Forza 5 not loading Reshade

I am running steam version v1.634.818.0 of Forza 5 and am attempting to use Reshade v6.0.1 for visual enhancement.The game does not load after installing Reshade and I've narrowed down the problem to dxgi.dll.I've tried doing everything below:

1. The game does start after renaming it to d3d11.dll or dinput8.dll but it doesn't load Reshade. Interestingly, the game doesn't load if I rename it to d3d12.dll.
2.  I've tried replacing dxgi.dll with downloadable versions online and while that does load the game, it doesn't load Reshade and the game loads for only a few seconds before crashing.
3.  I've tried placing all the Reshade files into the reshade-shaders folder but while that loads the game, it doesn't load Reshade.
4.  I've tried using older versions of Reshade all the way back to v3.2.0.
5.  I've tried using both add-on and multiplayer versions of Reshade.
6.  I've tried renaming the Reshade.ini file to dxgi.ini.
7.  I removed the steam GameOverlay.dll in case it blocked Reshade.
8. I've tried rolling back my GPU drivers.
9.  I've even reset my pc while keeping my personal files but that hasn't fixed the problem either.

The dxgi file and all other Reshade files are located where the game executable file is.Ultimately, I believe the problem lies in how Forza loads dxgi.dll because I'm using Reshade on MCC and can confirm that it's working there with dxgi.dll. Another interesting bit is that I used to be able to run Reshade on Forza v1.484 and am only facing this issue with newer versions since v1.619. I would really appreciate it if someone could help me get to the bottom of this and fixing it. I've tried Reshade's forums and Reddit too but I've not gotten any real help so far.My GPU is an RTX 3060 Notebook version running NVIDIA Gameready driver version 551.23. My Direct X version is 12 as per dxdiag (RTX GPU runs DX12 Ultimate, but my Intel GPU does not).

This is the log from Reshade v6.0.1 with addons:=12px16:59:34:536 [20000] | INFO  | Initializing crosire's ReShade version '6.0.1.1825' (64-bit) loaded from "\Forza Horizon 5\dxgi.dll" into "\Forza Horizon 5\ForzaHorizon5.exe" (0x3c98315f) ...
16:59:34:538 [20000] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "user32.dll" ...
16:59:34:538 [20000] | INFO  | > Libraries loaded.
16:59:34:538 [20000] | INFO  | > Found 14 match(es). Installing ...
16:59:34:557 [20000] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\dinput.dll" ...
16:59:34:558 [20000] | INFO  | > Delayed.
16:59:34:558 [20000] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d2d1.dll" ...
16:59:34:558 [20000] | INFO  | > Delayed.
16:59:34:559 [20000] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll" ...
16:59:34:559 [20000] | INFO  | > Delayed.
16:59:34:559 [20000] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d10.dll" ...
16:59:34:559 [20000] | INFO  | > Delayed.
16:59:34:560 [20000] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d10_1.dll" ...
16:59:34:560 [20000] | INFO  | > Delayed.
16:59:34:560 [20000] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d11.dll" ...
16:59:34:560 [20000] | INFO  | > Delayed.
16:59:34:561 [20000] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d12.dll" ...
16:59:34:561 [20000] | INFO  | > Libraries loaded.
16:59:34:561 [20000] | INFO  | > Found 8 match(es). Installing ...
16:59:34:581 [20000] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\dxgi.dll" ...
16:59:34:581 [20000] | INFO  | > Delayed until first call to an exported function.
16:59:34:581 [20000] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "vrclient_x64.dll" ...
16:59:34:582 [20000] | INFO  | > Delayed.
16:59:34:582 [20000] | INFO  | Initialized.
16:59:38:130 [20000] | INFO  | Exiting ...
16:59:38:130 [20000] | INFO  | Uninstalling 22 hook(s) ...
16:59:39:166 [20000] | INFO  | Finished exiting. 

