Getting an “Out of Memory” error in Far Cry can cause crashes, freezes, stuttering, or prevent the game from launching altogether.
The error doesn’t always mean your PC needs more RAM. It can also be caused by high VRAM usage, demanding graphics settings, background applications, outdated drivers, a Windows page-file problem, or corrupted game files.
Try these fixes in order to find the cause and get Far Cry running normally again.
Why Does Far Cry Show an “Out of Memory” Error?
The most common causes are:
- Not enough available RAM
- Insufficient VRAM
- Graphics settings using too much video memory
- Too many background applications
- An incorrectly configured Windows page file
- Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers
- Corrupted game files
- A memory-management problem within the game
Before changing anything, check your RAM and GPU memory usage while Far Cry is running. This can help determine whether you’re actually running out of system or video memory.
1. Close Unnecessary Background Applications
The quickest fix is to free up system memory before launching Far Cry.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Open the Processes tab.
- Sort the list by Memory.
- Close applications you don’t need while gaming.
- Launch Far Cry again.
Browsers, recording software, launchers, and other demanding applications can consume a significant amount of RAM.
Don’t end Windows system processes unless you know what they do.
2. Lower Far Cry Graphics Settings
High graphics settings can significantly increase VRAM usage.
Open Far Cry’s graphics settings and temporarily reduce:
- Texture quality
- Shadow quality
- Ray tracing
- Effects quality
- Resolution
- Render scale
If the game has a VRAM usage indicator, keep the estimated usage within your graphics card’s available VRAM.
You don’t necessarily need to set everything to Low. Start with the settings that use the most memory, particularly textures and ray tracing.
3. Check RAM and VRAM Usage
If the error keeps appearing, check which type of memory is actually being exhausted.
Open Task Manager > Performance while Far Cry is running and monitor:
- Memory — system RAM usage
- GPU > Dedicated GPU memory — VRAM usage
If RAM is nearly full, close background applications or consider a memory upgrade.
If dedicated GPU memory is nearly full, lower graphics settings and resolution.
This distinction is important because adding RAM won’t solve a VRAM limitation.
4. Make Sure Windows Manages Virtual Memory
Windows uses a page file as additional virtual memory when physical RAM becomes heavily used.
For most users, the safest approach is to let Windows manage it automatically.
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
sysdm.cpland press Enter. - Open the Advanced tab.
- Under Performance, click Settings.
- Select Advanced.
- Under Virtual memory, click Change.
- Enable Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
- Click OK and restart your PC.
Make sure your Windows drive also has enough free storage for the page file to expand.
5. Update Your GPU Driver
GPU drivers can affect how games allocate and manage video memory.
Update your graphics driver using the official software for your GPU:
- NVIDIA: NVIDIA App
- AMD: AMD Software
- Intel: Intel Driver & Support Assistant
After installing the driver, restart Windows and test Far Cry again.
If the error started immediately after a driver update, testing a previous stable driver may also be worthwhile.
6. Verify Far Cry Game Files
Corrupted or missing files can cause crashes and unexpected errors.
Steam
- Open Steam > Library.
- Right-click Far Cry.
- Select Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Click Verify integrity of game files.
- Wait for verification to finish.
- Launch the game again.
Epic Games Launcher
- Open Epic Games Launcher.
- Go to Library.
- Find Far Cry.
- Open the three-dot menu.
- Select Manage > Verify.
- Wait for the process to finish.
7. Disable Overlays and Recording Tools
Game overlays and recording applications can consume additional RAM and VRAM.
Temporarily disable or close:
- Discord overlay
- Xbox Game Bar
- NVIDIA overlay
- AMD overlay
- Steam overlay
- Screen-recording applications
Restart Far Cry and check whether the error returns.
If the game becomes stable, enable these features individually to identify the conflict.
8. Restart Your PC
If you’ve been running Far Cry or other demanding applications for a long time, restarting Windows can clear temporary memory usage and background processes.
Restart the PC, launch only the necessary applications, and then test Far Cry.
9. Check Available Storage
A nearly full system drive can interfere with Windows virtual memory and game operations.
Open File Explorer > This PC and check your Windows drive.
If it has very little free space, remove unnecessary files or move large files to another drive before testing the game again.
10. Consider a RAM Upgrade
If your PC regularly reaches very high RAM usage while gaming, additional memory may improve stability.
However, don’t upgrade RAM simply because you see an “Out of Memory” message. First determine whether the problem is actually system RAM or GPU VRAM.
If your RAM usage remains close to its maximum during normal gameplay, upgrading memory may be worthwhile.
11. Reinstall Far Cry as a Last Resort
If Far Cry continues to produce the error after checking memory usage, drivers, settings, and game files, reinstalling the game is an option.
Before doing so, verify the installation first. A complete reinstall requires considerably more time and storage and may not help if the real problem is caused by insufficient RAM, VRAM, drivers, or Windows.
Quick Fix Checklist
Try these solutions first:
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| RAM almost full | Close background applications |
| VRAM almost full | Lower textures, resolution, and ray tracing |
| Page file disabled | Let Windows manage virtual memory |
| Old GPU driver | Install the latest stable driver |
| Corrupted files | Verify game files |
| Overlay conflict | Disable overlays and recording tools |
| System drive nearly full | Free up storage |
| Memory consistently maxed | Consider a RAM upgrade |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Far Cry say “Out of Memory”?
The game may be running out of available RAM or VRAM. High graphics settings, background applications, drivers, the Windows page file, or a game-related memory problem can also trigger the error.
Does “Out of Memory” mean I need more RAM?
Not necessarily. If your GPU’s dedicated memory is full, the problem is VRAM, not system RAM. Check both before upgrading hardware.
Can lowering graphics settings fix the error?
Yes. Lowering textures, ray tracing, resolution, and other demanding settings can reduce VRAM usage and may prevent memory-related crashes.
Should I increase virtual memory manually?
Usually, no. Windows can automatically manage the page file. Make sure automatic management is enabled and that your system drive has sufficient free space.
Can outdated GPU drivers cause an Out of Memory error?
They can contribute to game crashes and memory-management problems. Updating to a current stable driver is a useful troubleshooting step.
Why does Far Cry crash after playing for a long time?
If the game gradually consumes more memory during a session, a memory-management issue or leak may be involved. Restarting the game can temporarily help, while keeping the game and GPU drivers updated may address the underlying problem.
Final Thoughts
The Far Cry “Out of Memory” error doesn’t have a single cause. The first step is to determine whether you’re running short on RAM, VRAM, or virtual memory.
Start by closing unnecessary applications and lowering memory-heavy graphics settings. Then check your drivers, page-file settings, game files, overlays, and available storage.
If memory usage consistently reaches its limit even after optimization, a hardware upgrade may be the appropriate long-term solution.
