The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me has captivated players with its chilling narrative and intense gameplay. However, some unfortunate players have encountered a frustrating issue – the game crashing on their PS4. This unexpected disruption can hinder the overall gaming experience and leave players feeling exasperated. Fortunately, there are several potential solutions that can help tackle this problem head-on. In this article, we will explore a range of troubleshooting methods, offering step-by-step instructions to address the crash issue on your PS4. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a curious newcomer, these solutions will hopefully allow you to immerse yourself fully in the dark and gripping world of The Devil in Me.
Solution 1: Restart PS4
Whenever you encounter black screen on The Dark Pictures Anthology The Devil in Me or even if it’s a game bug/glitch, you should try restarting your PS4.
WHY?
Restarting the console will eliminate any temporary errors/glitches occurring due to the old/corrupted cache
So, here is how you can restart your PS4:
- Press and Hold down PlayStation (PS) button on your controller
- From the menu shown, Select the Power option
- From the screen that will appear on the power icon, select the last option “Restart PS4”
- While your PS4 restarts, don’t unplug any cord to avoid any hardware failure
Solution 2: Cleaning The Blu-Ray/DVD Disc
The next thing you need to do is make sure the disc is not dirty if you are still facing shutdown on PS4
For this you need to do is:
- Eject the disc manually by pressing the Eject button on your console
- OR you can press the Options button on your controller which is on the Home menu which will give you the option to Remove Disc.
- Now check the disc carefully for any scratches or smudges underside.
- Clean the disc using a clean, soft microfiber cloth.
- Insert the Disc back into your console
Solution 3: Enable Automatic Game Updates on PS4
It’s possible that you might have missed the new update notification of The Dark Pictures Anthology The Devil in Me and an older version of the game can be causing these issues.
To avoid such situations and besides updating each game manually, we can set PlayStation 4 to update games automatically.
Usually, they are set to automatic updates by default to avoid crashing.
Here are 8 steps you can follow to allow automatic game updates on PlayStation 4:
- Go to Settings from the PS4 homepage
- In the Settings menu, scroll down and select “System.”
- Scroll down to “Automatic Downloads” and select it.
- Toggle on the options for “Application Update Files”
- You can also choose to enable automatic download of “Featured Content,” which includes game demos and trailers.
We are halfway through, and we have enabled PlayStation 4 automatic updates but it is best that your PS4 can download updates even if it is in rest mode. For that
- Go back to the main Settings menu that you opened from the gear icon.
- Scroll down and select Power Save Settings
- Now choose Set Features Availabe in Rest Mode
- Check box Stay Connected to the Internet
Now, your PS4 will be able to download updates over your internet whenever they are available. Even if your PS4 is in rest mode, your The Dark Pictures Anthology The Devil in Me will remain up-to-date.
Solution 4: Update Your PS4 Firmware
There are 2 ways to update PlayStation 4 firmware:
- Through USB
This way you would need to download the update over the internet into a USB which is an inconvenient way than PlayStation updating itself. - Through Internet
PlayStation searches for an update itself, downloads it, and installs it for you.
By default, automatic updates are enabled, and in case you are not sure, here’s how you can check if there’s a new update available:
NOTE: Make sure the PS4 is connected to the internet.
- From the PlayStation 4 homepage, access Settings from the gear icon
- Scroll down to System Software Update and select it
- If an update is available, select Next and then Update to start the download and installation process.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.
- If it’s updating don’t try to turn off your PlayStation 4.
- And if there are no updates this means PS4 is already up-to-date
Your PlayStation 4 should be with its latest update by now, and you can try running The Dark Pictures Anthology The Devil in Me to see if it’s still crashing.
Solution 5: Restore Licenses
These licenses are used to access the content on your PlayStation account.
In case of damage to the licenses, the content may not work leading to black screen on PlayStation 4
So let’s Restore licenses PlayStation 4 in the coming steps:
- Go to Settings from the PS4 homepage
- Select Account Management
- Scroll down and select Restore Licenses
- Select the Restore option and wait for the process to complete
- Once the process is complete, restart your PlayStation 4
Solution 6: Rebuild PlayStation 4 Database
PlayStation 4 rebuild database organizes your hard drive to make it easier and quicker for the system to access your files.
This can help in faster data loading, reduce ‘game crashing’, and boost the frame rates which in return will help you fix The Dark Pictures Anthology The Devil in Me
- Turn off the PlayStation 4 completely by pressing and holding the power button on the front of the console until it beeps and turns off.
