[Temporarily Solved!] Black Screen Issue Fix

[Pixelated Abyss]

I did it! I edited a .dll file which was in charge of many aspects of the game.
By tweaking a LoadMainMenu function in charge of video playback, I managed to bypass the splash screen. Good thing I work with Unity for a living.

This is of course a temporary measure until the developers put out an official patch of course, but if you want to play it until then, now you can!

I have since made a guide for this for anyone wanting to apply the fix:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2848370483
So I'm yet another player who is having the dreaded black screen issue. As soon as I start the game, the Massive Monster logo plays, then I'm greeted with the sound of the Devolver Digital logo playing, but a black screen. Then I'm left with said screen, with only my mouse showing with the Cult of the Lamb custom cursor.

I'm aware that the developers are working on the issue and trying their best to help fix it as quickly as possible, I just figured I'd get a few peoples two cents on the issue, and give a list of all the things I tried.

Attempted:
- Re-installation of the game.
- Updating GeForce Experience and graphical drivers.
- Turning off gamma correction in nVidia Control Panel.
- Turning off trilinear optimisation in nVidia Control Panel.
- Turning off V-Sync in nVidia Control Panel.
- Turning off one of my two screens.
- Deleting Devolver_Animated_Logo_v001_4k_Audio-_HQ_HBR_MP4.mp4
- Replacing Devolver_Animated_Logo_v001_4k_Audio-_HQ_HBR_MP4.mp4 with the Intro.mp4 (People suggested replacing it with Prerolls.mp4 but I don't know what or where this file is/where to get it.)
Incidentally the two fixes attempted with this file resulted in no change.
[After discussions below, it seems this was just a fix for the demo, and not the full release.]
- Disabling my antivirus.
- Uninstalling my antivirus.
- Turning off scaling in nVidia Control Panel.
- Doing the above, while checking the override scaling mode option in nVidia Control Panel.
- Using Alt-Enter to force the game into windowed mode on startup.
- Restarting Steam multiple times between most of the above fix attempts.
- Restarting my PC multiple times between most of the above fix attempts.

Attempted (After posting this):
- Setting my resolution to 3840x2160 and starting the game.
- Setting my resolution to 1680x1050 and starting the game.
- Setting my resolution to 800x600 and starting the game.
[Pointless, see below as to why this seems to do nothing.]

If anyone has any other suggestions, please throw them at me.

Specifications:
OS: Windows 10 Pro N (64 Bit)
OS Version: 21H2
OS: Build: 19044.1889
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K
GPU: nVidia GeForce GTX 980 Ti
GPU Driver Version: 31.0.15.1694
RAM: 16 GB (16384 MB)
Motherboard: Z87-G45 GAMING (MS-7821)
Number of Monitors: 2

[Master Mind]

So you are having this issue in the windows 10, huh? I was thinking that was a W7-only error. I got a few Ideas to apply.
The prerolls.mp4 trick won't work on full game, it only works on demo.
I read the log, and saw that the problem gets a referecence to a file called resources.resource in the data folder... I'll try to download the demo game in another computer to make some file swaps to see if the game boots up.

[Master Mind]

So, a quick update...
Swaping any core files with demo files just make the game crash in main menu. It goes past the devolver logo, but I guess as the files have different coding (cuz versions, lol) the game don't exactly have the same codes so it crashes when trying to start a new game.
I was wondering the problem might be linked to the unity x windows media codecs in some way... I posted in a previous post about this... my log files repeats the same line over and over...

Track types:

(Filename: Line: 4015)

WindowsVideoMedia error 0x80004005 while reading C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam Library/steamapps/common/Cult of the Lamb/Cult Of The Lamb_Data/resources.resource

Context: MFCreateSourceReaderFromMediaSource
Error details: Erro não especificado

I saw over the internet the this error is basically telling that the software is being unable to read a certain type of media file. People said in a internet unity forum that this is common over a few versions of unity.

[Juice]

oh boy I love finding a thread like this after encountering this issue for the first time

[Master Mind]

Another update. Tried to change more files, of literally erase some part of the code in the resource or assets files where "monster logo" or "devolver" shows up... game still crashes or stay in a white screen. I still hear the logo, tho.

[TouchMyFish]

Been having the same black screen problems as well. Monster Logo into the machine nosies then just a black screen. I've never tried the demo version, installed then reinstalled. No idea where nVidia even is located on my PC. Windows 8.1. Did Alt+Enter to change it to window mode. Not sure how to upload .txt files on the forums. Have a few lines that stood out. starting with the first error line.

