Running on the idTech8 engine, DOOM: The Dark Ages not only runs smoothly but also scales well across different PC configurations. The game is undoubtedly well-optimized for all platforms, but despite that, PC users are experiencing errors and issues with it. PC users report that DOOM: The Dark Ages crashes at startup with the BUGSPLAT error popping up. I have compiled a couple of fixes that will resolve the BUGSPLAT error on your Windows PC.
Confirm Fix for DOOM: The Dark Ages BUGSPLAT Error
PC users report that DOOM: The Dark Ages keeps crashing at startup, and the BUGSPLAT error pops up. This isn’t a new error, as DOOM Eternal also displayed it when crashing at startup. Also, the Dark Ages is freezing randomly for some players.
You are experiencing the BUGSPLAT error, like Windows not switching to the dedicated graphics hardware, and more. The following fixes will resolve the BUGSPLAT crash at startup issue on your Windows PC.
Fix # 1 – Disable the Integrated GPU
DOOM: The Dark Ages is crashing with the BUGSPLAT error due to the integrated GPU (iGPU). On gaming laptops, Windows switches between the iGPU and dedicated NVIDIA or AMD graphics hardware depending on load. This saves power, but sometimes Windows does not switch to the dedicated GPU, which results in games crashing at launch.
DOOM is crashing with the BUGSPLAT error due to Windows not switching to the dedicated graphics card and keeps using the iGPU. You can fix the error by disabling the iGPU, and here is how you can do it:
- Open Device Manager.
- From the list, find and expand the “Display adapters” option.
- There will be two listings under “Display adapters”. One is the iGPU, and the other is the dedicated graphics hardware.
- Right-click the iGPU and click the “disable” option.
- Launch DOOM: The Dark Age,s and the error is now fixed.
Note: Even on desktop PCs, most Intel and AMD processors have iGPUs, which is causing the BUGSPLAT crash. On your desktop PC, you have to disable the iGPU through BIOS to fix the issue.
Fix #2 – Force DOOM: The Dark Ages to Always Use Dedicated GPU
Another way to fix the error is to ensure DOOM: The Dark Ages is always using the dedicated NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards. Disabling the iGPU would result in Windows using the dedicated hardware, which would increase the energy consumption. You can avoid that and fix the error by forcing DOOM to use the dedicated GPU, and here is how it can be done:
- Open Windows 11/10 Settings.
- Navigate to System > Display > Graphics.
- Select “DOOM: The Dark Ages” from the list.
- Click on Options.
- Check the “High Performance” option and save the changes.
- Launch DOOM, and the BUGSPLAT error is now fixed.
That is all for our fixes for the BUGSPLAT crash at startup issue in DOOM The Dark Ages. This fix is confirmed by the community to resolve the error. If you are experiencing errors and crashes in other games, also see our fixes hub for commonly occurring errors for PC and handhelds.
