Final Fantasy, no doubt has a massive following and with FFXIV being available on the Steam Deck, many of the fans have taken their RPG adventure on the go. Playing on the Steam Deck is liberating and fun but it does have its share of issues. Similarly, you might have faced the black screen issue with the FFXIV launcher on your Steam Deck. So, is there a way to fix this? Keep reading till the end to know.
Black screen on launch and boot loop issues are common across various games on the Steam Deck, and Final Fantasy XIV is no exception. Specifically for FFXIV, some have reported running into this issue after logging in and clicking “start” which results in an infinite black loading screen that prevents further progress. That being said, without further ado, let’s take a look at the fixes.
FFXIV launcher Steam Deck black screen issue: How to fix it
There isn’t an official fix for this issue yet, but we have gathered some potential fixes that have worked for other players. Check them out below.
Restart the Game and the Steam Deck
The first step is to restart both the game and the Steam Deck. Start by restarting the game and if that does not work out, go ahead and turn off your Deck. Just make sure to give your device some time before the restart After the restart, try launching the game again to see if the issue persists.
Config File fix
Another workaround involves editing the configuration file of the game, which can be found in the folder path mentioned below: /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/39210/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/My Documents/My Games/FINAL FANTASY XIV – A Realm Reborn
Find the FFXIV.cfg file, open it using a word editor and look for the line CutsceneMovieOpening 0. Change the 0 to 1, save the file, and then try launching the game again using Proton Experimental.
Check the Game for Updates
When was the last time you updated the game? If you don’t remember, it’s time to check for updates! Head to your Steam library, find Final Fantasy XIV, and see if an update is available. If there is, download and install it, then restart the game to see if the problem is resolved.
Verify Game Files
Corrupted or missing game files could be the culprit, so a file verification check is a must. To do this, head over to the Final Fantasy XIV tile in your Steam library, and select the cog-wheel button. Here, select “Properties”, go to the “Installed Files” tab, and click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files”. Wait for the process to finish and hopefully, this will let you go past the black screen.
Try Different Proton Versions
To try this, head over to the game’s properties menu as stated in the above-mentioned workaround, go to the “Compatibility” tab, and checkmark the box for “Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool”. From the drop-down menu, select a different Proton version and restart the game. Experimenting with different Proton versions can help identify one that works better with FFXIV on the Steam Deck. For a start, we recommend using Proton GE or Proton Experimental.
Reinstall the game
If the workarounds don’t work, reinstalling Final Fantasy XIV is the last resort. Uninstall the game from your Steam library, remove all the residual files, and then reinstall it. While doing so, make sure to install it on the Deck’s internal storage for the best results.
With that said, we hope you were able to get past the black screen and enjoy FFXIV on your Steam Deck without any further issues. Anyway, before you leave, don’t forget to bookmark DigiStatement for more such helpful gaming reads. Read more: Batman Arkham Asylum Steam Deck Controller Not Working: How to fix it?
