How to Fix Doom: Dark Ages Error Code 0x80073CF3 on Windows 11
DOOM: The Dark Ages has had quite a rough release, and while the game plays great, it doesn't run as amazingly as the previous titles in the series. It's also a lot more resource hungry because of the default Ray Tracing settings, and depending on the platform you are playing on, you may also get Error Code 0x80073CF3 when trying to launch the game. Thankfully, there are some things you can do that should fix this error message, so work through the steps below for the solution.
How to Fix Doom: Dark Ages Error Code 0x80073CF3 on Windows 11
Resetting the cache often resolves installation and update errors.
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Press Win + R to open the Run dialogue.
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Type wsreset.exe and press Enter.
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A blank Command Prompt window will appear wait until it closes automatically.
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The Microsoft Store will reopen, indicating the cache has been cleared.
Reset All of the Following Apps
Another really good fix for this problem is to reset the Xbox, Microsoft Store and Gaming Services apps. This should clear out any other problems as well. You can find all the steps for doing that here. The guide is for a different error message, but the steps in the guide should solve the problem with Doom: The Dark Ages error 0x80073CF3
Launch the Game from Its Executable File
Bypassing the Xbox app may avoid the error.
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Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
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Go to the game’s installation folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\WindowsApps). You may need administrator access.
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Locate and double-click DoomDarkAges.exe (or similar).
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If the game launches normally, the Xbox app may be the issue.
Switch Between Xbox App and Microsoft Store
Try launching from the alternative app if one fails. I doubt this will work, but if you're desperate, try it.
Option A – Launch via Microsoft Store:
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Open the Microsoft Store.
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Go to Library, find Doom: Dark Ages, and click Launch or Update.
Option B – Launch via Xbox App:
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Open the Xbox app.
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Find Doom: Dark Ages in your library, then click Play or Update.
Repair the Game Installation
If game files are damaged, repairing the game can help.
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Open Control Panel via Windows Search.
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Go to Programs > Uninstall a program.
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Right-click Doom: Dark Ages and choose Repair.
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Let the process complete, then restart your PC.
Reinstall the Game
If repairing fails, a clean reinstall may resolve deeper issues.
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Open Control Panel, then go to Programs > Uninstall a program.
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Select Doom: Dark Ages and click Uninstall.
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Reinstall the game via the Xbox app or Microsoft Store.
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Ensure a stable internet connection throughout the process.
Nothing so far has worked?
If you are still having major issues after this, you can try the steps in the guide linked below. It's written for Steam-related issues, but there are some other fixes there that may also help solve this particular DOOM The Dark Ages issue.
How to Fix DOOM: The Dark Ages Performance and Crashing Issues