Prove the failure in the finished output first.
Use a representative motion cue and create a short local recording. Confirm whether the finished file—not only the preview—contains sustained black frames during that cue.
What it may mean
The wrong capture method, hidden scene item, GPU selection, protected content, transform, or scene/output mismatch may be involved.
What it does not prove
A black frame is not always a capture failure; intentional black scenes, loading screens and hidden windows can be legitimate.
Match the evidence before changing settings
The game, graphics API, capture permissions or capture method may be specific to that title.
NEXT TESTUse the OBS-supported capture method for that game and compare one short recording.
Some fullscreen games stop rendering while minimized.
NEXT TESTRecord while the game remains active or test borderless/windowed mode.
A transform problem can look like a capture failure.
NEXT TESTRecord the current transform, then use Reset Transform and Fit to Screen for one test.
One conservative free test
Toggle visibility on the intended source, verify the current scene, and test the appropriate capture method one at a time. Repeat the same short motion recording after each change.
Run the free scene preflight →Preserve the rollback
Duplicate the scene or record the original source type, transform and visibility before changing capture methods.
Technical reference: OBS Project: Game Capture Troubleshooting ↗
Common questions
01Why is OBS Game Capture black?+
Common categories include a game-specific capture restriction, a conflicting overlay, a multi-GPU mismatch, fullscreen behavior or a source transform problem.
02Should I switch directly to Display Capture?+
Use it as a controlled test, not an automatic permanent fix. Display Capture can expose unrelated windows and private information.
Did the relevant counters improve?
For dropped frames, encoding lag or rendering lag, compare a completed log from before and after your change. For audio and black-screen problems, inspect the recording itself; counters cannot establish picture or sound quality.
Compare logs free →