How to Fix “Fatal Error Loading Vertex Shader” in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of the most popular games worldwide. Recently, players have reported encountering the error “Fatal Error Loading Vertex Shader” after installing the game on a freshly installed Windows 10 device. If you are also experiencing this issue with the game crashing, please read on for troubleshooting steps to fix this error.

This article will discuss how to troubleshoot and fix the “Fatal Error Loading Vertex Shader” in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

There can be multiple causes for this error, so we will provide several troubleshooting steps and explain the potential reasons for the error. Without further ado, let’s begin. One possible reason for the “Fatal Error Loading Vertex Shader” in CS:GO is…

Here are some potential reasons why the “Fatal Error Loading Vertex Shader” error may occur in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, along with possible solutions.

• Corrupted Files: The error may be caused by missing or damaged files. To resolve this issue, you can use Steam’s “Verify game integrity” feature.
• Missing GPU Driver: A missing or outdated GPU driver can also cause the error. You can resolve this by installing the latest GPU drivers.
• HTML MOTD Crashing the Game: Connecting to a CS:GO server with the Message of the Day (MOTD) feature enabled may cause the game to crash. To fix this, you can adjust your Steam settings.
• Corrupt Game Shader: The error may be caused by a corrupt weapon deal (_V_30) shader file. Some community users have suggested that restarting the game after deleting the installation folder may fix this issue.
• Game integrity verification is always a good idea since it ensures all files are functional and replaces missing or corrupted files.

As a first step, it is recommended to use Steam’s built-in file integrity checker. This scans the game’s installation folder and replaces any missing, corrupted, or damaged files by downloading them from the Steam server. To use this feature,

• Open Steam.
• Navigate to the library.
• Right-click on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
• Select Properties from the drop-down menu.
• Click on “Local Files,” located on the left side.
• Select local files, and then choose “Verify the Integrity of Game Files.”
• Relaunch the game and try again.

Another potential solution is to change the launch options for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. As previously mentioned, the error may be caused by the HTML MOTD feature. To disable this feature,

• Launch on Steam.
• Navigate to the Games Library.
• Right-click on the game and select Properties.
• Navigate to the General tab.
• Select launch options and disable the HTML MOTDs by adding “cl_disablehtmlmotd 1” to the launch options.
• Apply the changes and restart the game.

Additionally, you can launch the game as an administrator. This may resolve the error by providing the game with sufficient permissions. To launch the game as an administrator:

• Open Steam.
• Navigate to the Steam Library (download games).
• Right-click on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
• Select Properties from the drop-down menu.
• Click on the compatibility tab.
• Check the “Run this program as an administrator” option.
• Apply the changes and restart the game.

Another potential solution is to update or reinstall your GPU driver. A driver is responsible for rendering the game, so it is imperative to have the latest version installed. There are two primary ways to update your GPU driver:

• Download and install it from the manufacturer’s website. Examples include NVIDIA’s GeForce Experience, AMD’s Adrenalin, and Intel’s Intel Driver.
• Use a third-party driver installer, such as Driver Booster, to automatically scan and update your drivers.

Alternatively, you can update your GPU driver to the latest version directly from your computer. To do this, follow these steps:

• By pressing the Windows key + R, you can access the Windows Run dialogue box.
• Enter “devmgmt.msc” and press Enter.
• This launches Device Manager. From there, expand the Display Adapters option.
• Right-click on your GPU driver and select “Update Driver.”
• If you are using a laptop, you will likely see both an integrated and a dedicated GPU. Select the appropriate one.
• Click on “Search Automatically for Drivers.”
• The system will scan for the most appropriate available driver, which will then be installed on your device.

Another option to consider is reinstalling the game. While some users have reported that this does not resolve the error, it is worth trying as a potential solution. Before reinstalling, uninstall the game files from the installation folder, typically located at “C:Programme Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonCounter-Strike Global Offensiveplatformshadersfxc.” Also, delete the “custom weapon_vs30” file. Note that the shader folder may be located in a different folder depending on your GPU, so check accordingly.

If the problem persists, you may need to uninstall and reinstall Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. To do this,

• Open Steam.
• Go to the Games Library and right-click on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
• Select Uninstall from the drop-down menu.
• Confirm your action and the game will be uninstalled.
• Restart your computer.
• Launch Steam and redownload Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

We hope this guide helps you resolve the “Fatal Error Loading Vertex Shader Custom Weapons in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.” If you have further questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.