Home Gaming There’s a weird GTA V bug on PC that’s preventing people from playing

There’s a weird GTA V bug on PC that’s preventing people from playing

1 min read
133

9a8be8e5_GTA-V-PC

Grand Theft Auto V is finally out on PC today (yes, it really, really is) and for the most part, it’s smooth sailing. The game works as advertised for most people, offering smooth and fluid gameplay that surpasses the 30fps you’d find even on the newest consoles. For most who’ve been playing it, it’s been a great experience. For others? Not so much. There’s a weird little bug that’s preventing people from downloading or installing GTA V on PC.

It all has to do with your Windows user account name. Those who have any nonstandard alphanumeric characters in their Windows accounts have been locked out of the game.

Players who’re trying to grab the game from Steam from a Windows account which includes characters that deviate from the alphanumerical are experiencing issues downloading, installing and attempting to even play the game.

Both Valve and Rockstar are already aware of the issue and are working to fix it. In the interim, but Valve has opted to advise gamers that they can either create a new Windows profile to play from temporarily, or use the service’s self-refund tool, which will remain active until an official fix becomes available.

In related news, both Nvidia and AMD have updated their drivers to add support for GTA V on PC – so get downloading if you want the game to perform at its best. You can grab AMD’s latest beta drivers here, and Nvidia’s latest GTA Game Ready driver over here.

Ever wondered why nearly every major game gets new drivers shipped alongside it? A former Nvidia driver engineer explains here.

Last Updated: April 14, 2015

133 Comments

  1. Ryanza

    April 14, 2015 at 10:07

    Is that bug called DRM. I wonder…

    Don’t Support DRM.

    Reply

    • Nikola

      April 14, 2015 at 10:59

      In this case I must admit you are actually right:))

      Reply

      • DrKiller

        April 14, 2015 at 13:10

        Thats like admitting that SA has a electricity crises!

        Reply

    • z1n

      April 15, 2015 at 12:26

      This has nothing to do with DRM. It’s just a bug.

      Reply

      • Sam

        April 16, 2015 at 22:03

        caused by DRM.

        Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    April 14, 2015 at 10:09

    Through all the Beta testing us peasants did Rockstar seems to have forgotten that we don’t use keyboards or Windows 😛

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief asked for this

      April 14, 2015 at 10:09

      LOOOL, also, that is quite possible

      Reply

    • RinceThis

      April 14, 2015 at 10:23

      Brilliant!

      Reply

    • MakeItLegal

      April 14, 2015 at 11:02

      windows 8 ? …*runs

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        April 14, 2015 at 11:07

        hahahaha

        Reply

      • Mark Treloar

        April 14, 2015 at 16:53

        Still plays games that Windows 7 refuses to consider.

        Reply

    • Mark Treloar

      April 14, 2015 at 16:53

      You do use Windows if its an Xbox.

      Reply

  3. FSR

    April 14, 2015 at 10:12

    It probably got wet from all the console-player tears…

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      April 14, 2015 at 10:24

      from boredom cus they have all finished the game two years ago? Possibly.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ the flash noob

        April 14, 2015 at 10:38

        This hype of this game died a year ago for me.

        Reply

        • Blood Emperor Trevor

          April 14, 2015 at 10:41

          Oh no, you didn’t just say that? “It’s the bestest game ever-est and your life isn’t complete without it!” What have you DONE?! Told them it’s not true? Their brains can’t compute* that!

          *pun intended

          Reply

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 10:42

            Haha. Bestest

          • RinceThis

            April 14, 2015 at 11:10

            Are… You OK? 0_O

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 11:10

            Press the reset button behind his ear, that usually fixes it.

          • RinceThis

            April 14, 2015 at 11:14

            HAHA! I thought that was CTRL ALT DEL?

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 11:15

            That doesn’t work when he hits a blue screen like now 😉

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            April 14, 2015 at 11:12

            Shhhh, it’s okay, don’t worry. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but we’re all really upset we haven’t played GTAV on PC yet. There, there.

