Check specs → restart → update Windows and the GPU driver → verify files → choose the high-performance GPU → close overlays → lower the preset → report with system details.
1. Confirm the supported baseline
The Steam requirements start at Windows 11, 16 GB RAM, DirectX 12, a GTX 1660 6 GB or RX 5500 XT 8 GB, 50 GB free space, and an SSD. Capcom does not guarantee operation on systems below minimum, mobile/external GPUs, or Windows Insider builds.
2. Update Windows and the graphics driver
Capcom's thread names NVIDIA driver 591.86 or later and AMD driver 26.3.1 or later at the time of its post. Driver guidance ages quickly, so use the latest stable driver supported by your hardware rather than treating those numbers as permanent.
3. Verify the Demo files
- Restart the PC.
- Open Steam Library, right-click the Demo, and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files and select “Verify integrity of game files.”
- Let Steam reacquire damaged or missing files before testing again.
Capcom's longer reset procedure also mentions renaming or deleting the Demo installation folder before verification. That discards local installation files, so use it only after the normal verification step and confirm the exact folder is OnimushaWotS_Demo.
4. Make Windows use the dedicated GPU
On dual-GPU laptops, Windows can assign the integrated GPU. Open Windows Settings → System → Display → Graphics, add the Demo if needed, select Options, and choose High performance. The labels can differ by Windows version.
5. Reduce conflicts and load
- Close recording tools, performance overlays, and other demanding applications.
- Connect a laptop to its compatible charger and use an appropriate performance power mode.
- Set the in-game Graphics Preset to Low while diagnosing unstable frame rate.
- Check Screen Mode, resolution, VSync, HDR, and monitor settings for flicker or blank-screen problems.
6. Cutscene video problems
Windows N and KN editions may lack the media codecs used by cutscenes. Capcom points affected players to Microsoft's official Media Feature Pack. Use Microsoft's package, not a third-party codec bundle.
7. Security software and administrator mode
Capcom says false positives can block the executable and suggests reviewing antivirus or firewall exclusions. Add an exclusion only through your security vendor's documented controls and only for the verified Steam/Capcom files. Do not permanently disable protection. Running Steam or the Demo as administrator is also listed as a test, but it increases privileges; return to normal mode if it does not help.
8. Shader cache as a later step
The official thread suggests removing shader.cache and shader.cache2 from the Demo installation folder if graphical instability persists. Delete only those named cache files in the verified Demo folder; the game can recreate them.
Still broken?
Use Capcom's pinned issue-reporting thread. Include CPU, GPU, RAM, Windows build, driver version, display resolution, graphics preset, input device, and reproducible steps. A precise report is more actionable than a generic “does not work” post.