• Red Dead Redemption 2
  • Rockstar Launcher
  • Errors
  • Steam Deck
  • Steam
  • Guides

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Error 18

Encountering an error launching Red Dead Redemption 2, Social Club failed to initialize graphics device. Error code: 18

Encountering an error launching Red Dead Redemption 2, Social Club failed to initialize graphics device. Error code: 18

Summary

Note, the Steam version of Red Dead Redemption 2 supposedly (I've never tried it) works out of the box, but may require some tweaks in case you run into Error 18.

Instructions

Authored by u/Wickex, original publication.

In your system.xml file, change <API>kSettingAPI_Vulkan</API> to <API>kSettingAPI_DX12</API>. I haven't installed this myself so you'd likely have to find it yourself. My assumption is that it lives at .local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/{RDR2 GAME FOLDER NUMBER}/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/Rockstar Games/Social Club/Red Dead Redemption 2/settings.