          • RinceThis

            April 14, 2015 at 11:14

            Oh… I thought you couldn’t give a toss!

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            April 14, 2015 at 11:16

            Of course not. I care deeply, we all do. We even have a Steam support group so we can express our feelings in a safe place. Tell him JJ.

          • RinceThis

            April 14, 2015 at 11:19

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            April 14, 2015 at 11:20

            How did you get that footage? And the clip.

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 11:21

            Rince’s guilty pleasure. He longs for the comforts of Steam.

          • Hammersteyn

            April 14, 2015 at 11:22

            Rince this indeed

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 11:20

            This is true.

    • Hammersteyn

      April 14, 2015 at 10:27

      Or it rusted from the wait?

      Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    April 14, 2015 at 10:13

    • Admiral Chief asked for this

      April 14, 2015 at 10:15

      It is because PC IS TOO DAMN OLD DEON!

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief asked for this

        April 14, 2015 at 10:16

        That being said, having to lug one of those beasts around to a LAN was quite the mission

        Reply

        • Weanerdog

          April 14, 2015 at 10:17

          And they say gamers never got any exercise.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief asked for this

            April 14, 2015 at 10:19

            …past tense

          • Weanerdog

            April 14, 2015 at 10:32

            I don’t speak to them any more.

          • Hammersteyn

            April 14, 2015 at 10:19

            The screens got lighter but the cases got bigger.

        • Loftus

          April 14, 2015 at 10:21

          Who needs crossfit when you go to LAN party with really old desktop PC!

          Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          April 14, 2015 at 10:34

          That’s cuz you are a tiny tiny man, not big like me

          Reply

        • Matthew Holliday

          April 14, 2015 at 10:36

          did you ever do Organised Chaos when it was back at Theo Marais?

          I actually felt sorry for those with bigger screens than me.

          Reply

        • Blood Emperor Trevor

          April 14, 2015 at 10:36

          I remember those days. A carrying 19″ CRT was a proper work out.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief asked for this

            April 14, 2015 at 10:50

            I saved up in school and bought myself a 17” LG Flatron, thing weighed a TON, but having fellow LANners ogle my screen was worth it

          • RinceThis

            April 14, 2015 at 11:16

            A carrying? Aye! I’m a carrying me ol monitor! A carrying, a carrying!

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            April 14, 2015 at 11:17

            Awwww, that’s adorable.

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 11:18

            LOOOL

      • Hammersteyn

        April 14, 2015 at 10:19

        But you always brag how your 20 year old PC is better than today’s consoles.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief asked for this

          April 14, 2015 at 10:19

          Not 20year old, 19.

          Sheesh, you NEVER listen

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            April 14, 2015 at 10:19

            Not to you anyways 😛

          • Admiral Chief asked for this

            April 14, 2015 at 10:23

            Aye, you have an aversion to wisdom it seems

          • Hammersteyn

            April 14, 2015 at 10:30

            Explains the console gaming then

          • Admiral Chief asked for this

            April 14, 2015 at 10:49

            And the TR affiliation…

          • Hammersteyn

            April 14, 2015 at 10:55

            hahahaha

          • ReaperOfSquirrels

            April 14, 2015 at 10:22

            Like he said, 20 year old.

    • Weanerdog

      April 14, 2015 at 10:16

      That never works, you need to tap the case with the outside of your foot.

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        April 14, 2015 at 10:30

        I got a hard drive to work again by tapping on it while powered up. Gave me enough time to back it up before it failed permanently lol.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief asked for this

          April 14, 2015 at 10:49

          Tap dat hardware!

          Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      April 14, 2015 at 10:30

      i laughed harder than i should have
      a previous GTA game caused me to do this exact action.
      GTA vice city used to freeze on my first PC because it had no graphics card, 3/4 of the way through a long mission, game freezes, restart pc, does it again, repeat process throughout the day.

      eventually my 12″ CRT didnt turn on anymore.
      it didnt die of natural causes.

