Problems (Black Screen) after Game Launch

[White Lion]

For those of you who are seeing only black screen, right after game launch, and then crash, you might want to do this alternative solution. Please note that this solution can help you if the other solutions out there (Steam overlay issue, Uplay Overlay issue, drivers issue, antivirus issue, firewall issue, Windows Update issue, different game installation directory issue, etc) do not help.

It turns out that Ubisoft is using an in-game video player that is NOT fully compatible with all CODECS in the internet. More specifically, if you have installed K-Lite Codec Pack or Media Player Codec Pack or any other Codec Pack, you might want to reconsider these actions:

1. Ensure that you do not install "Reclock" codec
2. Ensure that you mostly use "LAV" as your preferred codec and not "ffdshow"

If both points above does not solve it, then just uninstall any codec pack that you have (the ones that are not built-in Windows installation).

Most Ubisoft games launch an in-game video player right when you launch the game. It somehow interacts with any available codecs in your PC. If it's not fully compatible, then you'll experience one of these symptoms:

1. Display only black screen and nothing else to do (not even crash)
2. Display black screen and then crash
3. Immediately crash
4. Display black screen but hear sounds from the video
5. Crash while the video is still playing
6. No sound when the video is playing
7. Any combination of the above or similar symptoms as above

This concept is also applicable to all Ubisoft games, including the Assassin's Creed series, Heroes series, Far Cry series, and others. So GOOD LUCK !!

[Natty La Ridge]

Good to know. Going into the executable's Properties/Compatibility tab and checking "Disable fullscreen optimizations" fixed this issue for me in HoMM6.

[<Corn]

Originally posted by Full Thortle:

Good to know. Going into the executable's Properties/Compatibility tab and checking "Disable fullscreen optimizations" fixed this issue for me in HoMM6.

Your solution worked for me as well. Thanks!

[valinge_bp]

sorry not so good on computers. how do i do this thing with codecs

[Natty La Ridge]

Have you tried disabling fullscreen optimizations? It's a lot less complicated than uninstalling and reinstalling codecs:

1. Find Might & Magic: Heroes VI in your Steam library.
2. Right-click the game and select Properties.
3. Click the Local Files tab, then click Browse Local Files.
4. Scoll down to find the Might & Magic Heroes VI application.
5. Right-click the application and select Properties.
6. Click the Compatibility tab and check the "Disable fullscreen optimizations" checkbox.
7. Click OK to close the application properties dialog.
8. Return to Steam and click Close to close the game properties dialog.
9. Run the game from Steam or a desktop shortcut.

If this doesn't work for you, you'll need to get help from somebody comfortable downloading and installing video codecs. These are low-level libraries that tell your computer how to encode or decode video files. Good luck!

[White Lion]

Originally posted by Full Thortle:

Have you tried disabling fullscreen optimizations? It's a lot less complicated than uninstalling and reinstalling codecs:

1. Find Might & Magic: Heroes VI in your Steam library.
2. Right-click the game and select Properties.
3. Click the Local Files tab, then click Browse Local Files.
4. Scoll down to find the Might & Magic Heroes VI application.
5. Right-click the application and select Properties.
6. Click the Compatibility tab and check the "Disable fullscreen optimizations" checkbox.
7. Click OK to close the application properties dialog.
8. Return to Steam and click Close to close the game properties dialog.
9. Run the game from Steam or a desktop shortcut.

If this doesn't work for you, you'll need to get help from somebody comfortable downloading and installing video codecs. These are low-level libraries that tell your computer how to encode or decode video files. Good luck!

This "fullscreen optimization" does not exist in Windows 7. And if you wonder why I do not use Windows 10, it's simply because there are thousands of complaints regarding game compatibility with Windows 10. Many independent benchmark out there also prove that game performance in Windows 7 is much better than in Windows 10. So unless, Microsoft completely fix all compatibility issues with older games and improve their performance for games, then Windows 7 is more than enough for me.

[Natty La Ridge]

Great, if that's what works for you. IMO Windows 10 is the best yet, and I've been gaming on PCs since before Windows was a thing. Every version has had compatibility issues, but so far I think I've only come across one title (SINGULARITY) that I couldn't get to work on Windows 10.

