Problem: Neverwinter Launch Issues as of March 1st, 2017 Update

Some people are having issues launching Neverwinter since the March 1st, 2017 update (Hi Joe! I'm sorry you are having issues   ).

Let's try to troubleshoot possible problems in the most likely order of occurrence. Firstly, we will try to get machine-specific issues out of the way:

• 1 - Operating system:
  As stated in the March 2nd Patch Notes for game Version: NW.75.20170206a.6, Neverwinter can no longer support the Windows XP operating system, or video cards with a Direct3D Hardware Feature Level less than 10.0.
  
  The game will run on Windows Vista SP2 or better, or Windows 7 or 8 as well. Be aware that Microsoft is discontinuing supporting for Windows Vista as of April 2017. For the best gameplay experience, Cryptic Studios recommends Windows 10. Note that you will need a Video Card that supports Direct3D Hardware Feature Level 11.0 or better to play on Windows 10.
  
  
• 2 - Graphics Card:
  Cryptic Studios recommends a video card that supports Direct3D Feature Level 11.0 or better. This includes:
  • NVidia GeForce GTX 400 or better
  • ATI/AMD Radeon HD 5000 or better
  • Intel HD Graphics 4000 or better
  
  For the budget conscious, any of the following cards will function. Many of these cards are several(!) years old, but they will still provide a basic (playable) Neverwinter experience.
  • NVidia GeForce 8000 or better
  • ATI/AMD Radeon HD 2000 or better
  • Intel G965M Express, or Intel HD Graphics 2000 or better
  
  Above all, take a close look at the Video Card manufacturer’s documentation for any card you are using/going to purchase and ensure that the card specifically says it supports Direct3D Hardware FeatureLevel 10 or higher.
  
  Also, make sure the driver for the new card is actually installed and running properly; as the generic Windows graphics drivers may be woefully inadequate.
  

Once machine-specific issues are out of the way and the minimum requirements as stated above are met, it is time to actually try launching the game. If it works, great! Adjust the in-game display and graphics settings to best suit your tastes and your machine's capabilities, then get to playing!

Otherwise, as the second series of troubleshooting steps, if you are still having issues getting the game to run successfully, it is time to look at game-specific settings to try and get things flowing smoothly.

*** Article continued in the following post ***

** Continued from Part 1 **

The next step required to maximize your chances of successfully launching the game is to make sure your PC's screen resolution is set to a size supported by the game. This particular setting has been the cause of many problems and should not be overlooked:

• As you may not be able to access/view the in-game screen resolution options yet -- and seeing as you must choose a size in your PC's screen resolution settings that is compatible with the game, here is a list of game-supported screen resolutions. They may not all be compatible with your screen/graphics card combo, but at least ONE or more of them should be. Set your PC'S SCREEN RESOLUTION to one of the following, BEFORE you fire up the game launcher:
  
  • 1024 x 768
  • 1152 x 864
  • 1280 x 768
  • 1280 x 800
  • 1280 x 960
  • 1280 x 1084
  • 1360 x 768
  • 1600 x 900
  • 1600 x 1024
  • 1680 x 1050
  • 1920 x 1080
  
  NB: **(As a side note to the above, the settings options listed further down will launch the game in a framed window that is NOT set to fill the screen -- this is to ensure the most forgiving scenario at this time in order to get the game running.)**
  

At this point in the proceedings, you should be able to at least start running the game launcher -- that predominantly red-colored window where game updates take place and from which you hit the big "PLAY" button.

Please note that Once you have started the game launcher -- and BEFORE you hit that big "PLAY" button -- you should do the following:

• 1 - Log into the game at this point if the Arc Launcher has not already done it for you.
  
  2 - Click on the "Options" menu item at the top right of the game launcher window. In the Options window that will appear, activate (put a check mark) next to the "Force verify", "Full Screen" and "Safe mode" line items, then click on the "Save" button at the bottom of the Options window.
  
  3 - Now go ahead and click on that big "PLAY" button. The game launcher will perform a one-time file verification on the game's components, as well as download any required updates -- then it will attempt to launch in safe mode in a framed window that is NOT set to fill the screen.
  

If the game launches properly and seems playable, congratulations!! Join us for a festival of murder and mayhem.

However, in the unfortunate case of a no-win scenario with the above procedure, you have my deepest sympathies. To help with troubleshooting past this point, I would need a detailed description of what works and what doesn't -- specifically: how far can you get into the launch sequence (assuming the above troubleshooting procedures were met or exceeded) before the game crashes/freezes/goes dark.

Keep me posted on your progress!!

Regards, Redd Deth

Question: What's the difference between "GTX 400 or better" and GT 610 (not GTX 610)? And, my graphics card is, "Microsoft DirectX 11.1 API (feature level 11_0) with Direct Compute 5.0 support"

The GTX 400 card is a couple of years older than the GT 610 -- different labels and specs made at different times...

As it stands, your EVGA GeForce GT 610 is more recent and fulfills/meets/exceeds the specified requirements for the game.

Are you on a compatible version of windows (Vista SP2 or better, WIN 7 or WIN 8 preferred, Win 10 optimal)?

Does your PC have a power supply capable of driving the card? EVGA recommends a Minimum of a 300 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 16 Amps.) Total Power Draw: 29 Watts.

How many of the above-posted steps have you either met the requirements for or tried as a method/solution? Have you tried to apply the full methods described?

How far into the game launching sequence can you actually get? What are the specific issues you are having? Where does your attempt at launching the game crash and burn, and HOW does it do so?

The only thing I can tell from what I know is that your video card is suitable for the task at hand; as it supports Direct3D Hardware Feature Level 11.0 or better. (Are the video card drivers installed?)

Anything else would be speculation on my part without further info...

Let me know,

Redd Deth

Drivers were installed.. My son took care of that but we aren't sure that it was fully completed.
I'm using Windows 7
I'm still trying to determine where to find Power Supply stats.
The error is the initial error that says that my graphics card is insufficient to support DX-10 or highter.

As a quick aside, you will find power supply specs by looking at a sticker/label on the power brick, inside the case. It can usually be identified by the mess of power cables running out of it and snaking to just about every major component inside the case -- also, it is located where the main power cord plugs into the PC.

Redd Deth