Players of Mortal Kombat 1 have been experiencing a recurring issue with the game crashing while in the main menu or tutorial and displaying an error message that reads: “Out of video memory trying to allocate a rendering resource”. This issue typically occurs due to memory leaks. The problem appears to be widespread and has been affecting players with various hardware specifications. Despite having different system configurations, players have been reporting similar issues related to game crashes or long delays before they can access the character selection menu.
One player mentioned that just by waiting, they were able to access the character selection menu two minutes after the background animation occurred without any further progress. However, even players with high-end hardware note that the game crashes after launch, particularly in the rendering resources, or shader loading stage. Amidst all of this, there is only one thing that suffering players want to know: how to fix this issue. But is a fix even available? Let’s find out!
Mortal Kombat 1 (MK1) Out of Video Memory Error: Is there any fix yet
The game is yet to be fully released, as it is currently in early access. So, as of writing this article, the global release is just around the corner (September 19), and as such, we cannot expect an official fix yet. Most likely, the day 1 patch after the full release will address these issues permanently. However, take this information with a pinch of salt since there is no confirmation on the same. However, until an official fix is released, there are a few workarounds you can try.
Restart and check the system requirements
First and foremost, start by closing the game and the system and letting them stay in that state for some time. During this, you can quickly look up the minimum system requirements to run the game. Just make sure your system meets/exceeds these minimum requirements. Most likely it does, but still, give it a check to be on the safe side.
Increase Virtual Memory
Increasing virtual memory (also known as paging files or swap space) can help improve system performance, especially when you’re encountering out-of-memory issues like the one you are facing now. So, here’s how to increase virtual memory in Windows:
- Right-click “This PC” and select “Properties”.
- Go to “Advanced system settings”.
- Under the “Advanced” tab, click “Settings” in the Performance section.
- In the Performance Options window, go to the “Advanced” tab.
- Click “Change” under the “Virtual Memory” section.
- Uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size”.
- Select your drive (usually “C:/”) and choose “Custom size” or “System managed size”.
- Set the initial and maximum size. Now, here, you can try a couple of things. To start with, try setting the initial value at 1.5 times the value of your RAM and the maximum size at 3 times its value.
- Click “Set”, then “OK” to apply changes.
- Restart your PC to complete the process, and then launch the game.
Restore GPU settings to default
If you have undervolted or overclocked your GPU via applications like MSI Afterburner, restore the customized settings to the default. In short, you must launch the game with a default GPU configuration and remove any undervolting or overclocking. Doing so fixed the issue for Steam user Wunka, so it might do the same for you.
Update GPU drivers
Updating your GPU drivers is another workaround to improve game performance and resolve issues like this, especially if you do not have a habit of updating them regularly. Head to the official website of your GPU manufacturer (Nvidia or AMD) and look for any updates for your graphics card. If an update is available, download it and restart your PC. After that, launch the game and see if the error persists.
Change Compatibility and lower In-game Graphics Settings
Adjusting compatibility settings and lowering in-game graphics settings can also be effective workarounds for this issue. So, right-click on the game’s .exe file (head to the game’s installation folder), go to the Properties menu, and head to the Compatibility tab. Now, set the Compatibility mode to an earlier Windows version, preferably Windows 7/8. After that, launch the game and go to the Video Settings menu. Now, make sure to set the Graphics Quality preset to Low/Medium. Save the changes, and then check if the issue persists.
While/if an update rolls out, the workarounds suggested above are your best shot. But keep in mind that they are not guaranteed fixes and may not work for everyone. Anyway, if you found this guide helpful, follow DigiStatement for more reads like this. Read more: Mortal Kombat 1 (MK1) Blurry/Low Resolution Issue: Is there any fix yet