Below is the log from d3d11.d11:
17:52:43:148 [04060] | INFO  | Initializing crosire's ReShade version '6.0.1.1825' (64-bit) loaded from "\Forza Horizon 5\d3d11.dll" into "\Forza Horizon 5\ForzaHorizon5.exe" (0x3c98315f) ...
17:52:43:177 [04060] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "user32.dll" ...
17:52:43:177 [04060] | INFO  | > Libraries loaded.
17:52:43:178 [04060] | INFO  | > Found 14 match(es). Installing ...
17:52:43:205 [04060] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\dinput.dll" ...
17:52:43:205 [04060] | INFO  | > Delayed.
17:52:43:205 [04060] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d2d1.dll" ...
17:52:43:206 [04060] | INFO  | > Delayed.
17:52:43:206 [04060] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll" ...
17:52:43:206 [04060] | INFO  | > Delayed.
17:52:43:206 [04060] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d10.dll" ...
17:52:43:206 [04060] | INFO  | > Delayed.
17:52:43:206 [04060] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d10_1.dll" ...
17:52:43:207 [04060] | INFO  | > Delayed.
17:52:43:207 [04060] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d11.dll" ...
17:52:43:207 [04060] | INFO  | > Delayed until first call to an exported function.
17:52:43:207 [04060] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d12.dll" ...
17:52:43:207 [04060] | INFO  | > Libraries loaded.
17:52:43:207 [04060] | INFO  | > Found 8 match(es). Installing ...
17:52:43:235 [04060] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\dxgi.dll" ...
17:52:43:235 [04060] | INFO  | > Libraries loaded.
17:52:43:235 [04060] | INFO  | > Found 5 match(es). Installing ...
17:52:43:263 [04060] | INFO  | Registering hooks for "vrclient_x64.dll" ...
17:52:43:263 [04060] | INFO  | > Delayed.
17:52:43:264 [04060] | INFO  | Initialized.
17:52:43:274 [06512] | WARN  | Ignoring LoadLibrary("api-ms-win-appmodel-runtime-l1-1-2") call to avoid possible deadlock.
17:52:43:274 [21584] | WARN  | Ignoring LoadLibrary("api-ms-win-appmodel-runtime-l1-1-2") call to avoid possible deadlock.
17:52:43:274 [21716] | WARN  | Ignoring LoadLibrary("api-ms-win-appmodel-runtime-l1-1-2") call to avoid possible deadlock.
17:52:43:324 [04060] | INFO  | Redirecting CreateDXGIFactory1(riid = {770AAE78-F26F-4DBA-A829-253C83D1B387}, ppFactory = 000000188D7FBC98) ...
17:52:43:325 [04060] | INFO  | Redirecting D3D11CreateDevice(pAdapter = 0000020195BABAE0, DriverType = 0, Software = 0000000000000000, Flags = 0, pFeatureLevels = 000000188D7FBE10, FeatureLevels = 4, SDKVersion = 7, ppDevice = 00000201947BD668, pFeatureLevel = 00000201947BDC0C, ppImmediateContext = 00000201947BD670) ...
17:52:43:325 [04060] | INFO  | > Passing on to D3D11CreateDeviceAndSwapChain:
17:52:43:325 [04060] | INFO  | Redirecting D3D11CreateDeviceAndSwapChain(pAdapter = 0000020195BABAE0, DriverType = 0, Software = 0000000000000000, Flags = 0, pFeatureLevels = 000000188D7FBE10, FeatureLevels = 4, SDKVersion = 7, pSwapChainDesc = 0000000000000000, ppSwapChain = 0000000000000000, ppDevice = 00000201947BD668, pFeatureLevel = 00000201947BDC0C, ppImmediateContext = 00000201947BD670) ...
17:52:43:328 [04060] | INFO  | Installing export hooks for "C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d11.dll" ...
17:52:43:328 [04060] | INFO  | > Found 3 match(es). Installing ...
17:52:43:349 [04060] | INFO  | Using feature level 0xb100.
17:52:43:350 [04060] | INFO  | Searching for add-ons (*.addon, *.addon64) in "\Forza Horizon 5" ...
17:52:44:115 [04060] | INFO  | Redirecting CreateDXGIFactory1(riid = {7B7166EC-21C7-44AE-B21A-C9AE321AE369}, ppFactory = 000000188D7FCC10) ...
17:52:44:154 [04060] | WARN  | Ignoring LoadLibrary("gdi32.dll") call to avoid possible deadlock.
17:52:44:667 [04060] | INFO  | Redirecting IDXGIFactory2::CreateSwapChainForHwnd(this = 0000020180616E70, pDevice = 00000201957B9980, hWnd = 0000000000080AEC, pDesc = 000000188D7FE4D0, pFullscreenDesc = 0000000000000000, pRestrictToOutput = 0000000000000000, ppSwapChain = 000000188D7FE4A0) ...
17:52:44:667 [04060] | INFO  | > Dumping swap chain description:
17:52:44:667 [04060] | INFO  |   +

---

+

---

+
17:52:44:667 [04060] | INFO  |   | Parameter                               | Value                                   |
17:52:44:668 [04060] | INFO  |   +

---

+

---

+
17:52:44:668 [04060] | INFO  |   | Width                                   | 1600                                    |
17:52:44:668 [04060] | INFO  |   | Height                                  | 900                                     |
17:52:44:668 [04060] | INFO  |   | RefreshRate                             | 0                   0                   |
17:52:44:668 [04060] | INFO  |   | Format                                  | DXGI_FORMAT_R10G10B10A2_UNORM           |
17:52:44:668 [04060] | INFO  |   | Stereo                                  | FALSE                                   |
17:52:44:669 [04060] | INFO  |   | ScanlineOrdering                        | 0                                       |
17:52:44:669 [04060] | INFO  |   | Scaling                                 | 0                                       |
17:52:44:669 [04060] | INFO  |   | SampleCount                             | 1                                       |
17:52:44:669 [04060] | INFO  |   | SampleQuality                           | 0                                       |
17:52:44:669 [04060] | INFO  |   | BufferUsage                             | 0x20                                    |
17:52:44:669 [04060] | INFO  |   | BufferCount                             | 2                                       |
17:52:44:669 [04060] | INFO  |   | Windowed                                | TRUE                                    |
17:52:44:669 [04060] | INFO  |   | SwapEffect                              | 4                                       |
17:52:44:669 [04060] | INFO  |   | AlphaMode                               | 3                                       |
17:52:44:670 [04060] | INFO  |   | Flags                                   | 0x800                                   |
17:52:44:670 [04060] | INFO  |   +

