“I keep getting this bug: the ue4-shootergame game has crashed and will close. Everytime I try to play Ark it gives me this bug and my game crashes. I'm trying to play on the Island. I've already tried verifying files and reinstalling it.” - reddit user

Have you also seen this message before: “The UE4 ShooterGame Game has crashed and will close”? This issue is irritating, especially when it happens right as you’re about to play. In this article, you’ll learn four effective ways to fix the UE4 ShooterGame crash in ARK: Survival Evolved.

In this article
    1. Fix 1. Update Drivers and System Software
    2. Fix 2. Verify or Reinstall Game Files
    3. Fix 3. Disable Mods and Test Base Game
    4. Fix 4. Adjust Launch Options and Settings

Part 1: Why Does ARK Keep Crashing?

Are you playing ARK: Survival Evolved and seeing "The UE4 ShooterGame Game has crashed and will close"? There are a few reasons why this error in ARK might be happening. Here are the main reasons you might be dealing with this issue.

1. Outdated Graphics or System Drivers. ARK relies heavily on your graphics card to run. If your graphics driver isn’t updated, it can cause problems with how the game works. Keeping your drivers updated helps your PC work better with games like ARK.

2. Game File Corruption. Sometimes, ARK’s game files become damaged. This can happen after a failed update, a sudden shutdown, or a system crash. When the files don’t load properly, the game may crash and show the UE4 ShooterGame error.

3. Incompatible or Broken Mods. Mods can make ARK more fun, but not all of them are stable. If a mod hasn’t been updated to work with the latest version of the game, it might cause ARK to crash. This is especially true after a major game update.

4. Unreal Engine 4 Errors. ARK runs on a game engine called Unreal Engine 4. When the crash message includes something like LowLevelFatalError, it usually means the engine ran into a problem it couldn’t fix.

5. Damaged Save or Config Files. If ARK crashes every time you try to load into the game, your saved data could be the problem. Save files and config files can become damaged over time. This can happen after forced shutdowns or power loss.

Part 2: How to Fix “The UE4 ShooterGame Game Has Crashed” Error

If “ARK the UE4 Shootergame has crashed” keeps happening, it’s time to take action. Below are four fixes that have helped many players get the game running again. These solutions focus on the most common and reliable ways to stabilize ARK.

Fix 1. Update Drivers and System Software

Outdated or incompatible drivers are a common reason for ARK crashing with the UE4 error. The game needs up-to-date graphics drivers, audio drivers, and DirectX to run smoothly. If any of these are old or broken, ARK may crash when loading or rendering the world. Missing Windows updates can also cause problems by blocking features the game depends on. Keeping your system and drivers fully updated helps prevent crashes and improves overall stability.

Step 1. Open your PC's Device Manager.

Step 2. Find and right-click your graphics card, then choose the Update driver.

update graphics driver

Step 3. Visit your GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) for the latest driver if needed.

Step 4. Check Windows Update to install any pending system or security updates.

windows update settings

Step 5. Restart your PC and try launching ARK again.

Fix 2. Verify or Reinstall Game Files

Verifying your game files through the platform (like Steam) checks for any issues and replaces bad files automatically. But if that doesn’t fix it, reinstall the game. It provides a clean install that clears out any broken or leftover data that might be causing the problem.

Step 1. Open Steam and go to your Library.

Step 2. Right-click on ARK: Survival Evolved and choose Properties.

Step 3. Select Installed Files, then click Verify integrity of game files.

verify integrity of the ark game files

Step 4. Wait for Steam to check and fix any missing or corrupted files.

Step 5. If the crash continues, uninstall ARK, restart your PC, then reinstall it cleanly.

Fix 3. Disable Mods and Test Base Game

While mods can improve gameplay, they can also make ARK unstable if they’re outdated, poorly optimized, or conflict with each other. If your game started crashing after adding or updating mods, one of them is likely the cause. Some mods may not work with the latest ARK version and can trigger memory errors or engine failures. Disabling all mods and launching the game in its base form helps you find out if the crashes are mod-related and allows you to isolate which mod is causing trouble.

