Game fails to load, "Failed to initialize the physics system."

[heymanitstheking]

does not work there is no physx thingy.

[holger1405]

Uninstall, Reboot, then only Install the Physics software again. (Nvida Driver installation, Advance Options)

[kenc1101]

Over 3 years and I found your post. It fixed the issue. Thanks.

[DazK1805]

I have tried everything suggested and nothing works when trying to play the game first time after install. I have over 400hrs of playing this game and played it as recently as middle of 2016 and never had a problem so what has changed in Origin?

[holger1405]

@DazK1805

What exactly did you try?

Did you restarted your PC?

[DazK1805]

All of the suggestions in this thread and others. I have now uninstalled Origin twice, ME3 has been uninstalled and reinstalled 4 times and I have run repair after each time.

I have installed the legacy PhysX driver as well as the making sure the current one is up to date.

I have cleaned out all folders with any reference to ME3

I am now installing it from the disc to see how that goes. If I have saved games etc installed on another drive will that cause a problem?

[holger1405]

@DazK1805

And you get the exact same error message? "Failed to initialize the physics system." 

Did you tried to repair PhysX under "Programs and features" in the Windows Control panel? 

With "legacy PhysX" you mean the PhysX version that came with the game?

[DazK1805]

Just to be clear. I have played 400+ hrs of ME3 using Origin. I played it as recently as the middle of last year but had uninstalled it to free up disc space.

Before I tried to install it via Origin I made sure my drive was clean of any ME3 stuff. I loaded the game tried to play and got the error. I then tried repairing it, then uninstalled emptied the waste basket and rebooted. I then uninstalled Origin and followed the same process.

Then reinstalled Origin, downloaded ME3 and ran repair before trying to launch the game. Tried to launch same error.

Then found this thread and tried all options and every time did a clean install of Origin and ME3 and run the repair after each time, still get the error.

[DazK1805]

It does not give an option to repair the current version only uninstall.

I repaired the legacy version (which you can get from the Nvidia site) that was suggested but it had no effect.

[holger1405]

@DazK1805

Ok, first, forget Origin, this is not a problem with Origin.

- Go to your ">drive<:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Mass Effect 3\__Installer\physx\redist" folder and run (not repair) the "PhysX-9.11.1107-SystemSoftware.msi" > restart > test.

- If that don't works, download the NVIDIA PhysX software from here.

- deinstall the NVIDIA PhysX software from the Windows control panel > restart > install the downloaded NVIDIA PhysX software > restart > test.