Red Dead Redemption 2 — How to Fix "Out of Memory"
Out of Memory in Red Dead Redemption 2: the fix path, and when it is grounds for a refund.
Last updated 2026-09-25 · evergreen reference
If Red Dead Redemption 2 is failing with "Out of Memory", this page tells you which fixes are worth your time and when you should stop troubleshooting and go to the store instead. The causes are specific, so the fixes are too.
What the error looks like
Confirm you are dealing with the same failure.
Recognising "Out of Memory"
An "Out of Memory" error appears at launch or mid-session, sometimes on systems with 16 GB of RAM and an 8 GB card that run other demanding titles without complaint.
Why it happens
The cause determines the fix.
Cause 1
VRAM oversubscription from Ultra textures and MSAA. RDR2 exposes a VRAM usage bar in the graphics menu, and exceeding it is the most common trigger.
Cause 2
A page file too small to absorb the overflow. Windows relies on virtual memory once physical memory is exhausted, and the default managed size is not always enough for this title.
Cause 3
Background processes consuming RAM — browsers with many tabs, Discord overlays, screen recorders and RGB control software are the usual suspects.
Fixes, in the order that works
Cheapest and most reversible first.
Drop Texture Quality from Ultra to High
This is the single largest VRAM saving and the visual difference is small at 1440p and below. Keep the in-game VRAM bar at least 500 MB to 1 GB below your card’s maximum.
Turn MSAA off
MSAA consumes VRAM faster than any other option in this game. TAA plus a little sharpening looks nearly identical in motion.
Increase the page file
Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, go to Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory > Change. Uncheck automatic management, then set initial size to 1.5x your RAM and maximum to 2–3x. With 16 GB installed, that is roughly 24576 MB initial and 32768–49152 MB maximum. Restart afterwards.
Lower resolution scaling and reflection quality
Keep resolution scaling at 100% or below and set Reflection and Water Quality to Medium. Both reduce memory pressure before they reduce visual quality.
Close memory-heavy background apps
Check Task Manager for browsers, launchers and RGB utilities before launching. Also try switching between Vulkan and DirectX 12 — some systems handle memory better on one than the other.
How to confirm it is fixed
One successful launch is not proof.
Retest properly
Watch the in-game VRAM bar while riding through Saint Denis or a snowy area. If it stays out of the red for a full session and the error does not return after a restart, the memory budget is now sustainable.
When to ask for a refund instead
Troubleshooting has a deadline.
Know the window
Steam refunds within 14 days of purchase and under 2 hours of playtime, and documented technical faults are sometimes accepted past that. Microsoft Store and Epic follow similar rules with store-specific exception paths.
Evidence changes outcomes
Attach crash logs, a DxDiag and the steps you already tried. A denied refund can sometimes be overturned when you can show the game is genuinely unplayable rather than simply disliked.
Bans are not refundable
If the failure follows an anti-cheat ban or a modified online client, no store will refund it. That is a separate category from a game that will not run.
Related pages
This is an independent player reference and is not official documentation for Red Dead Redemption 2. GameFixPro does not host or link to copyrighted assets. Modding guidance is for single-player use only — never use mods in online multiplayer. Verify current requirements, prices and policies with the publisher before acting.