Step 1. In Steam, open your ARK Library page.

Step 2. Scroll down and unsubscribe from all installed mods.

unsubscribe from all installed mods

Step 3. Go to your ARK folder and manually delete any leftover mod files in the ShooterGame/Content/Mods folder.

Step 4. Launch ARK without mods to check if the game runs normally.

Fix 4. Adjust Launch Options and Settings

If your system can’t handle ARK’s high-performance demands, the game may crash from the pressure. Changing the launch options and reducing graphics settings can lighten the load and make ARK more stable. This is especially helpful if the crash happens during loading screens or right after entering a game world. It often signals performance strain on your system.

Step 1. Right-click on ARK in Steam and choose Properties.

Step 2. In the SET LAUNCH OPTIONS field, add simple performance commands like:

-USEALLAVAILABLECORES -sm4 -d3d11.

set launch options

Step 3. Launch the game and go to Settings.

Step 4. Lower the graphics quality, resolution, and disable motion blur or sky effects.

adjust ark game settings

Step 5. Save changes and restart the game to test for crashes.

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Part 3: Bonus: Repairing Corrupted ARK Files with Repairit File Repair

What if the crash isn’t caused by your system or mods, but by damaged ARK files that just won’t load properly? Sometimes, even after verifying or reinstalling the game, certain files like save data, log files, or config files remain corrupted. These broken files can cause ARK to crash every time you load a specific world or launch the game.

This is where Repairit File Repair becomes helpful. Unlike basic tools, this tool is built to fix corrupted or unreadable files that ARK depends on to function correctly. It can recover files that won’t open, throw errors, or appear blank. This means you don’t have to lose your progress or start over if a key file is broken.

Key Features of Repairit File Repair For ARK Crashes

  • Recovers unreadable log files used by ARK to track performance and crash behavior.

  • Supports multiple file types, so you can fix various non-video game-related files too.

  • Preserves file content during repair, so you don’t lose settings or progress.

  • No limit to the number and size of the repairable files.

  • Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.13~macOS 15.

Step 1. Launch Repairit. Select More Types Repair and go to File Repair.

repairit file repair

Step 2. Click +Add to select your corrupted ARK files, like .ini configs, save files, or logs.

add corrupted ark files to repairit file repair

Step 3. Hit Repair to fix them.

repair corrupted ark game files using repairit file repair

Step 4. After the repair finishes, preview the files and click Save. Then, try relaunching ARK with the repaired files in place.

preview and save repaired ark game files using repairit file repair
Repair Corrupted Game Files

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Conclusion

“The UE4 ShooterGame Game has crashed and will close” may sound serious, but it’s often fixable. By updating your drivers, checking your game files, disabling mods, and adjusting settings, you can get ARK back to running smoothly. And if damaged files are behind the issue, Repairit File Repair gives you a reliable way to fix them without losing progress.

Keep your system clean, your game updated, and don’t ignore small issues. They often lead to bigger ones later. Now that you know what to do, you’re ready to survive again in ARK without those crash messages getting in the way.

FAQs

  • 1. Why does ARK crash only when I enter a world?
    This usually means something in the world file is broken or too demanding for your system. Corrupted save data, large bases, or too many active creatures can overload memory during loading. If the crash always happens at the same point, the problem is likely tied to that specific save. Try loading a different map or starting a new game to test if the issue continues.
  • 2. What is a LowLevelFatalError in ARK?
    This error comes from Unreal Engine 4 and happens when the game engine fails to process something. It may be caused by outdated drivers, missing files, or memory overload. Sometimes it’s linked to bad settings or broken mods. Since it’s a general error, checking hardware, game files, and graphics settings is the best way to narrow it down.
  • 3. Is it safe to keep playing after frequent crashes?
    No, it’s risky. Constant crashes can damage your saved world or corrupt important game files. Crashing during auto-save or loading may cause permanent data loss. The longer the issue continues, the harder it can be to recover your progress. Fixing the problem early and backing up your saves helps avoid serious damage.
Eleanor Reed
Eleanor Reed Jun 17, 25
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