Is there a DirectX version I can use instead?

Since v1.5 the launcher offers a Direct3D 12 option alongside the normal one. The developers recommend running normally and suggest D3D12 if you run into graphical issues — so it is worth trying, but it is a troubleshooting option rather than a supported alternative renderer.

Should I download a vulkan-1.dll file to fix this?

No. Vulkan comes from your graphics driver. DLL files offered on download sites are a common malware vector and will not fix a driver problem — update the driver from the vendor instead.

The game launched before and now it does not. What changed?

Check what changed on your side first: a driver update, a new mod, or a game patch. Removing mods and verifying files separates those cases. If it still fails on the current version with no mods, that is worth reporting with the template above.

Machine Party Vulkan Error: Check Requirements First

Quick answer

Steam lists “Vulkan support required” in the system requirements for both Windows and SteamOS/Linux. If your driver or GPU cannot provide it, the game cannot start — that is the first thing to rule out.

Last verified: 2026-08-15 · Machine Party on Steam — store page ↗

Work through these in order

Every step here is reversible and none of them touch your registry or ask you to download files from anywhere but the game and your GPU vendor. The first two come straight from the developers' own patch notes.

0 of 7 done — ticking these off is just for you, nothing is saved.

Update the game to the current versionv1.5 updated the Godot engine to 4.5.2, which the developers said fixes graphical issues on several hardware configurations. If your copy predates that, this is the fix.
Try the Direct3D 12 launch optionSince v1.5, launching the game offers a choice between running normally and running with Direct3D 12. The developers recommend the normal option but suggest the second one if you hit graphical problems. It changes nothing permanently — you can switch back next launch.
Update your graphics driver from the vendorGet it from AMD, NVIDIA or Intel directly. Vulkan support lives in the driver, so an old one is the most common reason a Vulkan-required game refuses to start.
Check your GPU against the listed requirementsSteam lists a Radeon RX 6500 XT or NVIDIA 1660 as the Windows minimum, with Vulkan support required on both Windows and SteamOS/Linux. Hardware below that line may simply not be able to run it.
Verify the game files through SteamRight-click the game in your library, Properties, Installed Files, Verify integrity. This repairs a bad download without touching anything else on your system.
Remove mods and third-party overlaysDelete the mods folder and disable overlays before you conclude the game is at fault. Mods are unsupported by the developers and the game has patched five times since launch.
Reboot, then try once moreA driver update is not fully applied until you restart. Do this before reporting a bug, so your report describes a real problem rather than a pending reboot.

If none of that works

Report it with enough detail that someone can act on it. Copy this template, fill it in, and post it in the game's Steam discussions — the developers have been shipping fixes weekly and have asked for bug reports.

Machine Party — launch/graphics problem

Game version: v2.1.2
Platform: [Windows 11 / SteamOS / other Linux]
GPU + driver version: [e.g. Radeon RX 6600, 26.7.1]
Launch option used: [normal / Direct3D 12]
Mods installed: [none / names]

What happens: [black screen, crash on startup, error dialog...]
Exact error text: [copy it verbatim]
Steps to reproduce: [1. ... 2. ...]
Already tried: [verified files, updated driver, rebooted...]

Machine Party discussions on Steam ↗

Related fixes in recent patches

v1.5 fixed players getting stuck in geometry, including clipping out of the map in Tunnel Hazard, alongside the engine update. v2.1.1 fixed crashes when a controller disconnected in the local lobby. If your problem matches one of those, updating is the whole fix.

What each patch changedFour updates since launch, each mapped to the pages it affects.Other problemsControllers, local lobbies, and online sessions.

Frequently asked

Does Machine Party require Vulkan?: Yes. The Steam store page lists "Vulkan support required" in the system requirements for both Windows and SteamOS/Linux. It is a prerequisite, not an optional renderer.
Is there a DirectX version I can use instead?: Since v1.5 the launcher offers a Direct3D 12 option alongside the normal one. The developers recommend running normally and suggest D3D12 if you run into graphical issues — so it is worth trying, but it is a troubleshooting option rather than a supported alternative renderer.
Should I download a vulkan-1.dll file to fix this?: No. Vulkan comes from your graphics driver. DLL files offered on download sites are a common malware vector and will not fix a driver problem — update the driver from the vendor instead.
The game launched before and now it does not. What changed?: Check what changed on your side first: a driver update, a new mod, or a game patch. Removing mods and verifying files separates those cases. If it still fails on the current version with no mods, that is worth reporting with the template above.

Sources

Everything on this page traces back to one of these. Checked on 2026-08-15; we re-check after every official patch.