You just finished downloading 70 gigabytes of high-octane superhero chaos. You click play, your heart rates climbs as the Marvel Rivals logo flashes, and then—boom. A window pops up. It isn’t a cool cinematic. It’s a dry, grey box telling you that a Marvel Rivals Microsoft Visual C Runtime library is missing or has crashed. It’s frustrating. Honestly, it’s the kind of thing that makes you want to throw your mouse across the room, especially when your friends are already mid-match in Yggsgard.
These errors aren't just a "you" problem. Thousands of players are running into the exact same wall because the game relies heavily on specific C++ redistributables to communicate with your Windows hardware. If those files are corrupted, outdated, or just plain missing, the game doesn't just lag; it refuses to exist.
Why Marvel Rivals Hates Your Current Visual C++ Setup
NetEase built Marvel Rivals on Unreal Engine 5. It’s a beast. Because it uses such a modern architecture, it demands very specific versions of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages. Most people think having "the latest one" is enough. It isn't. Windows often keeps old versions that conflict with new game launches, or sometimes a Windows Update partially breaks a link in the library.
You’ve probably seen the specific error codes like "MSVCP140.dll was not found" or the dreaded "Runtime Error!" followed by a string of nonsensical numbers. Basically, the game is looking for a translator to talk to your processor, and that translator called out sick.
A common misconception is that you need to reinstall the entire game. Don't do that yet. It’s a waste of bandwidth. The issue usually sits within the Windows System32 or SysWOW64 folders, or specifically within the redistributable installer that should have triggered during the Steam or Epic Games Store setup but somehow failed.
The "All-in-One" Trap
Many tech blogs will tell you to go to the Microsoft website and download the 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022 versions separately. That’s a headache. It’s also prone to user error because you might grab the x86 version when you need the x64 version, or vice versa. Marvel Rivals is a 64-bit application. It needs the x64 architecture to run its physics and ability interactions. If you install the wrong one, the error persists, and you’re left scratching your head.
Step-by-Step Recovery for Marvel Rivals Microsoft Visual C Issues
First, let's talk about the "Repair" function. Most people ignore it. They go straight for the "Uninstall" button.
Go to your Control Panel. Navigate to "Programs and Features." Scroll down until you see the list of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables. You’ll likely see a dozen of them. Don't panic. Find the ones labeled 2015-2022. Right-click it. Select Change, and then click Repair. This forces Windows to verify every single .dll file against a clean manifest. It’s faster than a download and fixes about 60% of launch crashes instantly.
If that fails, you need a clean slate.
- Download the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable latest supported downloads from the Microsoft site.
- Specifically, look for
vc_redist.x64.exe. - Run the installer as an Administrator. This is huge. If you don't run as admin, Windows might "pretend" to install the files while actually being blocked by system permissions.
DirectX and the Secret Link
Here is something most people miss: Visual C++ errors can sometimes be a masked DirectX issue. Marvel Rivals uses DirectX 12. If your DX12 shaders are corrupted, it can cause the C++ runtime to hang because it’s waiting for a response from the GPU that never comes.
Go to your Windows search bar. Type "Disk Cleanup." Select your C: drive. Check the box for DirectX Shader Cache. Hit OK. This clears out the old "junk" instructions. The next time you launch the game, it will rebuild these files. It might stutter for the first thirty seconds of a match, but the Runtime errors often vanish after this purge.
When the Error Happens Mid-Game
It’s one thing if the game won’t start. It’s another if you’re playing Iron Man, about to drop a Uni-Beam, and the game vanishes. Mid-game Marvel Rivals Microsoft Visual C crashes are usually related to "Memory Leakage" or "TDR" (Timeout Detection and Recovery).
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Basically, the game asks the C++ library to allocate more RAM than you have available, or your GPU takes too long to process a frame, and Windows kills the process to "save" your computer.
- Check your Page File: If you’ve manually set your Windows Virtual Memory to a small size, Marvel Rivals will choke. Let Windows manage it.
- Overlay Interference: Discord, RivaTuner, and Steam Overlays use their own "hooks" into the C++ runtime. Disable them one by one. I know, having no Discord overlay sucks, but it’s a small price to pay for a stable framerate.
- Underclocking: If you’ve pushed your GPU overclock too hard, the C++ runtime will be the first thing to throw an error when the hardware hiccups. Dial it back by 50MHz.
Nuance: The Steam vs. Epic Games Variable
If you are playing on Steam, use the "Verify Integrity of Game Files" tool. It doesn't just check the game's art assets; it checks the "Redist" folder inside the game directory. Steam often hides a secondary installer for Visual C++ inside the game’s local files.
Navigate to: SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\MarvelRivals\_CommonRedist\vcredist.
Run the executables found there. These are the specific versions the developers at NetEase used during their build process. Sometimes these are slightly different from the general public releases on the Microsoft website.
What to do if nothing is working
Rarely, the issue isn't the software. It's the "Visual" part of the C++—specifically how it interacts with your display driver.
- Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to completely wipe your Nvidia or AMD drivers.
- Restart in Safe Mode.
- Reinstall the latest Game Ready drivers.
- Reinstall the Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable.
This "nuclear option" ensures that there are no leftover registry keys pointing to files that no longer exist. It's a pain. It takes twenty minutes. But it works when everything else fails.
Actionable Next Steps for a Stable Game
Stop searching for "magic" fix-it tools or downloading random .dll files from the internet. Never, ever download a single .dll from a third-party site. Those are often outdated or, worse, packed with malware.
Follow this exact sequence right now:
- Repair existing installations: Use the Control Panel "Change/Repair" method on all 2015-2022 Redistributables.
- Update Windows: Microsoft occasionally pushes "Cumulative Updates" that specifically address C++ compatibility bugs.
- Run as Admin: Right-click the Marvel Rivals executable (not just the shortcut) and check "Run this program as an administrator" in the Compatibility tab.
- Clear Shader Cache: Use the Disk Cleanup tool to wipe your DirectX Shader Cache to prevent runtime hangups.
If you do these four things, you’ll eliminate 95% of the potential causes for the Marvel Rivals Microsoft Visual C errors. Get back into the game and start ranking up—those Celestial rewards won't earn themselves.