[FIXED] Returnal Screen Flickering and Tearing Issues On PC (Steam)

Returnal is an action-packed game that immerses players in an alien world full of danger and mystery. Unfortunately, some PC players have been experiencing screen flickering and tearing issues while playing the game. If you’re one of them, don’t worry.

In this article, we’ll discuss the possible causes of these issues and provide some troubleshooting procedures to help you fix them.

Possible Causes

There are several reasons why you might be experiencing screen flickering and tearing issues while playing Returnal on PC. Here are some of the most common causes:

• Outdated Graphics Card Drivers: If you haven’t updated your graphics card drivers in a while, it could be causing issues with Returnal.
• Overheating: If your PC is overheating, it can cause your graphics card to malfunction, which can lead to screen flickering and tearing.
• Graphics Settings: If your graphics settings are set too high for your PC to handle, it can cause performance issues and lead to screen flickering and tearing.

Troubleshooting Procedures

When it comes to gaming, encountering issues is not uncommon. One such issue that many PC players of Returnal have experienced is screen flickering and tearing. While it can be frustrating, there are various troubleshooting procedures that you can try to fix these issues. These procedures include identifying the possible causes of the problem and implementing specific steps to address them. In this section, we will explore some of the troubleshooting procedures that can help you fix screen flickering and tearing issues in Returnal on PC.

Restart Returnal

Restarting the game is sometimes necessary when you encounter screen flickering and tearing issues while playing Returnal on PC. This is because there may be an issue with the game’s memory or some of the files may not have loaded properly during startup. 

By restarting the game, you essentially start from a clean slate and allow the game to load all of its files and resources again. This can often help fix the issue, especially if it was caused by a temporary glitch or a memory-related problem. 

Restarting the game is a quick and easy step to try before moving on to more complex troubleshooting procedures.

Here are the steps to follow to restart Returnal:

1. Close Returnal: Exit the game completely by clicking on the “X” button at the top right corner of the game window or using the Alt + F4 keyboard shortcut.
2. Wait a few seconds: Give the game a few seconds to completely shut down.
3. Launch Returnal again: Open the game again from your desktop, Start menu, or game library.
4. Check if the issue is resolved: Play the game for a few minutes and check if the screen flickering and tearing issues have been resolved. If not, you can move on to the other troubleshooting procedures mentioned in this article.

Restarting the game is a simple and straightforward step that can often help fix screen flickering and tearing issues in Returnal on PC.

Update Your Graphics Card Drivers

Updating your graphics card drivers is an important troubleshooting procedure when it comes to fixing screen flickering and tearing issues in Returnal on PC. This is because outdated or corrupted graphics card drivers can cause a range of issues, including screen flickering and tearing.

Here’s how you can update your graphics card drivers:

1. Determine your graphics card: Find out which graphics card you have installed in your PC. You can do this by opening the Device Manager (search for “Device Manager” in the Start menu), expanding the Display adapters section, and checking the name of your graphics card.
2. Check for driver updates: Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer (e.g. Nvidia, AMD, Intel) and navigate to the Downloads or Support section. Look for the latest driver for your graphics card and download it.
3. Install the driver: Once you have downloaded the latest driver, run the installation file and follow the on-screen instructions to install it. During the installation process, make sure to choose the “Clean Install” option to ensure that any previous driver files are completely removed before the new driver is installed.
4. Restart your PC: After the driver installation is complete, restart your PC to apply the changes.
5. Check if the issue is resolved: Launch Returnal and play the game for a few minutes to check if the screen flickering and tearing issues have been resolved. If not, you can move on to other troubleshooting procedures.

Updating your graphics card drivers can often help fix screen flickering and tearing issues in Returnal on PC. It’s important to keep your graphics card drivers up to date to ensure optimal performance and stability while gaming.