      Reply

  5. RinceThis

    April 14, 2015 at 10:23

    HAHAHAHAHAHAH!

    Reply

    • Captain JJ the flash noob

      April 14, 2015 at 10:39

      Console people are always so nice. It’s definitely just the pc gamers who are mean. 😉

      Reply

  6. Blood Emperor Trevor

    April 14, 2015 at 10:25

    Pssst… Geoff… 750px.

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      April 14, 2015 at 10:29

      shurrup!

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        April 14, 2015 at 10:31

        You shut up!

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          April 14, 2015 at 10:32

          No u Syrup!

          Reply

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            April 14, 2015 at 10:36

            I prefer Mustard!

          • Admiral Chief asked for this

            April 14, 2015 at 10:51

            Maple?

  7. Blood Emperor Trevor

    April 14, 2015 at 10:28

    I didn’t know people would actually use non-standard characters for their Windows account name too. Those crazy hardcore real gamers!

    Reply

  8. Captain JJ the flash noob

    April 14, 2015 at 10:37

    Windows profile? Come on

    Reply

    • Blood Emperor Trevor

      April 14, 2015 at 10:39

      I know right? I bet it’s some clever buggers way of ensuring minors can’t play the game.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ the flash noob

        April 14, 2015 at 10:40

        I don’t even know where to check my Windows Profile, because why would I need to ever do that?

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief asked for this

          April 14, 2015 at 10:51

          You don’t even know how to boot up properly!

          Reply

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 10:52

            I’ll boot your face!

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            April 14, 2015 at 10:53

            Surely you know less violent ways to give him black eyes? ;D

          • Admiral Chief asked for this

            April 14, 2015 at 10:53

            Oh snap!

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 10:54

            And here I thought there’d at least be one person on my side. Then again, you’re only on your side, so it’s forgiven.

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            April 14, 2015 at 10:54

            There’s only one side, my side.

          • Brady miaau

            April 14, 2015 at 12:21

            Well, I could be on your side. Maybe. What, exactly, is your side?

            And soon……… Do it well.

          • Admiral Chief asked for this

            April 14, 2015 at 10:53

            You have no idea how to do that, so watching you flail around is worth a few giggles

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 10:55

            Let’s just declare peace between us. This is exactly what they’re trying to do Admiral! The console gamers are trying to tear us apart by making us fight each other! (I have no idea how this is relevant btw, but it works for me)

          • Admiral Chief asked for this

            April 14, 2015 at 11:04

            I was not aware that war had been declared?

            (Btw we still need to have that “talk” about the birds and the bees before you go and do something silly on your “trip”)

  9. Captain JJ the flash noob

    April 14, 2015 at 10:42

    Does it use Social Club?

    Reply

  10. Mossel

    April 14, 2015 at 11:08

    Is the game only made for Windows? No Linux or OSX?

    Reply

    • Captain JJ the flash noob

      April 14, 2015 at 11:10

      Only Windows so far.
      Knowing Rockstar, it won’t change soon.

      Reply

      • Mossel

        April 14, 2015 at 11:11

        Not that it affects me really. Will only play this game in 2016 at the soonest. Just pre ordered Witcher 3!! The hype train is in full motion!

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief asked for this

          April 14, 2015 at 11:12

          Choooo chooooooooooooo

          Reply

        • Captain JJ the flash noob

          April 14, 2015 at 11:12

          Woohoo! Join the club! Did you buy physical copy?
          Yes, I’m also eyeing GTA V for a 2015 Christmas purchase, if it’s cheap enough.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief asked for this

            April 14, 2015 at 11:13

            Rather look at Summer sale 2016

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 11:13

            I’ve waited a year and a half, will happily wait another.

          • Mossel

            April 14, 2015 at 11:13

            I like it when things get physical! Also, yes, physical copy it is!

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 11:14

            Me too. Initially got the Steam Pre-Order, but then I realised that I wanted all the cool stuffs you get with the pre-order in the box. So changed to Physical copy also. Turned out to be quite a bit cheaper.

          • Mossel

            April 14, 2015 at 11:16

            Yeah especially with the Rand being so pathetic these days. I just want it for the non-DRM vibes. Also, I long for Ryanza’s acceptance.

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 11:17

            Haha.
            I was just doing a recon here at work on prices and see that we were costing at 10.63 just over a year ago. So yes, the Rand is farked

          • Mossel

            April 14, 2015 at 11:20

            That’s freaking crazy! I’m going to Europe the end of the year and the rand/euro ratio isn’t what I would call favourable. It’s going in dry so to speak.

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 11:22

            Haha. Ouch. Yea, I need to get a job that pays me in a different currency at this rate.

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            April 14, 2015 at 11:24

            I’m glad I ordered my copy a year ago. I hate to think how much the CE would cost if I was ordering it today.

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 11:25

            You got the CE?
            Bastard!

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            April 14, 2015 at 11:28

            😀 Thank you, tax refund.

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 14, 2015 at 11:30

            I had to pay R30.
            F&%^ers

          • Ryanza

            April 14, 2015 at 11:46

            I don’t think the pre-order price changed that since last year. PC collectors edition was around R2200 and for consoles around R2500.
            Standard edition is still R499 but I guess those large online retailers are taking a hit.

            Having said that. You can still pre-order the collectors edition at btgames.co.za for the Xbox One, that’s all that’s left. Sell the Xbox One game and buy the PC version or PS4 version.

            If you pre-order the standard edition you get a free witcher poster at btgames.

          • Ryanza

            April 14, 2015 at 11:50

            IDK why USA sells all there games for $60. Here PC games are cheaper. Steam still sells at $60. CDPR gave up to 20% discount but it’s still cheaper to buy in retail here.

        • Ryanza

          April 14, 2015 at 11:51

          Nice.

          Reply

  11. Codefridge

    April 14, 2015 at 11:50

    What? Bugs on launch day? I dont believe it. Psssh son, obvious there is going to be some “Error 72” 😀

    Reply

    • BacchusZA

      April 14, 2015 at 13:42

      Surpsisingly enough, once I sorted out the hardware issue I was having – very much on my end, not theirs – the game seems to be running really well. There was a patch to download before playing this morning, around 400MB, but that’s hardly anything strange these days, and given how big the day one patches have been lately, that’s nothing. So far, so smooth(ish), & I don’t have any complaints really.

      Reply

  12. Gr8_Balls_o_KFM_Fire

    April 14, 2015 at 12:00

    I just figured out what Valve is doing.

    By running a digital game service, they have access to all the coding of every game on their platform.

    So what they’re doing is they’re carefully and slowly analysing each and every game code that passes through them and taking notes.

    Sometime in the future, they will release a game with the best systems and best coding from the very best games ever, to create the ultimate game!

    Full-Life 1

    Reply

  13. Corrie

    April 14, 2015 at 12:00

    So just got an email stating my Kalahari Pre Order has been delayed, seriously irritated about it, would like to see how they apologize for this delay, because they’re thanking me for understanding, and I’m not understanding

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief asked for this

      April 14, 2015 at 12:29

      And that, is why I despise them

      Reply

      • Corrie

        April 14, 2015 at 12:40

        I don’t really mind using them due to the R100 off vouchers they have, only paid R550 for GTA V, and most of the time they’ve been alright, just now this has upset me and I tried takealot with DS2 SOTFS and that was only delivered at 6pm -_- on the 7th of April

        Reply

      • BacchusZA

        April 14, 2015 at 13:39

        I stopped using Kalahari for games after the 2nd time I bought from them on the basis of “buy from us, get free DLC / extras / whatever”, only for there to be nothing but the base game in the box when it arrived.
        I think I had a pre-order arrive about 5 days after the game launched too the one time, though I can’t swear to that. But all in all, unimpressed enough with the service I had from Kalahari, particulary when it comes to gaming pre-orders, that I’ve since taken my business elsewhere.

