Error 51: Game Launch Failed

[aranol]

Hey everybody! I am struggling with a game that refuses to launch. It keeps throwing error code 51. After a little googling, I have tried the following (several times now):

- Verify game files
- Uninstall and reinstall game
- Uninstall and reinstall Steam
- Check that DirectX and Microsoft Visual C++ are installed/updated
- Disable antivirus and firewall
- Close all other running applications
- Check that no VPN, P2P, etc. programs are active
- Check that system requirements meet game's requirements

I have not whitelisted Steam or the game in my antivirus/firewall as the security software I use doesn't have this option for applications, just for websites.

No progress whatsoever so far, and not sure what else to try... Does anyone have any other tips for things I could try? I just wanna play my game haha. Thanks in advance!!

[crunchyfrog]

You should try first searching that game's forum here and if you don't find the answer, make a post there.

[aranol]

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

You should try first searching that game's forum here and if you don't find the answer, make a post there.

I did look there! But its discussion forum has almost no activity (and no one else has posted there about this issue), and error 51 can happen with any game anyway, so I figured the chances of finding an answer were better here.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by aranol:

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

You should try first searching that game's forum here and if you don't find the answer, make a post there.

I did look there! But its discussion forum has almost no activity (and no one else has posted there about this issue), and error 51 can happen with any game anyway, so I figured the chances of finding an answer were better here.

Well, if you googled to fidn out that it can happen to any game, what methods of those suggested didn't work?

And which game is it?

[aranol]

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

Well, if you googled to fidn out that it can happen to any game, what methods of those suggested didn't work?

And which game is it?

All the methods I could find are listed in the first post, none of them worked.

The game is Cultus: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1437480/Cultus/

[BAD *Man]

can you give some information about the PC and Software u use

[aranol]

A Dell Inspiron with Windows 10, 2.20GHz processor, 8GB RAM.

UPDATE: I logged in to my Steam account on a different PC to see if the game would run, but it's having the same problem.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by aranol:

A Dell Inspiron with Windows 10, 2.20GHz processor, 8GB RAM.

UPDATE: I logged in to my Steam account on a different PC to see if the game would run, but it's having the same problem.

What's your OTHER system specs? What graphics card especailly?

Because I've seen error 51 many times before if you use one of those laptops with an Intel o0nboard graphics chipset as those are NOT for gaming.

[aranol]

Whoops, sorry. Yeah, I don't have a specialized graphics card, just a chipset. It's possible that is the reason, though I've run fairly demanding games (3D open world stuff, etc.) without any trouble... guess it also depends on how well optimized a game is though. The other PC I tried has a graphics card, but it's pretty basic. I have access to one more PC that was custom built for gaming so it's equipped with very capable hardware, I'll try that one ASAP. Fingers crossed!

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by aranol:

Whoops, sorry. Yeah, I don't have a specialized graphics card, just a chipset. It's possible that is the reason, though I've run fairly demanding games (3D open world stuff, etc.) without any trouble... guess it also depends on how well optimized a game is though. The other PC I tried has a graphics card, but it's pretty basic. I have access to one more PC that was custom built for gaming so it's equipped with very capable hardware, I'll try that one ASAP. Fingers crossed!

Yes, it ususally is the reason.

It's not about optimization though. Games are NOT built for them at all really. The fact you got lucky and can use certain games is just that - luck.

The problem with those chipsets isn't just that games won't run. You often get the situation where you can run a game fine then all of a sudden one update can mean you can no longer run it.

It happens a lot on these forums.

So sadly yeah, you're out of luck.

[BAD *Man]

well what you can do is try to update to the latest Driver from Intel (directly from Intels site)
Error 51 can happen if the Engine is not supporting the integrated grafics ..

Many people have that problem on Diablo3 as i remember ... especially with older versions of Intel HD

Also the CPU seems fairly old ? 2,2 GhZ what generation is it ? what CPU
Some old AMD or Intel do not support the command sets of the new Engines like Unreal

THe FX series from AMD for Example can not always game Far Cry 5 for that reason

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by BAD *Man:

well what you can do is try to update to the latest Driver from Intel (directly from Intels site)
Error 51 can happen if the Engine is not supporting the integrated grafics ..

Many people have that problem on Diablo3 as i remember ... especially with older versions of Intel HD

Also the CPU seems fairly old ? 2,2 GhZ what generation is it ? what CPU
Some old AMD or Intel do not support the command sets of the new Engines like Unreal

THe FX series from AMD for Example can not always game Far Cry 5 for that reason

This is true - all you can do is try to have it set to the latest driver. Tick all the boxes in other words. But if it still doesn't work after that, you are pretty screwed.

[aranol]

My laptop is definitely a bit older haha, but I try to keep it in the best possible shape. (:

The drivers are fully updated.

Anyway, I tried the well-equipped gaming PC. It's not mine, so I don't know all the specs and it was just a quick test (applying a dozen possible fixes on someone else's PC when it's not their issue doesn't feel right haha) but the game still throws an error code 51 when attempting to launch.

It makes me wonder if the graphic hardware is the issue after all, but either way, looks like I'm just not going to be able to play this game. RIP.

Nevertheless, thank you all for your help/input!

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by aranol:

My laptop is definitely a bit older haha, but I try to keep it in the best possible shape. (:

The drivers are fully updated.

Anyway, I tried the well-equipped gaming PC. It's not mine, so I don't know all the specs and it was just a quick test (applying a dozen possible fixes on someone else's PC when it's not their issue doesn't feel right haha) but the game still throws an error code 51 when attempting to launch.

It makes me wonder if the graphic hardware is the issue after all, but either way, looks like I'm just not going to be able to play this game. RIP.

Nevertheless, thank you all for your help/input!

Well all I can tell you is that error code is the common one when the graphics card is incapable of rendering the game.

Perhaps if you aren't aware of the desktop#s specs you only used the inbuilt INtel graphics on that too? It's easily done.

You'd really need to test it more accurately by trying it either with a known system where only the "proper" graphics card is available or you have it selected.