Check Your PC’s Temperature

Checking your PC’s temperature is another important troubleshooting procedure to try when you encounter screen flickering and tearing issues in Returnal on PC. This is because overheating can cause a range of issues, including screen flickering and tearing, as well as system instability and crashes.

Here’s how you can check your PC’s temperature:

1. Install a temperature monitoring program: There are various free programs available that can help you monitor your PC’s temperature, such as Core Temp, HWMonitor, and SpeedFan. Choose one that suits your needs and download it.
2. Launch the temperature monitoring program: Run the program and let it monitor your PC’s temperature in real-time.
3. Play Returnal: Launch the game and play it for a few minutes while keeping an eye on your PC’s temperature.
4. Check if the temperature is within normal range: Check the recommended operating temperature range for your CPU and GPU and compare it to the temperature reading shown in the monitoring program. If the temperature is higher than the recommended range, you may need to take steps to cool down your PC.
5. Clean your PC: Over time, dust and debris can accumulate inside your PC, which can restrict airflow and cause overheating. Use a can of compressed air or a vacuum cleaner to remove dust from your PC’s fans, vents, and heat sinks.
6. Improve cooling: If cleaning your PC doesn’t help, you may need to invest in additional cooling solutions such as a better CPU cooler, more case fans, or liquid cooling.

By checking your PC’s temperature and taking steps to cool it down if necessary, you can often fix screen flickering and tearing issues in Returnal on PC caused by overheating.

Lower Your Graphics Settings

Lowering your graphics settings is another effective troubleshooting procedure to try when you encounter screen flickering and tearing issues in Returnal on PC. This is because high graphics settings can put a lot of strain on your GPU, which can cause it to overheat and result in screen tearing and flickering.

Here’s how you can lower your graphics settings:

1. Launch Returnal: Start the game and go to the graphics settings menu.
2. Lower the settings: Lower the graphics settings to a lower preset or adjust individual settings such as resolution, texture quality, shadow quality, and anti-aliasing to lower values.
3. Apply the changes: Save the changes and exit the settings menu.
4. Play Returnal: Launch the game and play it for a few minutes to see if the screen flickering and tearing issues have been resolved.
5. Repeat if necessary: If the issue persists, go back to the graphics settings menu and lower the settings further until the issue is resolved.

Lowering your graphics settings can often help fix screen flickering and tearing issues in Returnal on PC caused by high graphics settings. While it may mean sacrificing some visual fidelity, it can greatly improve the game’s stability and performance on your system.

Verify the Integrity of Game Files

Verifying the integrity of game files is another important troubleshooting procedure to try when you encounter screen flickering and tearing issues in Returnal on PC. This is because corrupted game files can cause a range of issues, including screen flickering and tearing, as well as crashes and other instability.

Here’s how you can verify the integrity of game files in Returnal:

1. Launch Steam: If you purchased Returnal on Steam, open the Steam client and go to your game library.
2. Right-click on Returnal: Right-click on Returnal and select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
3. Select “Local Files”: In the Properties window, select the “Local Files” tab.
4. Click “Verify integrity of game files”: Click the “Verify integrity of game files” button and wait for the process to complete. This may take several minutes.
5. Launch Returnal: Once the verification is complete, launch Returnal and play the game for a few minutes to see if the screen flickering and tearing issues have been resolved.

If you purchased Returnal on a different platform, the process for verifying the integrity of game files may be different. Consult the platform’s support documentation for instructions.

Verifying the integrity of game files can often help fix screen flickering and tearing issues in Returnal on PC caused by corrupted game files. It’s a simple procedure that can save you from having to reinstall the entire game, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.

Conclusion

If you’re experiencing screen flickering and tearing issues while playing Returnal on PC, there are several possible causes, including outdated graphics card drivers, overheating, and graphics settings. To fix these issues, make sure to update your graphics card drivers, check your PC’s temperature, and lower your graphics settings if necessary. With these troubleshooting procedures, you should be able to enjoy Returnal without any screen flickering or tearing issues.

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