  UNIFY:Steam: steamworks initialized 
(Filename: C:\buildslave\unity\build\Runtime/Export/Debug/Debug.bindings.h Line: 39)

Failed to change display to ExclusiveFullscreen...reverting to FullscreenWindow 
(Filename:  Line: 538)

Handle Event 
(Filename: C:\buildslave\unity\build\Runtime/Export/Debug/Debug.bindings.h Line: 39)

<color=#00FFFF>UI Manager Instantiated!</color> 
(Filename: C:\buildslave\unity\build\Runtime/Export/Debug/Debug.bindings.h Line: 39)

WindowsVideoMedia error 0x80070057 while reading D:/Steam Sutff/steamapps/common/Cult of the Lamb/Cult Of The Lamb_Data/resources.resource

Context: IMFSourceReader::WaitForSample in StepAllStreams
Error details: One or more arguments are invalid

Track types:
   Unreadable Track
 
(Filename:  Line: 4015)

WindowsVideoMedia error 0x80070057 while reading D:/Steam Sutff/steamapps/common/Cult of the Lamb/Cult Of The Lamb_Data/resources.resource

Context: IMFSourceReader::WaitForSample in StepAllStreams
Error details: One or more arguments are invalid

Track types:
   Unreadable Track
 
(Filename:  Line: 4015)

WindowsVideoMedia error 0x80070057 while reading D:/Steam Sutff/steamapps/common/Cult of the Lamb/Cult Of The Lamb_Data/resources.resource

Context: IMFSourceReader::WaitForSample in StepAllStreams
Error details: One or more arguments are invalid

Track types:
   Unreadable Track
 
(Filename:  Line: 4015)

Serialization depth limit 10 exceeded at 'BranchPoint.Branches'. There may be an object composition cycle in one or more of your serialized classes.

Serialization hierarchy:
11: BranchPoint.Branches
10: Branch.Points
9: BranchPoint.Branches
8: Branch.Points
7: BranchPoint.Branches
6: Branch.Points
5: BranchPoint.Branches
4: Branch.Points
3: BranchPoint.Branches
2: Branch.Points
1: BranchPoint.Branches
0: Branch.Points
 
(Filename:  Line: 128)

Serialization depth limit 10 exceeded at 'Branch.Points'. There may be an object composition cycle in one or more of your serialized classes.

Serialization hierarchy:
11: Branch.Points
10: BranchPoint.Branches
9: Branch.Points
8: BranchPoint.Branches
7: Branch.Points
6: BranchPoint.Branches
5: Branch.Points
4: BranchPoint.Branches
3: Branch.Points
2: BranchPoint.Branches
1: Branch.Points
0: BranchPoint.Branches
 
(Filename:  Line: 128)

WindowsVideoMedia error 0x80070057 while reading D:/Steam Sutff/steamapps/common/Cult of the Lamb/Cult Of The Lamb_Data/resources.resource

Context: IMFSourceReader::WaitForSample in StepAllStreams
Error details: One or more arguments are invalid

Track types:
   Unreadable Track
 
(Filename:  Line: 4015)

WindowsVideoMedia error 0x80070057 while reading D:/Steam Sutff/steamapps/common/Cult of the Lamb/Cult Of The Lamb_Data/resources.resource

Context: IMFSourceReader::WaitForSample in StepAllStreams
Error details: One or more arguments are invalid

Track types:
   Unreadable Track  

Then the Line: 4015 just repeats over and over.

[Mr.Magesty]

I was able to fix the black screen by disabling vsync in the nvidia control panel from fast to off and enabling vsync in the game menu as a compensation control.

[Dat Hydra]

Just a clarification for people who are reading about the prerolls.mp4 trick and not understanding it, that is a file exclusive to the demo. It's not used anywhere so it was removed from the final game, and yes the trick doesn't work in the full game as I've tried it personally with that exact file.

Hopefully the devs implement a -nointro launch option to boot directly to the main menu.

[Master Mind]

Originally posted by Uragirimono:

Been having the same black screen problems as well. Monster Logo into the machine nosies then just a black screen. I've never tried the demo version, installed then reinstalled. No idea where nVidia even is located on my PC. Windows 8.1. Did Alt+Enter to change it to window mode. Not sure how to upload .txt files on the forums. Have a few lines that stood out. starting with the first error line.

