N7: Cerberus Abductions Mission on Benning Is Not Loading
I choose my squad, in this case Javik and James Vega. I choose their weapons. I select skills for Javik (and a couple times I skipped that in case that was the problem). James and I already have our skills set. Then I hit confirm. There is a VERY brief view of the shuttle heading to planet and then the screen goes dark. I can still SORT of hear things in my headset -- background noise I THINK is from the planet, but I can NOT see a thing.
I have repaired the game once.
I have reinstalled the game once.
I am now at a loss as to what to do to get this mission going (it's one of my favorites in the whole game).
PLEASE help!!
Thank you!
Sak
The issue you're describing, where the screen goes dark after selecting Javik and James for the N7: Cerberus Abductions mission, is most likely a game bug or glitch specific to certain squad compositions or loadouts. Sadly, there won't be a specific reason you can pinpoint with these, as most often, it's just a bug in the loadout. This kind of problem can sometimes occur in MELE due to incompatibilities in how the game loads character assets or abilities in specific scenarios.
Here are some troubleshooting steps and possible resolutions to help you resolve the issue. Before trying these, I recommend reloading a previous save or starting the mission over if you can. This way, you don't lose your progress.
Squad-Specific Bug Workarounds
Try Different Loadouts for Javik and James:
Unequip any unusual or DLC-specific weapons from Javik and James and assign default or basic weapons before starting the mission. Sometimes the game has trouble rendering specific weapons in certain missions.
Adjust Power Loadouts:
Reset Javik's and James's power points to default (or skip assigning them) to see if one of their abilities is causing the crash.
Check for Corrupted Save Data
Reload an Earlier Save:
Before entering the mission, reload a save from before you initiated the N7: Cerberus Abductions mission. Avoid quick saves or auto-saves if possible.
If this works, try bringing Javik and James again to see if the issue persists.
Create a Fresh Save Before the Mission:
Save the game right before initiating the mission, ensuring it's a clean checkpoint. If the issue happens again, revert to this save.
Disable Mods (If Installed)
If you're using mods, certain mods can cause compatibility issues during specific missions or with specific characters. Disable mods temporarily to see if the mission works.
Graphics Settings AdjustmentsThe issue might be related to how assets load during the transition to the mission:
Lower Graphics Settings:
Before launching the mission, set your graphics settings to low (especially shadow quality, texture quality, and effects detail).
Disable VSync or enable Borderless Windowed Mode:
Sometimes these settings help with loading issues.
Verify Game Files Again
Even though you've repaired the game before, re-validating game files through your launcher might help:
Attempt the Mission Without Squad Selection
Instead of specifically choosing Javik and James: Auto-Select Your Squad:
Sometimes the game auto-selects a squad when you skip manual selection. Allow the game to choose for you, then swap to Javik and James mid-mission (if possible).
Test with Other Squad Combinations First Start the mission with other characters (like Garrus and Liara, as you've done), complete the mission, then reload a save before the mission and retry with Javik and James. This process sometimes clears mission-specific bugs.
Update GPU Drivers
Outdated GPU drivers can cause crashes or black screens during transitions:
Check for updates to your graphics card drivers (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel).
If you’ve already updated recently, try rolling back to a prior driver version.
Game Reinstallation (Last Resort)
If nothing else works, you might need to reinstall the game again, but this time:
Backup Save Files:
Your saves are typically located in:
Windows: Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Save
Uninstall the game completely, including residual files in installation directories.
Reinstall the game from scratch.
Potential Cause
The issue might be a rendering bug related to Javik and James, either due to their abilities, weapons, or character models failing to load correctly in this specific mission. It could also be tied to the engine having trouble loading multiple DLC-related assets (Javik is a DLC character, and some weapons are DLC).