- Press and hold the power button again until you hear a second beep, about seven seconds later. This will start the console in Safe Mode.
- Connect your DualShock 4 controller to the PS4 using a USB cable and press the PS button on the controller
- Use the controller to select the 5th option Rebuild Database and press the X button to confirm.
- Wait for the process to complete. This may take some time, depending on the size of your hard drive and the amount of data on it.
- Once the process is complete, the PS4 and The Dark Pictures Anthology The Devil in Me shouldn’t have any issues playing.
Solution 7: Initialize PlayStation 4 in Safe Mode
By initializing your console all the system settings will be restored to default or you can say factory reset to solve your not opening
Make sure the external USB drive should be large enough to store your PS4 data and should be formatted to FAT
How do I start my PS4 in Safe Mode?
The following steps will guide you to back up your PS4 first and then initialize it in safe mode.
- Connect your USB drive to your PS4
- Go to Settings from the PS4 homepage
- In the Settings menu, scroll down and select “System.”
- Select Back Up and Restore
- Then select Back Up PS4
- Now select the data you want to backup and select Next
- Assign a name to your backup and choose Back Up
- Press the X button on your controller and your data will start backing up
- Unplug your USB drive from the console after your data is fully backed up
- Now go back to PS4 Settings and scroll down to choose Initialization
- Select Initialize PS4
- Choose Full initialization
- Then follow on-screen instructions to complete the process
- Remember DO NOT turn your PS4 OFF during initialization as this will bring some irrecoverable damages to your PS4
Most users suggest using Safe Mode while initialization which is more effective.
And here’s how you can enable it
- Turn off the PlayStation 4 completely by pressing and holding the power button on the front of the console until it beeps and turns off.
- Press and hold the power button again until you hear a second beep, about seven seconds later. This will start the console in Safe Mode.
- Connect your DualShock 4 controller to the PS4 using a USB cable and press the PS button on the controller
- Use the controller to select the 5th option Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software) and press the X button to confirm.
- Wait for the process to complete. This may take some time, depending on the size of your hard drive and the amount of data on it.
- Once the process is complete, the PS4 will restart and you can use it as normal
Solution 8: Delete Saved Game Data on PS4
Sometimes, your game’s saved data can have some issues, and deleting it can resolve the not opening.
PRECAUTIONS:
- Before deleting the data, try running a new game and see if it works, then there’s a bug in your saved data.
- If you are a PlayStation Plus member, backup your data or download it to a flash drive to restore it later and not lose your progress.
- Saved data of PlayStation 4 games only can be uploaded to a flash drive.
- Keep it as one of the final solutions before you erase the saved data of The Dark Pictures Anthology The Devil in Me.
Once you are sure, here are the steps to delete PlayStation 4 Saved Game Data.
- Go to Settings by pressing the X button on the gear icon in the top menu.
- Now scroll down to Application Saved Data Management and open it by pressing the X button.
- Then select on Saved Data in System Storage
- Now scroll down to the Delete option
- If you are a PlayStation Plus member, save your game data by uploading it from the first option.
- Select your game and press the Delete button at the bottom of the right sidebar to delete saved data of The Dark Pictures Anthology The Devil in Me.
- Check if the game works and try restoring your game by using the Saved Data in Online Storage option visible in step 3.
A helpful and short video where we delete saved game data of a PlayStation 4 game.
Solution 9: Contact PlayStation 4 Support
If none of the above solutions work for you then there might be a chance that your PS4 has issues.
You can visit the PlayStation Official Website to get it repaired and choose the relevant issue which in your case would be not opening.
Make sure you tell all the solutions you have applied to your console and let them know the issue you are facing is due to The Dark Pictures Anthology The Devil in Me. This will help the support agent to identify the main reason for this error. They should reply to you ideally within 24 hours and if you don’t get any reply within 2-3 days, then you might need to make another support ticket.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, the crashing issue experienced by PS4 players of The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me can be disheartening, but it does not have to be a permanent setback. By following the troubleshooting methods discussed in this article, players can take proactive steps towards resolving the crash problem and enjoying uninterrupted gameplay. Remember to restart your console, clean the Blu-ray/DVD disc, enable automatic game updates, update your PS4 firmware, restore licenses, rebuild the console database, initialize the console in safe mode, or delete saved game data if required. In the rare event that these solutions do not work, do not hesitate to reach out to the dedicated support team of your console for further assistance. With perseverance and the right approach, players can overcome this obstacle and fully embrace the dark and sinister journey within The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me.
