Intro to Does Civilization 5 Work on Windows 10

Sid Meier’s Civilization V is a popular turn-based strategy game originally released in 2010. The game allows players to build and manage their own civilization from ancient times through modern day, while competing against other civilizations for dominance. With the release of Windows 10 in 2015, many gamers have been wondering does Civilization 5 work on Windows 10.

Now, it’s important to note that Civilization V was designed to work with Windows XP, Vista, and 7. However, many video games that are compatible with these earlier versions of Windows can also be played on Windows 10 with some modifications. The good news is that Civilization V is one of those games. In fact, the game can be played on Windows 10 with minimal issues.

Requirements

First of all, to play the awesome game, Civilization V (Civ V), on Windows 10, you will need to have a computer that at least meets the minimum game requirements.

Minimum System Requirements

• Operating System:
  • Windows XP SP3
  • Windows Vista SP2
  • Windows 7
• Processor:
  • Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz
  • AMD Athlon X2 64 2.0 GHz 
• Memory: 2 GB RAM 
• Hard Disk Space: 8 GB Free 
• DVD-ROM Drive: Required for disc-based installation 
• Video:
  • 256 MB ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT or better
  • 256 MB nVidia 7900 GS or better
  • Core i3 or better integrated graphics 
• Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card 
• DirectX: Required DirectX version 9.0c

Recommended System Requirements

• Operating System:
  • Windows Vista SP2
  • Windows 7 
• Processor: 1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU 
• Memory: 4 GB of RAM 
• Hard Disk Space: 8 GB Free 
• DVD-ROM Drive: Required for disc-based installation 
• Video:
  • 512 MB ATI Radeon 4800 series or better
  • 512 MB nVidia 9800 series or better 
• Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card 
• DirectX: DirectX version 11

Other Requirements: Initial installation requires one-time Internet connection for Steam authentication; software installations required (included with the game) include Steam Client, Microsoft Visual C++2008 Runtime Libraries and Microsoft DirectX.

If your computer meets these requirements, it should be able to play this Civilization game without any problems.

Troubleshooting

By following steps below, you should be able to troubleshoot most game problems, whether it is a game launching issue, problem with the integrity of the game file, or new features that the game makers released.

Update Drivers

Updating drivers on a Windows PC can potentially improve game performance and make it work better by ensuring that the hardware components of the computer are properly communicating with each other and the operating system.

Drivers are small software programs that allow the operating system to communicate with the hardware components of a computer, such as the graphics cards, sound card, or network card.

If your computer has outdated drivers or they are just flat out missing, it can cause issues with the hardware and prevent the game from running smoothly. For example, an outdated graphics driver might not support the latest version of DirectX, which is required by many games to render graphics. Updating the graphics driver to the latest version can ensure that the computer’s graphics card is fully compatible with the game and can render the graphics as intended.

Follow these steps on your machine:

1. Run Windows Update to ensure the latest update directly from Microsoft is installed and functioning.
2. Update your graphics driver. This can be done by visiting the website of your video card manufacturer and downloading the latest drivers for your card. Your graphics card driver can commonly be updated by the manufacturer’s driver updater tool.
3. Update drivers for any other hardware you may have, such as your sound card or network card. This should be a secondary step, as they are less likely to cause a compatibility issue.

Run Game as an Administrator

If you are still receiving an error message, try running the game either in compatibility mode or as an administrator. This will eliminate the various problems below, allowing you to move to the next steps in troubleshooting if these are not successful.

• Permissions: By running the game as an administrator, you give it permission to access system resources that it may not have had access to otherwise. This is especially important for games that require access to low-level hardware resources or make changes to system files or settings.
• Compatibility: Some games may have compatibility issues with certain versions of Windows or other software installed on the computer. Running the game as an administrator can help it bypass these issues and run more smoothly.
• Priority: When you run a game as an administrator, it is given higher priority in terms of system resources. This means that the game will have access to more of the computer’s processing power and memory, which can lead to smoother performance and fewer crashes.

Check for Updates

• DirectX: Can be found as a free download directly from Microsoft here. This rules out issues related to:
  • Compatibility: DirectX is a collection of APIs (application programming interfaces) that allows developers to create games and multimedia applications that work smoothly on Windows operating systems. By checking for the presence of DirectX and related software, the game can ensure that it is compatible with the necessary libraries and system resources required for optimal performance.
  • Performance: DirectX provides high-performance access to graphics, audio, and input devices, allowing games to run more smoothly and with better quality.
  • Software Bugs: Sometimes, issues with a game’s performance or stability can be caused by bugs or glitches in DirectX or related software.
• Visual C++ Redistributable: can be found directly from Microsoft here

Reinstall the Game

If none of the above fixes your problems, try and reinstall the game.

This resolves:

• Corrupted Game Files: Over time, game .DLL files may become corrupted due to hardware or software issues. These corrupted files can cause the game to malfunction, freeze, or crash. Reinstalling the game will replace these corrupted files with fresh ones, which can help to resolve any issues and maintain the integrity of game files.
• Incomplete or Outdated Installation: If the game was not installed properly or if it is outdated, it may not function correctly. Reinstalling the game ensures that all necessary files are installed and that they are up to date.
• Registry Errors: The Windows registry is a database that contains information about the settings and configurations of the operating system and installed programs. Sometimes, errors in the registry can cause issues with programs, including games. Reinstalling the game can help to fix any registry errors that might be affecting its performance.
• Conflicts with Other Programs: Sometimes, compatibility problems can arise between different programs installed on a computer, and these conflicts can affect the performance of the game. Reinstalling the game can help to resolve these conflicts by resetting its settings and configurations to their default values.

Conclusion to Does Civilization 5 Work on Windows 10

Overall, Sid Meier’s Civilization V should be compatible with Windows 10 for the vast majority of gamers. While there may be some minor issues that need to be addressed, the game can be resolved and played with minimal problems. Considering that Civilization V is simply a great game and one of the best games in general if you are a fan of turn-based strategy, it is definitely worth the effort to get the game crashes and performance issues resolved.