Hello, Ascenders.
First, we would like to sincerely apologize to everyone who has experienced game crashes or Fatal Errors while playing Ascend to ZERO. With the v1.0.6 patch released, we addressed several causes of crashes. However, we have confirmed that the same issue is still occurring in certain hardware and system configurations.
Our team considers this one of our highest priorities and is continuing to investigate the root cause while working on a fix. We are doing everything we can to deliver a stability update as quickly as possible so that everyone can enjoy a smoother gameplay experience.
Current Findings
Based on our investigation so far, we have identified that crashes and Fatal Errors may occur on certain graphics cards and system configurations that either do not fully support DirectX 12 or have compatibility issues with it.
During our internal testing, we found that running the game in DirectX 11 (DX11) mode prevents the Fatal Error from occurring and improves overall game stability in affected environments. We are currently conducting additional validation across a wider range of hardware configurations.
Based on these findings, we are also evaluating a feature for a future update that will automatically launch the game in DX11 mode on systems where DX12 compatibility issues are detected.
Update 2026/07/18 : while we actively work on the situation, we have found that the following temporary workaround can also alleviate issues with CPU 100% usage
Temporary Workaround
Until the next patch is available, we recommend trying DirectX 11 mode if you are experiencing crashes or Fatal Errors.
Open your Steam Library.
Right-click Ascend to ZERO and select Properties.
Under the General tab, locate Launch Options.
Enter one of the following launch options
-d3d11
-dx11
Close the Properties window and relaunch the game.
We will continue to keep you updated on our progress and provide information about future fixes through additional announcements.
Once again, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and support as we work to provide a more stable gameplay experience.
Thank you.
~ Ascend to ZERO team