The error message "The additional DLL could not be loaded" in Call of Duty: Black Ops III
is most frequently caused by antivirus software (such as Windows Defender) incorrectly identifying game files as threats and deleting or quarantining them. Most Effective Fixes Restore Quarantined Files:
Open Windows Security and navigate to Virus & threat protection.
Go to Protection history and look for files related to Black Ops III (often named SLF64.dll or similar). Select the file and choose Restore. Set Antivirus Exclusions:
To prevent the file from being deleted again, add the Black Ops III installation folder as an Exclusion in your antivirus settings. Verify Game Files (Steam):
Right-click Call of Duty: Black Ops III in your Steam Library.
Select Properties > Installed Files and click Verify integrity of game files. This will redownload any missing or corrupted DLLs. Install Media Feature Pack:
Users on "N" or "KN" versions of Windows often encounter DLL errors because they lack necessary media components. Download and install the Media Feature Pack for your specific Windows version from the Microsoft website. Additional Troubleshooting
Downpatching: A recent Steam update has been known to break certain mods (like the T7 patch). You may need to "downpatch" your game to a previous version's .exe through the Steam console using the download_Depot command.
Update Drivers & Runtimes: Ensure you have the latest Nvidia drivers or AMD drivers, and reinstall DirectX and Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables. The error message " The additional DLL could
Run as Administrator: Right-click the game’s executable file and select Run as administrator. BO3 Problem additional dll couldn't be loaded : r/blackops3
The error "The additional DLL could not be loaded" in Call of Duty: Black Ops III (BO3) typically occurs due to security software blocking game components or missing Windows media dependencies. This guide outlines the most effective solutions to resolve this issue and get your game running smoothly. 1. Check Antivirus Protection History
The most frequent cause of this specific error is Windows Defender or third-party antivirus software flagging a game file as a "false positive" and moving it to quarantine.
Restore Quarantined Files: Go to Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Protection history. Look for recently blocked items related to the BO3 folder and select Restore.
Add an Exclusion: To prevent the error from recurring, add your entire Call of Duty: Black Ops III installation folder to your antivirus exclusion list. You can typically do this in Windows Security Settings. 2. Install the Windows Media Feature Pack
If you are using a "N" or "KN" version of Windows (common in Europe), your system lacks essential media components required by the game's engine.
Visit the official Microsoft Media Feature Pack download page to install the necessary files for your specific Windows version. 3. Verify Integrity of Game Files
If a critical DLL was deleted and cannot be restored from quarantine, you must redownload it through your game launcher.
On Steam: Right-click Call of Duty: Black Ops III in your Library > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files. Right-click BlackOps3
Steam will scan your installation and automatically replace any missing or corrupted DLLs. 4. Run as Administrator and Compatibility Mode
Permissions issues can sometimes prevent the game from loading specific DLLs into memory.
Navigate to your game's installation folder (usually SteamApps\common\Call of Duty Black Ops III). Right-click BlackOps3.exe and select Properties.
Under the Compatibility tab, check Run this program as an administrator.
Optionally, try setting the compatibility mode to Windows 8. 5. Repair System Files (SFC Scan) BO3 Problem additional dll couldn't be loaded : r/blackops3
Here’s a detailed write-up on the error “The additional DLL could not be loaded” in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, along with troubleshooting steps.
BlackOps3.exe → Properties → Compatibility → Check Run this program as an administrator.Since Black Ops 3 uses Steam’s DRM and file structure, this is the primary fix for 70% of users.
Updating graphics drivers is essential to ensure that the game runs smoothly. To update graphics drivers:
Corrupt configuration files saved here can cause DLL loading failures. 5. Run as Administrator + Compatibility
How to fix:
C:\Users\[YourUserName]\Documents\Call of Duty Black Ops IIIWindows Ransomware protection often blocks Black Ops 3 from loading custom DLLs (needed for maps/scripts).
How to fix:
BlackOps3.exe as an allowed app instead of turning off the feature permanently.Missing or Corrupted Visual C++ Redistributables
Black Ops 3 relies on specific VC++ runtime libraries. If these are missing, DLL loading fails.
Antivirus or Windows Defender Interference
Security software may quarantine or block game-related DLLs (e.g., bink2w64.dll, steam_api64.dll, or custom mod DLLs).
Corrupted Game Files
Steam file validation may reveal missing or damaged DLLs.
Outdated Graphics Drivers
In rare cases, driver issues can trigger DLL loading errors due to mismatched DirectX dependencies.
Mod or Map-Specific DLLs
Custom content (especially from the Steam Workshop) sometimes includes its own DLLs that require additional permissions or dependencies.
BlackOps3.exe → Properties → Compatibility: