Not Quite Dead Black Screen Fix - Delete Old Playtest Save

This guide is for Not Quite Dead: Open World Survival players who see a black screen on launch or load after playing an older playtest build. Official Steam update context points to old playtest save data as the key black-screen case to check first.

Quick Answer

If you played an older Not Quite Dead playtest and now get a black screen, old local save data may be incompatible with the current build. Use the in-game legacy save cleanup prompt if it appears. If you must check manually, the Windows folder to inspect is:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\NotQuiteDead

Warning: deleting or moving old local save data can reset local progress from earlier playtest builds. Do not use this fix for unrelated controller, WASD, vehicle, or multiplayer joining issues unless the black screen also matches the old-playtest save case.

When This Fix Applies

Use The Official Prompt First

The official Steam update context describes a legacy save cleanup flow for older playtest saves. If the game shows a prompt asking whether you played an older version, read it carefully.

1. Choose the non-cleanup path if you did not play an older version.
2. Choose the old-version cleanup path only if you understand the local progress warning.
3. Let the game close on its own if the prompt says it needs to clean up old data.
4. Relaunch from Steam after the game finishes closing.
5. If the black screen is gone, the old playtest save data was likely the cause.

Manual Win+R Cleanup Steps

Use these steps only after closing the game completely and accepting that old local progress may be reset.

1. Close Not Quite Dead.
2. In Steam, confirm the game is not still marked as running.
3. Press Win + R.
4. Paste this path:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\NotQuiteDead

5. Press Enter.
6. If the folder opens, move the NotQuiteDead folder to your Desktop as a temporary backup.
7. Launch Not Quite Dead again from Steam.
8. If the game reaches the menu or loads normally, the old local save folder was probably the issue.
9. If the black screen remains, close the game and keep the backup until you know whether you need it.

Do not delete unrelated Steam, Windows, Unreal Engine, or AppData folders.

If The Folder Does Not Exist

If %LOCALAPPDATA%\NotQuiteDead does not open, do not guess random folders. Try these safer checks:

1. Relaunch Steam and let Not Quite Dead finish any pending update.
2. Verify the game files through Steam.
3. Restart Windows.
4. Test whether the black screen happens before the menu or only after loading.
5. Report the issue in Steam Discussions or the official community channel with your build date, whether you played the old playtest, and whether the legacy save prompt appeared.

If This Is Not An Old Playtest Save Problem

The save cleanup fix is narrow. Use a different path when the menu loads normally or the symptom is not a black screen.

Related Links

• Known Issues Quick Fixes
• First Run Survival Guide
• Multiplayer Quest Checks
• Base, Vehicles, and Loot

Source Notes

This fix follows official Steam update context about old playtest saves and black-screen behavior. No specific public version number is required for this guide, and no broader cause is claimed for controls, vehicles, or multiplayer symptoms.