Good luck with the codec approach. You should indicate that this is a WIndows 7 fix in OP.

[Mr. Guacamole]

OMG Finally thank u so much !!! I Love u, this works for me, These were my last try before taking the reimburse

[White Lion]

Originally posted by valinge_bp:

sorry not so good on computers. how do i do this thing with codecs

It will be difficult for me to explain in writing if you have insufficient knowledge with computer configuration. So I suggest you just uninstall the codecs (not built-in Windows).

1. Open Control Panel
2. Open "Programs and Features" or "Uninstall a Program"
3. Uninstall K-Lite Codec Pack, K-Lite Mega Codec Pack, Media Player Codec Pack, or anything with the word "codec"

Step #3 is only possible if somehow any of them is installed in your PC. If none was installed, then your problem may not be caused by codec issue.

[ISkullKrusher]

Just don't update windows 10 past version 1709. I started with a new install of 10 and kept updating to the point of 1709. Heroes 6 worked fine until this version. After the next update Heroes 6 failed.

[sunaI Ianus]

Originally posted by Full Thortle:

Have you tried disabling fullscreen optimizations? It's a lot less complicated than uninstalling and reinstalling codecs:

1. Find Might & Magic: Heroes VI in your Steam library.
2. Right-click the game and select Properties.
3. Click the Local Files tab, then click Browse Local Files.
4. Scoll down to find the Might & Magic Heroes VI application.
5. Right-click the application and select Properties.
6. Click the Compatibility tab and check the "Disable fullscreen optimizations" checkbox.
7. Click OK to close the application properties dialog.
8. Return to Steam and click Close to close the game properties dialog.
9. Run the game from Steam or a desktop shortcut.

If this doesn't work for you, you'll need to get help from somebody comfortable downloading and installing video codecs. These are low-level libraries that tell your computer how to encode or decode video files. Good luck!

Worked for me, thanks :)

[꧁☆👑imbasik👑☆꧂]

1. Find the game folder. In this folder, find the game launch file (.exe). Go into the properties of this file and put a tick "disable optimization in full screen." Save the change. Make a new shortcut to this file on the desktop.
2. Remove the old game shortcut from the desktop. Run the game through the new shortcut.

[Ṫо̄ℜ]

I uninstalled the game and the launcher. Then installed the game on steam and installed Uplay launcher. Ran it through steam and it worked.

[Plata o Plomo]

Kudos to Death Star!
I had this problem and just by uninstalling XP Codec Pack fixed the issue.
Now I am able so see the screen and play :D
Thank you very much!

[Quantum Single LARRYT]

Originally posted by Death Star:

For those of you who are seeing only black screen, right after game launch, and then crash, you might want to do this alternative solution. Please note that this solution can help you if the other solutions out there (Steam overlay issue, Uplay Overlay issue, drivers issue, antivirus issue, firewall issue, Windows Update issue, different game installation directory issue, etc) do not help.

It turns out that Ubisoft is using an in-game video player that is NOT fully compatible with all CODECS in the internet. More specifically, if you have installed K-Lite Codec Pack or Media Player Codec Pack or any other Codec Pack, you might want to reconsider these actions:

1. Ensure that you do not install "Reclock" codec
2. Ensure that you mostly use "LAV" as your preferred codec and not "ffdshow"

If both points above does not solve it, then just uninstall any codec pack that you have (the ones that are not built-in Windows installation).

Most Ubisoft games launch an in-game video player right when you launch the game. It somehow interacts with any available codecs in your PC. If it's not fully compatible, then you'll experience one of these symptoms:

1. Display only black screen and nothing else to do (not even crash)
2. Display black screen and then crash
3. Immediately crash
4. Display black screen but hear sounds from the video
5. Crash while the video is still playing
6. No sound when the video is playing
7. Any combination of the above or similar symptoms as above

This concept is also applicable to all Ubisoft games, including the Assassin's Creed series, Heroes series, Far Cry series, and others. So GOOD LUCK !!

YOU ROCK THIS WORKED INSTANTLY!

[ISLAM MOGUS]

Originally posted by Natty La Ridge:

Good to know. Going into the executable's Properties/Compatibility tab and checking "Disable fullscreen optimizations" fixed this issue for me in HoMM6.

Thnx