Alexis Kestler
My fellow adventuring friend! Have you tried booting up Baldur’s Gate 3 only to be greeted by the dreaded error “Failed to load the main menu from the current game mod”? I‘ve totally been there too. This frustrating error prevents you from getting into the main menu of the game to load your saved games, leaving your quest on hold.
Not to fear though, in this epic guide I‘ll join you on a journey through several methods to slay this beast of an error and emerge victorious back into Baldur‘s Gate 3. Just like any quest, it may take some trial and error with a few dead ends along the way, but we‘ll get there if we work together!
What Causes the Baldur‘s Gate 3 Main Menu Loading Error?
This main menu error typically appears due to:
Corrupted or Missing Game Files
Like any game, Baldur‘s Gate 3 is susceptible to game file corruption that can occur spontaneously or after a game crash. This prevents the main menu from loading properly on next launch. Game files could also be accidentally deleted or modified.
According to a 2021 survey by the Game Developers Conference, over 60% of game developers reported their games failing to load due to file corruption as a common issue faced.
Mod Conflicts
If you‘ve installed any mods for BG3, they may be clashing with the base game files resulting in the main menu failure. This is a super common occurrence with mods in games that support them.
Think of it like installing a turbo charger mod in your car then wondering why the transmission keeps failing. The game may not be designed to handle certain mods together.
Antivirus Interference
Antivirus software can sometimes falsely detect game files as a threat and quarantine or delete crucial files resulting in crashes on launch. Added protections in antivirus programs over the years can cause unintentional issues.
Windows Updates
Updates to Windows 10 and 11 can also inadvertently introduce bugs that affect game compatibility and cause crashes. The Baldur‘s Gate 3 team works hard to keep up with these changes, but sometimes bugs slip through.
Driver Conflicts
Outdated or buggy drivers for graphics cards and other hardware components can wreak havoc with games. If your drivers clash with the game’s code, you’ll likely face loading and crashing issues.
Now that you know the likely culprits behind the “Failed to load main menu” error, let’s get into the fun part – how to fix it and get you back into the game!
How to Fix the Baldur‘s Gate 3 Main Menu Loading Error
Below I‘ll join you on an adventure through solutions from quick spells and potions to powerful wizardry if needed.
Verify Integrity of Game Files
If you play Baldur‘s Gate 3 through Steam, GOG, or another platform, you can check for corrupted files through the client and re-download any missing ones.
Think of this like taking your game disc to one of those scratch removal machines at a video rental store back in the day (remember those?!).
For Steam:
- Right click Baldur‘s Gate 3 in your Steam Library.
- Go to Properties > Local Files tab.
- Click "Verify Integrity of Game Files"
- Let Steam magically scan and fix any corrupted files.
For GOG Galaxy:
- Click on Baldur‘s Gate 3.
- Select "More" then "Manage Installation".
- Go to Verify / Repair
Here‘s an example of the Steam verification process in action.
After the file verification finishes, try launching the game again and see if our magical elixir worked!
Clear Out Mods and Mod Settings
If you use mods, they may be interfering with the vanilla base game files. Gotta remove all those wacky ingredients you threw into the cauldron!
To rule out mod conflicts:
- Browse to: C:\Users\[YOUR USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Larian Studios\Baldur‘s Gate 3\PlayerProfiles
- Back up then banish the cursed "modsettings" file.
- Unsubscribe from all Baldur‘s Gate 3 mods on Steam workshop or manually remove them.
- Relaunch the game and see if the main menu appears.
This cleansing ritual will reset all mods and settings to factory levels to remove any foul curses.
Update Graphics Drivers with Powerful Sorcery
Your graphics driver is like a staff channeling power from your GPU to the game. If it‘s damaged or outdated, you‘ll encounter crashes, freezes, and failure to launch issues.
Visit your GPU mage such as Nvidia or AMD and download the latest driver enchantments. Installing them imbues your graphics card with the power needed to defeat launch errors.
Reinstall Baldur‘s Gate 3
If you‘ve tried all the quick spells and potions above yet still face game launch woes, the time has come…to completely uninstall and reinstall Baldur‘s Gate 3!
Think of this as collecting the seven magical artifacts needed to break the curse once and for all.
A clean install will banish any vestiges of corrupted files or issues lingering from mods and previous settings. You‘ll have a fresh start on your quest!
Attempt the Rites of Compatibility
You can also attempt the ancient Rites of Compatibility to appease the game launch gods:
- Right click the Baldur‘s_Gate_3.exe scroll.
- Select Properties and find the Seals of Compatibility.
- Activate the seals by checking "Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 8".
This arcane ritual has resolved cursed game launch issues for eons!
Chant the Windows Update Incantations
Make sure your Windows spell book is up to date with the latest patches. Updates often contain fixes for game launch and crash issues.
Visit Windows Update and perform all available incantations to get the latest protections.
Plead Your Case to the Mighty Larian Wizards
If no spells, potions or rituals fix your "Failed to load main menu" curse, you must call upon the mightiest wizards of them all – Larian Studios support!
Visit https://larian.com/support and provide the wizards details on when the error occurs, your PC specs, Windows version, and all your attempts to break the curse.
The Larian wizards are powerful and benevolent. They will surely divine the solution to vanquish your error!
A Few Other Common Curses
While you wait for the wizards‘ wisdom, some other frequent launch errors you may encounter and possible remedies:
"Crashed/stopped working unexpectedly" – Update graphics drivers, reinstall game, reduce graphics settings.
"Black screen on launch" – Try windowed mode, update drivers, verify game files.
"Game won‘t launch" – Check minimum system requirements, update Windows and drivers, run as admin.
"NoSuchInterfaceError" – May be antivirus conflict, add game folders to antivirus exceptions.
"Unhandled exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION" – Overclocking issues, close background apps hogging resources.
Return Victorious to Baldur‘s Gate 3
I hope some of these magical solutions help you lift the "Failed to load main menu" curse so you can return to your adventures in Baldur‘s Gate 3! Let me know which spells worked so I can further refine my dark arts.
Now go forth brave hero, your destiny awaits! The gods will surely reward your perseverance in defeating this foul error. Your feats shall become legend!
