Initialize() crashed on RTX 5090 (Blackwell) + Windows 11 25H2

[Milofax]

Description

EngineFixes.dll crashes during initialization when using an NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPU with Windows 11 25H2. The game never reaches the main menu.

System Configuration

• OS: Windows 11 25H2
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (Blackwell architecture)
• GPU Driver: 32.0.15.9159
• Motherboard: ASUSTeK ProArt X870E-CREATOR WIFI
• Game: Skyrim SE Anniversary Edition (fresh install, vanilla runs fine)
• Mod Manager: Mod Organizer 2 v2.5.2
• Modlist: LoreRim (Wabbajack)

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Skyrim SE Anniversary Edition (clean install)
2. Install LoreRim modlist via Wabbajack
3. Launch game through MO2 with SKSE

Expected Behavior

Game launches to main menu.

Actual Behavior

Game window flashes briefly and closes immediately. No crash log is generated.

Log Output (d3dx9_42.log)

skse64 plugin preloader - d3dx9_42
exe path: C:\Modding\LoreRIm - Skyrim\Stock Game\SkyrimSE.exe
loaded into SkyrimSE.exe or SkyrimVR.exe, proxying SkyrimSE d3dx9_42 funcs and registering preload hook
success
hook triggered, loading dll plugins (meh's loader)
failed to search dll plugin directory
DLLPlugin loader finished
hook triggered, loading skse plugins
found plugin "_SplashScreen" for preloading
found plugin "EngineFixes" for preloading
found plugin "SKSEMenuFramework" for preloading
attempting to load found plugins
attempting to load "C:\Modding\LoreRIm - Skyrim\Stock Game\Data\SKSE\Plugins\_SplashScreen.dll"
Initialize() crashed, contact the plugin author
attempting to load "C:\Modding\LoreRIm - Skyrim\Stock Game\Data\SKSE\Plugins\EngineFixes.dll"
Initialize() crashed, contact the plugin author
attempting to load "C:\Modding\LoreRIm - Skyrim\Stock Game\Data\SKSE\Plugins\SKSEMenuFramework.dll"
loaded successfully
loader finished

Troubleshooting Already Attempted

• Fresh reinstall of Skyrim SE, GPU drivers (clean install), motherboard/chipset drivers
• Added antivirus exclusions for entire modlist folder
• Running MO2 as administrator
• Disabling ENB (ENBSeries Binaries)
• Vanilla Skyrim SE runs without issues

Additional Context

• The RTX 5090 uses NVIDIA's new Blackwell architecture (released January 2025)
• _SplashScreen.dll also crashes with the same error, suggesting a shared low-level compatibility issue
• SKSEMenuFramework.dll loads successfully, indicating not all SKSE plugins are affected

Possible Cause

This may be related to how EngineFixes interacts with the new Blackwell GPU architecture or changes in Windows 11 25H2.