What to know

  • ARC Raiders may crash with “Unhandled Exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION” due to graphics-related issues.
  • The crash commonly references "amdxc64" and "D3D12Core" modules from AMD and DirectX.
  • Launching the game with "-dx11" can stop the crashes, but may cause stuttering or lower FPS.
  • Earlier versions of the game, such as the SLAM test, did not have this issue.

Frequent game-crashing errors make ARC Raiders difficult to enjoy. Here’s a complete breakdown of what causes the issue and how you can deal with it.

The error

ARC Raiders often displays the following crash message:

Unhandled Exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION reading address 0x0000000000000000

Most reports indicate references to the files "amdxc64" (AMD graphics module) and "D3D12Core" (DirectX 12 core system file). The issue tends to affect players with high-end hardware configurations like Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPUs, RX 7800XT GPUs, and Windows 11 setups. Crashes can occur when launching, during loading sequences, or mid-gameplay.

How to fix ARC Raiders EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION crash

Fix 1: Update drivers

Update your GPU's drivers with the latest version available. That is confirmed to fix the issue. Look for the latest drivers on AMD or Nvidia's website, depending on whose GPU you have.

In case you still face an issue, try the fix #2 below.

Fix 2

Force use dx11 on Steam or your game launcher. Find the guide for Steam app below.

Guide

Right-click ARC Raiders in your Steam library, select Properties, and go to the General tab. In the Launch Options field, add -dx11 to force DirectX 11 mode—this bypasses DX12 glitches on older or mid-range GPUs. Save and try launching.

But, expect lower performance when using "-dx11."

While this fix can make the game stable, it often leads to reduced performance. Players report frame rate drops (e.g., from 120 FPS to around 60 FPS) and occasional stuttering. Remember that it is a temporary workaround until a permanent fix arrives from the developers.

Monitor for updates and official fixes.

Keep ARC Raiders and your GPU drivers updated. The fact that earlier test builds (like the SLAM test) did not suffer from this error suggests that a future update may address the underlying issue. Developers often respond to widespread crash reports with targeted patches.

How dx11 affects performance

Launch Option Stability FPS (Reported) Notes
Default Crashes frequently 120 Unplayable
-dx11 Runs, but stutters 60 Playable with reduced quality

For now, the "-dx11" launch option is the most reliable way to avoid the “EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION” crash in ARC Raiders. While it may lower performance, it allows you to an uninterrupted gameplay until the issue with DirectX 12 and AMD drivers is patched. Staying current with updates and participating in player feedback channels will help ensure the problem gets resolved quickly.