A corrupted DirectX shader cache is a prime suspect when CONTROL Resonant starts stuttering, crashing to desktop, or throwing the dreaded “Out of Video Memory” error. The cache is supposed to speed things up—pre-compiled shaders so your GPU does not have to work from scratch every time. But when a driver update or a game patch leaves behind stale entries, the cache works against you.
Here is exactly how to clear it for CONTROL Resonant, and—just as important—when you should actually bother.
But it eliminates the most common source of GPU-related crashes in the game.
What the DirectX Shader Cache Does for CONTROL Resonant
When you first launch CONTROL Resonant, the game compiles shaders. This is a heavy compute job that can take several minutes and max out your CPU. The compiled data is stored locally so subsequent loads are faster. A valid cache means smoother gameplay. An invalid one—built on old drivers or a previous patch—can cause a crash on the first ability use or the second area transition.
Clearing the cache forces a rebuild. That takes a few minutes on the next launch. But it eliminates the most common source of GPU-related crashes in the game.
When Clearing the Cache Actually Helps
Not every crash needs this fix. But three specific scenarios make it the right move.
After an Nvidia, AMD, or Intel GPU driver update. A new driver changes the compiled shader format. Using old cache files on a new driver is the fastest way to trigger a DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNGcodecodecodecodecode error. Always clear the cache after updating your graphics card driver.
After CONTROL Resonant receives a significant patch. The v1.300.300 update, for example, adjusted enemy health, falter levels, and progression curves. Game file changes can invalidate cached shaders, causing hitches and unexpected crashes.
If you are seeing an “Out of Video Memory” error despite having headroom on your card. A bloat cache can consume gigabytes of VRAM-equivalent paging space. If you have an 8 GB card and the game reports running out of memory, check the cache.
Step-by-Step: Clear the Cache Using Disk Cleanup
This is the method shown across the most reliable repair guides for CONTROL Resonant. It takes under two minutes.
- Press the Windows key, type Disk Cleanup, and launch the app.
- Select the drive where CONTROL Resonant is installed — usually your C: drive.
- Click Clean up system files. This is required to see the “DirectX Shader Cache” entry, which sits under system files.
- Scroll down the list. You will see DirectX Shader Cache. Check ONLY this box. Uncheck everything else.
- Click OK and confirm the deletion when prompted.
- Launch CONTROL Resonant. The game will recompile shaders on the splash screen. Expect a 1-to-3 minute compile time on the first launch after clearing.
Alternative Methods (When Disk Cleanup is Not Enough)
If the standard Disk Cleanup method does not resolve CONTROL Resonant’s stuttering, three other options exist. Each one offers a different tradeoff between control and effort.
| Method | Difficulty | Control Level | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disk Cleanup | Easy | Low (clears all caches on the drive) | Quick fix after a routine driver update |
| Windows Settings (Graphics) | Moderate | High (clears cache per app) | Isolating the issue without resetting other game caches |
| Manual File Deletion | Advanced | Very High (deletes files by vendor folder) | Stubborn corruption that Disk Cleanup leaves behind |
Windows Settings method: Navigate to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Default graphics settings. Under Shader cache size, choose “Clear”. This lets you keep caches for other games intact while wiping the data for CONTROL Resonant.
Manual deletion method: Go straight to the vendor cache folders. For Nvidia, navigate to %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalNVIDIADXCachecodecodecodecodecode. For AMD, go to %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalAMDDxCachecodecodecodecodecode. Delete all files inside. This is the nuclear option. It forces the driver to rebuild the entire shader set from scratch. Use it when the standard tool fails to resolve crashes.
What Happens After You Clear the Cache
When you launch CONTROL Resonant next, you will see the “Compiling Shaders” screen again. This is not a bug—it is the rebuild. Let it finish. During this first session, you may notice micro-stutters as the new cache is built. Play through a variety of environments—the oldest house corridors, the containment zones—to force a full compile. By the second session, performance should stabilize.
Clearing the cache is a reactive fix. Proactively, monitoring your shader cache size can prevent the issue from returning. A cache folder that exceeds 10 GB is a strong signal that something is broken in the pipeline. At that size, the cache creates more I/O overhead than it saves.
- What does the DirectX shader cache do for CONTROL Resonant?It stores compiled shaders to speed up subsequent loads, but an invalid cache can cause crashes.
- When should you clear the shader cache?After a GPU driver update, after a significant game patch, or when seeing 'Out of Video Memory' errors.
- How do you clear the cache using Disk Cleanup?Press Windows key, type Disk Cleanup, select the drive, click Clean up system files, check DirectX Shader Cache, and confirm deletion.
- What alternative methods exist?Windows Settings allows clearing per-app caches, and manual deletion in vendor folders is the nuclear option.
- What happens after clearing the cache?The game recompiles shaders on next launch, which may cause micro-stutters until the new cache is built.
