All fixes / Red Dead Redemption 2, RedM

RDR2 crash: ERR_GFX_D3D_DEFERRED_MEM (DirectX 12)

Fixable on your PC

ERR_GFX_D3D_DEFERRED_MEM

The game ran out of graphics memory while starting up on DirectX 12. It usually isn't your VRAM size — it's a driver, overclock, or API problem.

Why it happens

DirectX 12 in RDR2 is sensitive to unstable GPU overclocks and fresh driver bugs. A new driver install or an overclock that is stable in other games can still trigger this error at launch.

How to fix it

Remove any GPU overclock. Reset to default in MSI Afterburner (or your tuning tool), or close the tool completely before launching.
Switch the graphics API to Vulkan. If you can't reach the menu, edit Documents\Rockstar Games\Red Dead Redemption 2\Settings\system.xml and change <API>kSettingAPI_DX12</API> to <API>kSettingAPI_Vulkan</API>.
If the error started right after a driver update, do a clean install of the previous driver version (use the 'clean install' option, or DDU in Safe Mode).
Make sure Windows virtual memory (page file) is set to 'System managed size' with free space on that drive.
Close background overlays (Afterburner/RivaTuner, recording tools) and test again.

Still broken?

Verify game files in your launcher. If it still fails on both DX12 and Vulkan, see the Vulkan memory error fix below.

Related fixes

Red Dead Redemption 2 · RedM

RDR2 crash: "Failed to allocate memory for Vulkan"

The Vulkan renderer couldn't reserve the memory it asked for. Most often caused by a driver issue, an unstable overclock, or leftover processes holding memory.

Fixable on your PC RedM

RedM won't load or hangs after RDR2 works fine

Single-player RDR2 runs, but RedM crashes or hangs. Usually leftover launcher processes, a cloud-synced install folder, or a corrupt cache.