If you installed the Empress crackfix for Resident Evil 4 (RE4) and ran into a black screen at launch, here’s a concise, step-by-step guide to fix it and get the game running.
If you’ve been trying to play Resident Evil 4 Remake on PC using the Empress release, you’ve likely run into the dreaded black screen after launch. You hear audio, maybe see a cursor, but the screen stays stubbornly black. For weeks, this issue plagued players — but the new crackfix has finally addressed it. Here’s everything you need to know.
Make sure you have the correct crackfix (not the original release). The fix includes a new re4.exe (around 120MB) and an updated empress.dll. If your empress.dll is dated before May 2023, you have the old crack. resident evil 4 empress crackfix black screen fixed
Certain software or DLLs can conflict with the game, causing a black screen. Try disabling the following:
If you are out of patience, execute these steps in order exactly: Resident Evil 4 Empress Crackfix — Black Screen
Documents\My Games\RE4R\shader.cache2.empress.dll to Read-Only.re4.exe in Exploit Protection.dinput8.dll).re4.exe -> Run as admin).The Empress crackfix is a popular solution for fixing the black screen issue. To apply the crackfix:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Resident Evil 4) Resident Evil 4.exe file as administratorContrary to popular advice, updating to the latest driver (545.84 for NVIDIA / 23.10.1 for AMD) breaks the Empress Crackfix. These new drivers contain optimizations for the legitimate Steam version that conflict with the DRM wrapper. Manage 3D settings ->
The magic driver versions that work with the crackfix:
NVIDIA Specific Setting:
Open NVidia Control Panel -> Manage 3D settings -> Program Settings -> Add re4.exe.