How to Fix Oblivion Remastered 'Fatal Error' & 'DirectX 12 Not Supported' Issues

The release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has brought fresh excitement to fans of the classic RPG, with enhanced visuals and modernized gameplay. However, alongside this excitement, some players have encountered frustrating technical issues, notably the dreaded "Fatal error" and the "DirectX 12 is not supported on your system" error. These problems can disrupt gameplay by causing crashes, preventing game launch, or even leading to loss of save files, which understandably frustrates dedicated players eager to explore Cyrodiil's expanses anew. Fortunately, there are multiple practical solutions and workarounds tailored to these specific errors that can restore a smooth gaming experience.

Understanding the Fatal Error in Oblivion Remastered​

The Fatal error in Oblivion Remastered typically manifests as a crash during startup or when exiting the game, sometimes accompanied by the loss of saved data. This seemingly unprovoked failure can often be traced back to issues with graphics drivers, file permissions, or conflicts with background applications.

Update Your Graphics Drivers​

A common root cause behind both fatal errors and DirectX errors is outdated or incompatible graphics drivers. Graphics card manufacturers like AMD and NVIDIA regularly release updates optimized for new game releases. For instance, AMD issued the Adrenalin Edition 25.4.1 update specifically to enhance compatibility with Oblivion Remastered and other titles. Ensuring your graphics drivers are current is critical not only for compatibility but also for performance stability.
For AMD users, visiting AMD’s official website or using their Radeon Software utility can simplify the update process. NVIDIA and Intel users should similarly obtain official driver packages from their respective support portals. Updating manually can be tedious and prone to errors; tools like Driver Easy offer automated driver detection and installation, reducing the risk of installing incorrect or corrupted drivers. Driver Easy scans your system, identifies outdated drivers, and handles downloading and installing the right updates for you, making it particularly useful for non-expert users.
After updating the graphics driver:

• Restart your PC to apply the changes.
• Launch Oblivion Remastered to verify if the Fatal error persists.

If problems continue, proceed to additional fixes.

Grant Full Folder Access via Controlled Folder Access​

Windows security features like Controlled Folder Access can sometimes block games from reading or writing to their own save directories, causing crashes or save file corruption.
To address this:

• Open Windows Security via the Start menu.
• Navigate to Virus & threat protection > Manage ransomware protection.
• Enable Controlled folder access.
• Click Allow an app through Controlled folder access.
• Add both OblivionRemastered.exe and OblivionRemastered-Win64-Shipping.exe from the game installation folder.

This grants Oblivion Remastered explicit permission to access necessary folders securely, avoiding inadvertent blocks by Windows Defender.

Run the Game as Administrator​

Insufficient permissions can cause crashes or errors during gameplay. Running Oblivion Remastered with elevated privileges ensures it can access deeper system resources it needs.

• Right-click the game’s executable(s).
• Select Properties > Compatibility tab.
• Check the Run this program as an administrator box.
• Apply changes and relaunch the game.

This step ensures the game has the highest permission level available for its processes, which can resolve errors tied to access restrictions.

Verify Integrity of Game Files​

Corrupted or missing game files are notorious for causing unexplained crashes. Verifying game integrity through Steam (or other platforms) will compare your local files to the server versions and replace any problematic files automatically.

• In Steam, right-click Oblivion Remastered from your Library.
• Choose Properties > Installed Files.
• Click Verify integrity of game files.
• Let the process complete and then relaunch the game.

This step often resolves crashes due to damaged game data without requiring a full reinstall.

Disable Overlays and Background Applications​

Incompatible overlays—such as those from Steam, Discord, or NVIDIA GeForce Experience—can interfere with game operation. Their graphics hooks or background processes may cause conflicts or resource contention.
To troubleshoot:

• Turn off the Steam Overlay: Go to the game’s properties in Steam, uncheck Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.
• Disable Discord in-game overlay via Discord Settings.
• Temporarily close other background applications through Task Manager.

Ending unnecessary background tasks frees system resources and can reduce conflicts making the game more stable.

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Addressing the DirectX 12 “Not Supported” Error​

This error can appear even on systems that theoretically support DirectX 12, typically due to driver issues or system misconfiguration.

Confirm Hardware Compatibility and Driver Currency​

Use the Windows DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag) to check if your GPU supports DirectX 12 feature levels (12_0, 12_1). Lack of DirectX 12 support at the hardware level cannot be overcome by software updates.
Keeping GPU drivers updated is the first and most crucial step, since legacy or generic drivers might not support DirectX 12 features fully.

Use Automated Driver Update Tools​

Similar to fixing the Fatal error, tools like Driver Easy can automate driver updates to get the latest DirectX-compatible drivers installed smoothly.

Launch the Game Directly with Administrator Rights​

Attempt starting the game directly from its executable in the installation folder with administrator privileges to bypass potential Steam launcher issues:

• Navigate to OblivionRemastered\Binaries\Win64.
• Right-click OblivionRemastered-Win64-Shipping.exe.
• Select Run as administrator.

If successful, set this executable to always run as administrator in its compatibility settings.

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Hidden Risks and Notable Strengths in These Fixes​

Strengths:

• The systematic approach, from ensuring driver currency to verifying file integrity and adjusting Windows security settings, covers most common failure points in modern gaming on Windows.
• Using automated tools like Driver Easy reduces user error, especially valuable for less technical players.
• The guide’s emphasis on permission and overlay settings addresses subtle yet impactful Windows-related causes often overlooked.

Potential Risks:

• Over-privileging executables with administrator rights can expose the system to security risks, especially if the game or launcher has vulnerabilities.
• Disabling security features like Controlled Folder Access improperly may expose other applications or data to security threats; hence, adding only trusted game executables is advised.
• Automated driver tools may occasionally suggest incompatible updates if hardware detection is incorrect, so caution and a system restore point are recommended before major changes.

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Conclusion​

Resolving the "Fatal error" and "DirectX 12 is not supported" errors in Oblivion Remastered often boils down to a combination of updated graphics drivers, adjusting Windows security and permissions, verifying game files, disabling problematic overlays, and running executables with proper permissions. While the advent of remastered editions brings fresh life to classic games, it also demands more current system configurations and software stacks, placing extra responsibility on both game makers and players to ensure smooth compatibility.
With a step-by-step troubleshooting approach, players can enjoy the enhanced features of Oblivion Remastered without technical interruptions. For persistent issues beyond these fixes, consulting game forums or contacting support with detailed system specifications and troubleshooting history will help community and developers provide more specific advice.
Ultimately, investing time in regular system maintenance—driver updates, Windows updates, and security settings adjustments—not only benefits Oblivion Remastered but ensures a robust foundation for gaming across all titles.

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If you encounter these errors, consider this comprehensive guide your roadmap to return to the quest-filled world of Cyrodiil with minimal disruption.

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Source: Driver Easy Fatal error / DirectX 12 is not supported on your system FIX! Oblivion Remastered - Driver Easy