  UNIFY:Steam: steamworks initialized 
(Filename: C:\buildslave\unity\build\Runtime/Export/Debug/Debug.bindings.h Line: 39)

Failed to change display to ExclusiveFullscreen...reverting to FullscreenWindow 
(Filename:  Line: 538)

Handle Event 
(Filename: C:\buildslave\unity\build\Runtime/Export/Debug/Debug.bindings.h Line: 39)

<color=#00FFFF>UI Manager Instantiated!</color> 
(Filename: C:\buildslave\unity\build\Runtime/Export/Debug/Debug.bindings.h Line: 39)

WindowsVideoMedia error 0x80070057 while reading D:/Steam Sutff/steamapps/common/Cult of the Lamb/Cult Of The Lamb_Data/resources.resource

Context: IMFSourceReader::WaitForSample in StepAllStreams
Error details: One or more arguments are invalid

Track types:
   Unreadable Track
 
(Filename:  Line: 4015)

WindowsVideoMedia error 0x80070057 while reading D:/Steam Sutff/steamapps/common/Cult of the Lamb/Cult Of The Lamb_Data/resources.resource

Context: IMFSourceReader::WaitForSample in StepAllStreams
Error details: One or more arguments are invalid

Track types:
   Unreadable Track
 
(Filename:  Line: 4015)

WindowsVideoMedia error 0x80070057 while reading D:/Steam Sutff/steamapps/common/Cult of the Lamb/Cult Of The Lamb_Data/resources.resource

Context: IMFSourceReader::WaitForSample in StepAllStreams
Error details: One or more arguments are invalid

Track types:
   Unreadable Track
 
(Filename:  Line: 4015)

Serialization depth limit 10 exceeded at 'BranchPoint.Branches'. There may be an object composition cycle in one or more of your serialized classes.

Serialization hierarchy:
11: BranchPoint.Branches
10: Branch.Points
9: BranchPoint.Branches
8: Branch.Points
7: BranchPoint.Branches
6: Branch.Points
5: BranchPoint.Branches
4: Branch.Points
3: BranchPoint.Branches
2: Branch.Points
1: BranchPoint.Branches
0: Branch.Points
 
(Filename:  Line: 128)

Serialization depth limit 10 exceeded at 'Branch.Points'. There may be an object composition cycle in one or more of your serialized classes.

Serialization hierarchy:
11: Branch.Points
10: BranchPoint.Branches
9: Branch.Points
8: BranchPoint.Branches
7: Branch.Points
6: BranchPoint.Branches
5: Branch.Points
4: BranchPoint.Branches
3: Branch.Points
2: BranchPoint.Branches
1: Branch.Points
0: BranchPoint.Branches
 
(Filename:  Line: 128)

WindowsVideoMedia error 0x80070057 while reading D:/Steam Sutff/steamapps/common/Cult of the Lamb/Cult Of The Lamb_Data/resources.resource

Context: IMFSourceReader::WaitForSample in StepAllStreams
Error details: One or more arguments are invalid

Track types:
   Unreadable Track
 
(Filename:  Line: 4015)

WindowsVideoMedia error 0x80070057 while reading D:/Steam Sutff/steamapps/common/Cult of the Lamb/Cult Of The Lamb_Data/resources.resource

Context: IMFSourceReader::WaitForSample in StepAllStreams
Error details: One or more arguments are invalid

Track types:
   Unreadable Track  

Then the Line: 4015 just repeats over and over.

Yeah, that's the crazy line.

[Master Mind]

Originally posted by Master Mind:

Originally posted by Dat Hydra:

Just a clarification for people who are reading about the prerolls.mp4 trick and not understanding it, that is a file exclusive to the demo. It's not used anywhere so it was removed from the final game, and yes the trick doesn't work in the full game as I've tried it personally with that exact file.

Hopefully the devs implement a -nointro launch option to boot directly to the main menu.

They will also need to make the "crown grab" intro video something you could skip, but yeah, it could be a way to make it work.

[Blake81]

Another Win7 user here, having the same problem. Game starts, Massive Monster Logo shows up, then some background noise and the screen stays black. Tried every fix the OP mentioned, too.

This also doesn't seem like a Win7 issue; most of those usually are DX12-related and this game doesn't seem to use it (not to mention this game is clearly Unity-based, and I got plenty of other games like that which run no prob).

