Direct answer

Start with pending updates, then verify or repair the game files, update the GPU driver, and close background applications. Retest the same trigger after each change. If the entire PC restarts instead of only the game closing, use the shader/full-system guide.

Safe first steps

Do these in order

  1. 01

    Restart the PC, then install pending Windows, launcher, and game updates.

  2. 02

    On Steam, verify integrity; on EA app, use Manage → Repair; use the equivalent Epic verification option if applicable.

  3. 03

    Install the latest driver directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.

  4. 04

    Close overlays and nonessential background applications for one clean test.

  5. 05

    Reproduce one trigger once; record the time, error text, and whether it happens before or after character creation.

Why these crash queries are merged

Launch, character-creation, and ordinary tutorial crashes have different moments but the same safe first-line recovery. Splitting them into near-identical pages would create duplicate answers and search cannibalization.

Verify files before reinstalling

EA says corrupted or missing installation files can cause crashes, freezes, launch failures, and unexpected errors. Verification is faster and less destructive than a full reinstall. A launch-day player also reported that Steam verification resolved a crash after the tutorial success screen; that remains an individual report, not a guarantee.

What not to do

Do not copy another game's DLSS DLL into the folder. Do not delete saves or make broad registry, BIOS, or page-file changes as a first response. These steps are not part of EA's game-specific guidance and can introduce a second problem.

Escalate with a reproducible trigger

If the crash survives updates, file verification, current drivers, and a clean background-app test, send EA the platform, time, exact error, trigger, and a DxDiag or clip when requested.

Evidence log

Sources checked

Official and platform sources establish supported behavior. Independent reporting can carry attributed developer statements or hands-on findings. Community links establish symptoms and player language only.

Official
EA Help: Troubleshoot common Zero Company issues

Official restart, update, cache, file-repair, driver and escalation guidance.

Platform support
Steam Support: Verify Integrity of Game Files

Official Steam file-verification procedure.

Community
Launch technical-issues megathread

Used to track recurring symptoms and player language, not as proof of a universal fix.