The highly anticipated open-world action-adventure game Hell is Us has encountered significant compatibility issues with Nvidia's latest graphics cards, forcing the developer to issue emergency workarounds just hours after releasing the PC demo. This latest incident adds to Nvidia's ongoing driver stability problems that have plagued users for months.
Widespread Crashes Affect Latest Nvidia Hardware
Developer Rogue Factor quickly identified that users with Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series and RTX 50-series graphics cards are experiencing crashes during the game's cinematic introduction sequence. The crashes appear specifically tied to DLSS functionality, Nvidia's AI-powered upscaling technology that has become a cornerstone feature for modern gaming performance. The issue emerged almost immediately after the demo's release on Monday, prompting the developer to post urgent warnings on the game's Steam page.
Affected Hardware
- Nvidia RTX 40-series GPUs: RTX 4060, 4060 Ti, 4070, 4070 Super, 4070 Ti, 4070 Ti Super, 4080, 4080 Super, 4090
- Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs: RTX 5070, 5070 Ti, 5080, 5090
- Primary Issue: DLSS-related crashes during cinematic sequences
- Game Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Temporary Solution Requires Graphics Downgrade
The current workaround involves a multi-step process that significantly impacts the initial gaming experience. Players must first access the main menu and reduce all graphics quality settings to their lowest levels before attempting to play. Additionally, all upscaling technologies must be disabled, including DLSS, Intel's XeSS, and AMD's FSR. Only after successfully navigating past the problematic cinematic introduction and gaining control of the main character Rémi can players restore their preferred graphics settings without fear of crashes.
Workaround Steps for RTX 40/50 Series Users
- Launch Hell is Us demo
- Access main menu settings
- Reduce all graphics quality settings to lowest levels
- Disable all upscaling features (DLSS, XeSS, FSR)
- Play through cinematic introduction
- Wait until gaining control of character Rémi
- Return to settings and restore preferred graphics options
Hardware Requirements Reveal Performance Demands
Hell is Us demonstrates exceptionally demanding system requirements that highlight the growing hardware expectations for modern PC gaming. The Unreal Engine 5-powered title requires an Nvidia RTX 4090, the company's flagship graphics card, to achieve 4K resolution at just 30 frames per second with upscaling enabled. For 1080p gaming at 60 frames per second, players need at least an RTX 2080 Ti with 11GB of VRAM, while the recommended specifications call for 32GB of system RAM.
System Requirements for Hell is Us
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| GPU (4K 30fps) | RTX 4090 | RTX 4090 |
| GPU (1080p 60fps) | RTX 2080 Ti (11GB) | RTX 2080 Ti (11GB) |
| GPU (Alternative) | AMD RX 6750 XT (12GB) | AMD RX 6750 XT (12GB) |
| System RAM | Not specified | 32GB |
| VRAM | 11GB minimum | 11GB+ |
Nvidia's Ongoing Driver Stability Crisis
This compatibility issue represents the latest in a series of driver-related problems that have affected Nvidia users since the introduction of RTX 50-series GPUs. Previous incidents required users to roll back driver installations for games like InZoi and The First Berserker: Khazan to resolve performance issues. Industry analysis has criticized Nvidia's recent driver releases as problematic, with technical investigations highlighting multiple unresolved bugs affecting gaming stability.
Developer Promises Permanent Fix
Rogue Factor has confirmed they are actively investigating the root cause of the crashes and working on a permanent solution. With Hell is Us scheduled for official release on September 4, 2025, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S platforms, the development team has sufficient time to address these compatibility issues before the final launch. The single-player action-adventure game combines melee combat with investigative gameplay elements in a semi-open world setting, making stable performance crucial for the intended gaming experience.