Escape from Tarkov uses Battleye anti-cheat, which protects the game starting from the moment of its launch. The anti-cheat is launched before the start of the game and prevents the game from starting if it detects certain characteristics of prohibited software usage: changes in the game or critical system files, running virtual machines, etc. The anti-cheat works simultaneously during the game by detecting third-party programs running on the player's PC that are interfering with the game.
In case of detection of any problems during its work the anti-cheat can show informational messages. The most common messages and recommendations for fixing the problem are described below.
Anti-Cheat message: "Failed to initialize BattlEye Service: Driver Load Error (numeric code)"
The numeric code in the message can vary.
An anti-cheat initialization error has occurred due to damaged game files, outdated version of the anti-cheat files or due to blocking the start of the anti-cheat by third-party software.
To solve this problem:
1. Set all available permissions for the current user for the folders with the game and the launcher (folder properties, tab "Security").
2. Temporarily turn off all antivirus and security software such as Windows Defender, or add the launcher and the game to the white list (exclusion list) of these programs.
3. Manually update the anti-cheat:
- From the folder with the game, run uninstall anti-cheat \BattlEye\Uninstall_BattlEye
The path and name of the game folder may be different from that shown in the example.
- Find the folder "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\BattlEye" and delete it along with the files.
- To install the anti-cheat from the game folder, run the file \BattlEye\Install_BattlEye
The path and name of the game folder may be different from that shown in the example.
4. This problem may be caused by a third-party application interfering with the anti-cheat. Try to run your OS in "clean" mode, following this instruction from Microsoft
5. Check the integrity of the system files. To do this, open the command line cmd on your PC as administrator: click Start, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
In the window that opens, run the command:
sfc /scannow
Wait for this program to finish and for errors, if any, to be corrected.
Description of the sfc utility on the Microsoft website
Anti-Cheat message: “Note: File blocks can be ignored if they don't cause problems with the game.”
When running the game, the files specified in the message were blocked from being downloaded. Files that have vulnerabilities and are used to bypass game protection are blocked - even the names of OS system files or files of the game itself may be specified, if they have been changed or modified. In the example in the screenshot you can see that the file opengl32.dll is blocked from loading, while the game does not use it - a clear sign of third-party software interference.
If you are not experiencing problems in the game, you can ignore this message. But if you are having trouble starting the game, update, disable or remove the software whose files are triggering the anti-cheat.
If the message indicates system OS files, check their integrity. To do this, open the cmd command line on your PC as the administrator: click the Start button, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
In the window that will open, run the command:
sfc /scannow
Wait until this program finishes and corrects errors, if any.
Description of the sfc tool on the Microsoft website
Anti-Cheat message: “Windows Kernel modification detected. Please repair or reinstall your system.”
Modification of OS kernel files was detected.
Perform integrity check of the system files. To do this, open the cmd command line on your PC as administrator: click the Start button, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
In the window that will open, run the command: sfc /scannow
Wait until this program finishes and corrects errors, if any.
Description of the sfc tool on the Microsoft website
Anti-Cheat message: “Failed to initialize BattlEye Service: Windows Test-Signing Mode not supported.”
The use of Windows test mode is not supported and you will need to disable it. To do this, open a cmd command line on your PC as an administrator and run the command there:
bcdedit -set TESTSIGNING OFF
Then reboot your PC.
Anti-Cheat message: “Failed to initialize BattlEye Service: Kernel Debugging enabled.”
Your PC has the OS kernel debug mode enabled. To start the game you need to disable debug mode. Open the command line cmd in your PC as an administrator and run the command there:
bcdedit /DEBUG OFF
Then reboot your PC.
This article on the Microsoft website
In game
Anti-Cheat message: Anticheat connection failed
If you lose connection to the anticheat servers during the game, you may receive a message about disconnection from the game.
Check your network connection and restart the game. Try restarting your PC.
If these recommendations did not help, please contact technical support by creating a ticket through the game launcher.