Also, one thing worth mentioning is that the game "re-Fullscreens" itself upon launch, even if you set it to windowed via Alt+Enter. This looks like some issue with whatever media player they use to play the DevolverDigital intro, or how it links with the rest of the game.

[Dat Hydra]

Originally posted by Blake81:

Another Win7 user here, having the same problem. Game starts, Massive Monster Logo shows up, then some background noise and the screen stays black. Tried every fix the OP mentioned, too.

This also doesn't seem like a Win7 issue; most of those usually are DX12-related and this game doesn't seem to use it (not to mention this game is clearly Unity-based, and I got plenty of other games like that which run no prob).

Generally when looking up the error codes in the logs, it shows up as a win7 issue with some versions of Unity.

---

Based on the actual events going on, the audio after the massive monster logo is the same as the devolver digital intro audio. It seems to be playing from resources.resources, figuring how it acts now and during the demo. With the demo's prerolls.mp4 work around, the audio from the devolver digital intro would play, then after it finished prerolls.mp4 would silently run. Not the cleanest solution, but it worked to get into the demo. Now it seems that replacing the developer mp4 doesn't do anything, so it may be that both audio and video are playing from resources.resources, which means win7 people are probably SOL without an intro skip launch option or at least letting us smash ESC to skip them.

As for also skipping the actual intro played when you get the crown, that mp4 is silent in the videos folder and yet sound plays in-game, not to mention in the demo it worked with no replacement. So something messy is going on with files and audio not lining up properly. That may or may not be part of our actual issue outside of ruining the one fix we had during the demo.

[Blake81]

Originally posted by Dat Hydra:

Based on the actual events going on, the audio after the massive monster logo is the same as the devolver digital intro audio. It seems to be playing from resources.resources, figuring how it acts now and during the demo. With the demo's prerolls.mp4 work around, the audio from the devolver digital intro would play, then after it finished prerolls.mp4 would silently run. Not the cleanest solution, but it worked to get into the demo. Now it seems that replacing the developer mp4 doesn't do anything, so it may be that both audio and video are playing from resources.resources, which means win7 people are probably SOL without an intro skip launch option or at least letting us smash ESC to skip them.

As for also skipping the actual intro played when you get the crown, that mp4 is silent in the videos folder and yet sound plays in-game, not to mention in the demo it worked with no replacement. So something messy is going on with files and audio not lining up properly. That may or may not be part of our actual issue outside of ruining the one fix we had during the demo.

I'm still not 100% sure; know a dude who's playing it no prob on his Win7, except he uses an AMD GPU and his Win7 is running from inside a Linux (Manjaro) VMM, and I also know some other folks on Win10 who are getting the same issue as us. So it's hard to say if it's TRULY Win7 or not.

[Pixelated Abyss]

I didn't expect so many replies but I'm glad people do share my issue. It was frustrating running across an older thread like this with the OP saying he was using Windows 7, which resulted in people discussing and arguing whether he should update to Windows 10, despite some people commenting that yes, they were having the same issue despite being on Windows 10, but getting drowned out by the argument.

My thinking was that the game was trying to load into a resolution, or graphic setting that was breaking it somehow, or had an issue with the intro videos. I figured if I could just get to the main menu and fiddle with the settings there, then that would be fine. But I can't at all.

This unreadable track error that Uragirimono is getting is certainly interesting. It would be nice if I could edit the settings in the settings file directly but, unlike some games where you can do that, it seems to just be a .json of memory addresses, which isn't much help. Mind you if the issue is the intro videos then it wouldn't help anyway.

From what I'm reading, I REALLY don't think it's anything to do with Windows 7. I also have a roommate who is sat literally behind me who's been playing it without issue, where I've been avoiding looking till release.
They had no issue with the demo and they have no issue with the release.
I really do think it's a video playback issue, and some of the issue mention this bug after getting the crown. I don't know the game yet but I'm pretty sure going off the Intro.mp4 cinematic that this file plays once getting it, which would cause the same issue if the video playback is causing the problem.

Our best hope is the developers seeing that their attention should be put on this video playback issue, and hopefully either finding a fix, or allowing an option to skip it.

[Pixelated Abyss]

It could be that Windows 7 has a DirectX 12 issue as well, which might be causing a similar issue, but that doesn't affect me.

[Nietbern]

What an amazing info displayed in this thread.

I have the same issue and tried all the above with the same negative result, they did a quick hotfix now but apparently just fixed t3, they did tell me that they were working on a solution tho, so we will have to wait i guess.