If you are playing Europa Universalis V on a high-end graphics card but still seeing lag, you are not alone. Grand strategy games often struggle with performance even on powerful hardware. This guide explains how to run the game using Vulkan through a tool called VKD3D. This method can significantly reduce stuttering when moving across the map and improve overall game stability.
Europa Universalis V: How to Stop Map Stuttering with the Vulkan VKD3D Fix
Why Use Vulkan for Europa Universalis V?
Many players find that the native DirectX 12 (DX12) version of the game does not perform well on certain Windows systems. This often leads to:
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Lag when moving the camera between many different locations.
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Lower frame rates than expected on high-end GPUs.
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General stuttering during play.
By using VKD3D and DXVK, you can translate the game’s DirectX 12 instructions into Vulkan. Even on Windows 10 and 11, this translation often runs much smoother than the standard setup.
Prerequisites: What You Need to Download
To start, you will need to download the latest versions of two specific tools from GitHub.
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VKD3D-Proton: This handles the DirectX 12 to Vulkan translation.
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Download the latest release from the VKD3D GitHub page.
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DXVK: This helps manage the display interface.
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Download the latest release from the DXVK GitHub page.
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Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Follow these steps carefully to place the files in the correct folder.
1. Locate Your Game Folder
First, find where Europa Universalis V is installed on your computer. The default path for Steam users is usually: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Europa Universalis V\binaries
2. Copy the VKD3D Files
Open the VKD3D download. Look for the following two files and copy them into the binaries folder mentioned above:
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d3d12.dll
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d3d12core.dll
3. Copy the DXVK File
Open the DXVK download. Find the following file and copy it into the same binaries folder:
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dxgi.dll
4. Create the Configuration File
Now you need to create a small settings file to ensure your graphics card is recognized correctly.
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In the binaries folder, right-click and create a new Text Document.
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Rename the file to dxvk.conf (make sure the file extension is .conf and not .txt).
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Open the file with Notepad and paste this exact line on the first line:
dxgi.customVendorId=ffff -
Save the file.
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Right-click the dxvk.conf file, select Properties, check the box for Read-only, and click OK.
What to Expect After the Fix
This workaround is designed to fix map lag and visual stutters. Here are a few important notes on performance:
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Map Movement: You should notice much smoother movement when jumping between distant provinces or scrolling across the globe.
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Tickrate: This fix will not change the fundamental “tickrate” (how fast the game days pass), but it can help the game feel more responsive while the simulation is running.
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GPU Usage: Your high-end GPU should now be utilized more efficiently.
Disclaimer and Troubleshooting
This is a community-developed workaround, not an official patch from the developers. Results may vary depending on your specific hardware and Windows version.
If the game does not launch or performs worse, simply delete the three DLL files and the .conf file you added to the binaries folder to return to the default settings.
Last Updated on January 12, 2026
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