If you are reading this, you have likely just experienced one of the most frustrating moments in PC gaming history.
Arkham City has a famously unstable DirectX 11 implementation that triggers memory allocation errors. Switching to DirectX 9 resolves the majority of QA build crashes. Launch the Batman: Arkham City Launcher. Open the menu. Locate the DirectX 11 settings. Turn off DX11 features or switch the mode to DirectX 9 . Lower Geometry Detail and Dynamic Shadows to Medium. Update or Reinstall PhysX Legacy Drivers
Even though this error has frustrated players for over a decade, the message itself is a clue. It simply refers to a "Quality Assurance Approved" version of the game that exists in the program's code. The lines that say "(filename not found)" are not typically the cause of the crash. Instead, they usually indicate that the game's retail version lacks the debugging symbols needed to identify the exact source of the crash.
Steam\steamapps\common\Batman Arkham City GOTY\Binaries\Win32 ). Right-click both BatmanAC.exe BmLauncher.exe Properties Compatibility , and check "Run this program as an administrator" Verify Game Files Steam Library , right-click the game > Properties Installed Files Verify integrity of game files Advanced Troubleshooting Disable PhysX : Open the game's launcher, go to , and turn . If this works, you may need to install the NVIDIA PhysX Legacy Driver for modern hardware compatibility. Windows Exploit Protection : Users on Windows 10/11 have found success by turning off Exploit protection for the game executable. Search "Exploit protection" in the Windows taskbar. Program settings Add program to customize Choose exact file path BatmanAC.exe Override and
A dialogue box pops up. It reads:
, and override/turn off all system settings for that specific executable. Are you experiencing this error at loading a specific save file
Switch from System Settings over to the tab.
The message is a generic crash notification in Batman: Arkham City
If you meant something else, clarify (for example: a QA report template, a postmortem outline for a game QA process, or a research paper on Batman: Arkham City’s development). I can provide those. If you are reading this, you have likely
Fatal error! QA_APPROVED_BUILD_JANUARY_2011 424000 (Wwise) Address = 0x467b9b (filename not found)
The error reads:
Click the button and select Choose exact file path .
But the Dark Knight does not give up, and neither should you. By forcing DX9, disabling PhysX, or granting a DEP exception, you can force that stubborn "QA Approved" build to finally approve of your modern gaming rig. Launch the Batman: Arkham City Launcher
: Disable any overlays (e.g., from Steam, NVIDIA, or Discord) as they can sometimes interfere with the game.
Alternative Method via Registry: If your launcher crashes, press Win + R , type regedit , and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WB Games\Batman Arkham City . Find DisabledX11 and set its value to 1 . 2. Verify Integrity of Game Files
This comprehensive troubleshooting guide details why this error occurs on modern hardware and outlines the exact step-by-step solutions to fix it. Why Does the QA Approved Build Error Happen?