        Reply

  14. BacchusZA

    April 14, 2015 at 12:56

    I had serious ballaching issues getting this to work this morning, kept crashing on me, restarting my machine, refusing to accept graphics settings.

    Tried everything I could think of to no avail, and then just for shits and giggles decided to upgrade my mobo BIOS. Problem solved

    Who the fuck would would have thought that was the issue? O_0

    Reply

    • Aries

      April 14, 2015 at 13:28

      That happened to me but with another game, friend told me to upgrade the bios and it worked

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        April 14, 2015 at 13:29

        But isn’t that a bit dangerous to do if you are not very tech minded?

        Reply

        • Aries

          April 14, 2015 at 13:34

          Lucky for me I am, and my friend is also though much better, but on these new mobo’s it is simple to upgrade the bios if you use the proper software

          Reply

          • BacchusZA

            April 14, 2015 at 13:37

            Yeah, all the recent mobos I’ve bought have come bundled with overclocking and BIOS management utilities. I’ve not had joy trying to OC with them, but the BIOS upgrade side of things worked just fine.

  15. DrKiller

    April 14, 2015 at 13:12

    So someone used my internet the other night to download the whole 60GB steam version (in just over 3 hours)… Anyway if anyone wants this in Milnerton area, let me know 🙂

    Reply

  16. chimera_85

    April 14, 2015 at 16:20

    The bug must have had too much mustard on it’s rice

    Reply

  17. Peter Pan

    April 14, 2015 at 16:41

    What a shock! Expect more problems. This is such a large game that there is limitless possibility for problems!

    Reply

  18. mike23645

    April 14, 2015 at 17:13

    Wow i just finished it on PS4 and i have to say that this game is AMAZING!!

    i will write some review later but here are quick pros and cons:

    PROS:

    Gorgeous, intricately-detailed world

    Heist missions are a blast to plan and execute

    Three character dynamic works a treat

    Massive, varied and detailed world

    Brilliantly varied missions stick in the mind for long time

    CONS:

    THERE ARE NO ANY CONS

    i am game tester from this site http://gamereviewjob.tk/ and i can recommend it to EVERYONE!!!!

    Reply

  19. Kevin C

    April 14, 2015 at 21:06

    If I buy GTA V thru steam is there a limit to how many times I can download it ? Someone said that there was a limit if like 2 or 3 times?

    Reply

  20. GreatTimesAreComing

    April 15, 2015 at 01:54

    When I’m playing I have an error with restarting graphics, as if I didn’t have enough memory. However I have 8GB of RAM and the error appears with the graphics of normal quality to Ultra. Someone with the same problem??

    Reply

    • BacchusZA

      April 15, 2015 at 01:55

      I had something similar sounding earlier, & couldn’t run the game above normal texture detail, otherwise the game would crash, my pc would restart, & so on. What fixed it was updating my bios, so it might be an idea to have a look at that, see if it helps.

      Reply

  21. Brian Brotherton

    April 16, 2015 at 16:41

    Mine installs, but it either crashes after 5 minutes or I pull into Franklin’s garage and nothing happens and I can’t get out of the car. Anyone else have a similar bug?

    Reply

    • Andreh Moons

      April 23, 2015 at 03:05

      Same problem here. Not crash. I can play all the time I want, but can’t get out of the car/bike. Did you discover the fix for this?

      Reply

      • Andreh Moons

        April 23, 2015 at 03:18

        I found it! You can’t remap the keys =/
        I reset to default and now I can get out of the car. I will try now to just let the key F to get out of the car and modify the others. Is there a way to fix this annoying bug?

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Rockstar Reveals New Details and Gameplay of GTA: Trilogy Definitive Edition

After months of rumours, Rockstar finally announced a remaster of three classic GTA titles…