching. It could be due to a corrupted game file, hardware issues, or outdated graphics drivers. To fix this you will need to perform several troubleshooting steps.

Black Desert Online is a fantasy MMORPG developed by South Korean company Pearl Abyss. The game revolves around the conflict of two rival nations, the Republic of Calpheon and the Kingdom of Valencia. The game features an intricate character creator system allowing you almost limitless options. If combat is not really your forte then there are other things to do in this game such as farming, trading, horse training, fishing, sailing, crafting, and cooking just to name a few.

Fix Black Desert Online Not Launching

One of the issues that you might experience when playing Black Desert Online is when the game refuses to launch or start. You could be clicking on its link from the Steam client or from its desktop shortcut and you would not get any response at all. This can be a frustrating experience especially if you are planning to relax and play the game.

Here’s what you can do to fix the Black Desert Online launch problem.

Solution 1: Check your PC hardware components

You need to make sure that your PC meets at least the minimum system requirements to play the game. If you are running Black Desert Online on system that does not meet the requirements then you will usually experience this issue.

Minimum system requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i3-530 2.9 GHz
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: GTS 250, GeForce 9800 GTX, Radeon HD 3870 X2
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 39 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Screen Resolution: 1280×720

Recommended system requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-650 3.2GHz
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 970, AMD RX 480
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 39 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Screen Resolution: 1920×1080 or higher

Solution 2: Check your internet connection

Since Black Desert Online is a game that is played online then it will require a good internet connection. If your computer is not connected to the internet or if there are any network issues such as a high ping or a very low download and upload speed then the game may not launch at all.

You will need to check the status of your internet connection by doing a speed test.

Wait for the results then take note of the ping, download, and upload results.

A low ping between 50ms to 100ms is good to average. Anything above this is considered as a high ping which will affect Black Desert Online.

Your download and upload speeds should match what you are subscribing for from your internet service provider.

If there are issues with your internet connection then you can do the usual network troubleshooting steps.

If the internet connection problem persists then you should consider contacting your ISP.

Solution 3: Update your graphics card driver

The Black Desert Online may not launch if your computer has an outdated graphics driver. It’s best to check for any new driver updates as this will have several performance enhancements as well as bug fixes that could address the issues you are experiencing with Black Desert Online.

Update graphics driver

• Right click on the Start button.
• Click on Device Manager.
• Click the arrow before Display adapters.
• Right click on the selected graphics card then choose Update driver.
• Select Search automatically for drivers.

Once the latest driver has been installed you should restart your computer then check if the Black Desert Online game will start.

Solution 4: Update your Windows operating system

You should check if any new updates are available for your Windows operating system. These updates will have the latest performance enhancements as well as bug fixes to allow you to have a better gameplay experience.

Manually download Windows updates

• Right click the Start button.
• Click Settings.
• Click Windows Update section found on the bottom left side of the new window that appears.
• Click Check for updates.
• If new updates are found then click on the Install now button.
• After installing the new updates restart your computer then check if Black Desert Online will launch.

Solution 5: Temporarily disable your Windows firewall

There’s a possibility that the Firewall of your computer is preventing the Black Desert Online game from starting.

Try to turn off the firewall and make sure to immediately check if you can start BDO.

If the game starts then you will need to allow the game through the firewall.

To disable the Windows firewall

• Click the Start button.
• Click on Settings.
• Click on Update & Security.
• Click on Windows Security.
• Click on Firewall & network protection.
• Select the active network connection. This can either be the Domain, Private, or Public network with the active label.
• Turn off the Microsoft Defender Firewall switch.

Allowing Black Desert through firewall

• Click the Start button.
• Click on Settings.
• Click on Update & Security.
• Click on Windows Security.
• Click on Firewall & network protection.
• Click Allow an app through firewall.
• Click change settings.
• Place a check mark on all boxes for Black Desert.
• Click OK.

Solution 6: Verify the integrity of game files

There’s a possibility that the problem is caused by a corrupted game cache or missing game files. To fix this you will have to verify the integrity of the game using the Steam game client.

Verifying integrity of the files

• Open the Steam client.
• Click on your Steam Library.
• Find Black Desert then right click it then click on Properties.
• On the new window that appears click on Local Files.
• Click Verify integrity of game files…

Once the game files have been fixed try to play online and check if the game still lags occurs.

Solution 7: Reinstall Black Desert Online

If the game still won’t start at this point the you need to uninstall and reinstall it from the Steam launcher.

With the game newly installed, try to play BDO and check if the lag issue still occurs.

Feel free to visit our YouTube channel for additional troubleshooting guides on various devices.