Sometimes, Windows Defender or third-party antivirus software incorrectly flags a game file (often steam_api64.dll or similar) as a threat and quarantines it.

The error 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

Here are the most effective solutions, ordered from simplest to most advanced. 1. Check Windows Defender / Antivirus History

This comprehensive guide details the top, field-tested troubleshooting steps required to bypass this error and get your game running smoothly again. 1. Check Antivirus Quarantine and Protection History

Download and run the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer . 1.2.4

By far, the most frequent culprit behind this error is or third-party antivirus software flags. Antivirus suites often mistake specific third-party client modification files (such as community patches or crack files like SLF64.dll or custom steam_api64.dll variations) as malicious threats, automatically deleting or locking them.

Start with the easiest, least invasive solutions and work your way down the list.

This error in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 ("The additional DLL could not be loaded") usually appears when launching the game via Steam, especially on Windows 10 or 11. Here are the most common causes and fixes:

Permissions issues can sometimes prevent the game from loading specific DLLs into memory.

are known to cause crashes or DLL errors in BO3; try uninstalling it to test.

If files are missing or corrupted, Steam can automatically redownload them. Open Steam and go to your .

A failure to load "additional" system-level components can indicate corrupted runtime structures across your entire operating system.

Because the error mentions "(Top)," it may be failing to read your graphics configuration.