Steamdeck running windows - Black screen after "press to start"

[NateBGamer]

I've seen this issue pop up a few times on the forums and usually the fix to try a different AMD driver but as I'm on a steamdeck this isn't an option for me. I've seen a few posts on here with the same issue where people have had success with starting the game in game windowed then minimizing and maximizing the window which does work but this getting frustrating to do every time I want to play. 

 

Here's another post that describes the same issue

https://theindiestone.com/forums/index.php?/topic/56947-no-in-game-picture-with-amd-radeon-driver-version-2271/

As I say the fixes there do fix the issue, even the app that someone wrote that's link there fixes it for me so it seems it's the exact same issue. 

Does anyone have an actual permanent fix for this that will work on the steamdeck?

[Beard]

This generally should not be an issue on the deck as long as it is fully up to date. Unless you have some very specific outdated drivers installed? Since this is a very specific AMD issue, not an issue on the game, therefore the fix has to be done through the driver installs / updates only.

[NateBGamer]

It's happening on my friends deck too which is a fresh windows install. The drivers we have installed are the drivers listed here directly from valve.

 

This is the only game we seem to be having any issues with.

 

https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/6121-eccd-d643-baa8

[Beard]

Yeah this would definitely be a driver issue in that case, AMD released a broken driver around November. It has been fixed in a December update, but it seems like that one is not available for the deck? At least based on the website you showed, that driver still seems to be the problematic November one. If possible, can you try updating the driver from the AMD website directly? Preferably one updated in December 2022 or later:
https://www.amd.com/en/support

Alternatively, if updating it is not possible, I would recommend downgrading the driver before the November update if that's possible.

[NateBGamer]

23 minutes ago, Beard said:

Yeah this would definitely be a driver issue in that case, AMD released a broken driver around November. It has been fixed in a December update, but it seems like that one is not available for the deck? At least based on the website you showed, that driver still seems to be the problematic November one. If possible, can you try updating the driver from the AMD website directly? Preferably one updated in December 2022 or later:
https://www.amd.com/en/support

Thanks your reply led me down the right path. For anyone else having this issue. Here's a fix until we get updated drivers from Valve.

Download and run the AMD cleanup utility to totally uninstall the November version of the AMD drivers 

https://drivers.amd.com/drivers/amdcleanuputility.exe

 

Then download the previous AMD driver provided by valve that is pre the November one.

https://steamdeck-packages.steamos.cloud/misc/windows/drivers/APU_220520a-377788E-2206021014.zip

 

Once all is installed zomboid will work fine!

 

Once valve releases the next windows driver update hopefully this should be fixed.