There’s nothing quite as frustrating as booting up a game you love, only to find that something isn’t working right. I remember the first time I launched Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire after a long day, excited to immerse myself in the rich storytelling and atmospheric soundtrack—only to be met with complete silence. No music, no voice acting, nothing. If you’ve experienced this, you’re not alone. Many players have reported the Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire no sound issue, and thankfully, there are multiple solutions to get your audio working again.

Why Does the No Sound Issue Occur in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire?

Before we jump into the fixes, let’s understand why this problem happens in the first place. The Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire no sound issue can be caused by several factors:

• Audio Driver Problems: Outdated or corrupted drivers can lead to missing or distorted audio.
• Game Settings: Sometimes, audio settings within the game can get misconfigured.
• Software Conflicts: Other applications running in the background may interfere with the game’s sound output.
• Hardware Issues: A faulty sound card, disconnected speakers, or improperly configured headphones could be the culprit.
• Corrupt Game Files: Damaged or missing files might lead to in-game audio problems.

Now, let’s go through the solutions to fix the Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire no sound issue and get you back into the game with full audio.

Step-by-Step Fixes for the Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire No Sound Issue

1. Check the In-Game Audio Settings

Before diving into technical solutions, ensure the game’s audio settings are correctly configured:

• Launch Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.
• Go to Options > Audio.
• Ensure that the Master Volume, Music Volume, Sound Effects Volume, and Voice Volume sliders are turned up.
• Make sure the Mute Audio option is not enabled.
• Save the settings and restart the game to check if the issue persists.

2. Verify Your Sound Output Device

Your system might be outputting sound to the wrong device. To check:

• Right-click the Speaker icon in the Windows taskbar.
• Select Open Sound settings.
• Under Output, ensure the correct audio device (speakers, headphones, etc.) is selected.
• Try switching between devices if the game still has no sound.

If you’re using an external sound card, ensure it’s properly connected and enabled

3. Update Your Audio Drivers

Many Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire no sound issue cases stem from outdated drivers. Here’s how to update them:

Update via Device Manager:

1. Right-click the Start Menu, then select Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
3. Right-click your audio device (e.g., Realtek, NVIDIA High Definition Audio) and select Update driver.
4. Click Search automatically for updated driver software.
5. Restart your PC and check if the game’s sound is restored.

Update via Manufacturer’s Website:

Visit your sound card manufacturer’s website (Realtek, Creative, etc.) and download the latest driver version manually.

4. Disable Background Applications

Certain background applications can interfere with in-game audio. Close unnecessary apps by following these steps:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Look for applications that use audio (e.g., Discord, Skype, OBS, sound mixing software).
• Select them and click End Task.
• Restart the game to see if sound returns.

Additionally, check if any system-wide sound enhancements are enabled, as they might conflict with the game’s audio processing.

• Go to Control Panel > Sound > Playback Devices.
• Right-click your active audio device and select Properties.
• Under the Enhancements tab, check if any enhancements are enabled. Disable them and test the game again.

Another common issue arises if multiple audio devices are enabled. To prevent conflicts:

• Open Device Manager.
• Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
• Right-click on unused or unnecessary audio devices and select Disable.
• Restart the game and check if the sound works.

5. Verify Game Files on Steam

Corrupted or missing game files can cause various issues, including the Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire no sound issue. To fix this:

1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
2. Right-click on Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire and select Properties.
3. Go to the Local Files tab.
4. Click Verify Integrity of Game Files.
5. Steam will check and replace any missing or corrupted files.
6. Once done, relaunch the game.

6. Reinstall the Game

If none of the above methods work, a clean reinstall might be the best option.

1. Uninstall Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire through Steam or your preferred game launcher.
2. Restart your PC to clear any remaining game files.
3. Reinstall the game and check if the audio works.

7. Adjust System-Wide Audio Settings

If the issue persists, checking your system-wide settings might help:

• Check Volume Mixer: Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar, select Open Volume Mixer, and ensure the game isn’t muted.
• Disable Exclusive Mode:
  1. Go to Sound Settings > Device Properties > Additional Device Properties.
  2. Under the Advanced tab, uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.
  3. Click Apply and OK.
• Restart Windows Audio Service:
  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
  2. Find Windows Audio, right-click, and select Restart.

Easy Fix

There’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy an immersive RPG like Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire and dealing with audio problems. The Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire no sound issue can usually be resolved by checking in-game settings, updating drivers, verifying game files, and adjusting system-wide audio configurations. Hopefully, one of these solutions helps you restore sound so you can get back to enjoying the game’s epic storytelling and atmospheric soundtrack.

If you’ve tried everything and still have issues, reaching out to Obsidian Entertainment’s support team or visiting community forums may help.

Let us know which solution worked for you, and happy adventuring in the world of Deadfire!