---

+

---

+
17:52:44:730 [04060] | WARN  | Skipping swap chain because it was created without a proxy Direct3D device.
17:52:45:311 [21680] | INFO  | Redirecting RegisterClassExW(lpWndClassEx = 00000018933DF120 { "WoodstockWebView2ServiceWindowClass", style = 0x3 }) ...
17:52:45:311 [21680] | INFO  | > Adding 'CS_OWNDC' window class style flag to "WoodstockWebView2ServiceWindowClass".
17:52:45:314 [21680] | WARN  | Ignoring LoadLibrary("SHELL32.dll") call to avoid possible deadlock.
17:52:45:315 [21680] | WARN  | Ignoring LoadLibrary("shell32.dll") call to avoid possible deadlock.
17:52:45:316 [21680] | WARN  | Ignoring LoadLibrary("GDI32.dll") call to avoid possible deadlock.
17:52:45:323 [08876] | INFO  | Redirecting RegisterClassExW(lpWndClassEx = 00000018937DFB10 { "WCTM_LIBAPI", style = 0x3 }) ...
17:52:45:323 [08876] | INFO  | > Adding 'CS_OWNDC' window class style flag to "WCTM_LIBAPI".

 

I've found a fix for my problem and have a guess as to what might be causing Reshade to not load on my games.

I've changed computers and am able to confirm that despite the change, there was no effect with my issue. I tried to run it with Horizon Forbidden West as well but it didn't work. So, instead I decided to try something else -  I disabled all of NVIDIA's extra features that they've added into games, i.e., DLSS, Low Latency, Frame Generation and Reflex. After doing this, I booted up Horizon Forbidden West (I didn't have Forza installed at the time) and the game didn't crash on startup and for the first time, Reshade actually worked! The interesting bit though is that you can re-enable all those extra NVIDIA features once you're in-game (at least with Horizon Forbidden West) and the game doesn't crash.

I'm guessing somehow NVIDIA's extra features interferes with how Reshade would normally load and that's causing the games to crash on startup.That said, I'm by no means an expert and I'm only making observations based on what I've seen.

I'm now able to enjoy Reshade once more and hopefully, if anyone else has this problem, this solution can help you as well!

Okay so I've finally cracked it! It's certainly been a while but I can confirm that I've got Reshade to work in Forza 5 v685.421 Steam.

I've had a sneaking suspicion when trying to figure out the issue, but it seems post-v484, Forza 5 adds a pretty strict anti-cheat into the game. This is what prevents the game from even starting because EAC (Easy Anti-Cheat) detects ReShade's dxgi.dll and doesn't allow Forza 5 to load using it. It's funny because the real cheats still work and only Reshade and *CheatEngine prevent the game from running. *You can't have CheatEngine at all when you start or play the game as that causes the anti-cheat to immediately shutdown the game.

My workaround was using an injector called Special K. It did take a little to figure out but once I did it was fairly simple to setup. I'll list all the steps below cleanly:

1. Download the latest version of ReShade . It doesn't matter if it's the add-on support version or the basic one. Do not install yet.
2. Download Special K from its GitHub page and install it onto your PC.
3. Once done, navigate to the library tab and let it add your game by automatically detecting it OR manually add the game exe yourself by using the 'add game' button on the bottom left of the application window.
4. Download and install 7zip or WinRAR if you haven't already.
5. These next few steps may sound tricky but it's super simple. You're gonna do three things. First, right click on the ReShade installer and open with 7zip or WinRAR.
6. Then you're gonna navigate to the installation folder of Special K and follow this file path: \Special K\Plugins\ThirdParty\Reshade
7. Once there, extract ONLY the ReShade32.dll and ReShade64.dll into that folder (basically click and drag the files from the WinRAR window into the ReShade folder mentioned above)
8. Now you're gonna go back to your ReShade installer and run it normally. Install it to Forza 5 with your preferred options of shaders/texture/effects selected. Once done, delete all the .ini and .dll files created.
9. Next, open the reshade-shaders in the directory you installed ReShade in. You should see 'Shaders' and 'Textures' folders. You're gonna select these, cut and then paste them into the following path in Special K's installation directory: \Special K\Global\ReShade
10. If this path does not exist (that is to say, the folder 'Global', doesn't exist) then create a 'Global' folder and a 'ReShade' folder within. Paste the 'Shaders' and 'Textures' folders into the ReShade folder.
11. Once done, delete the now empty reshade-shaders folder.
12. Afterwards, start or open Special K and navigate to the library. Select Forza 5 and click 'play'. It should run the game normally and you'll get an overlay from Special K. If so, congrats, you're one step away from loading ReShade.
13. You may notice a message saying that Special K advises running Forza 5 locally (or something similar) after clicking 'Play'; that's fine, just select 'local' (or a similar option) and run the game that way.
14. Press CTRL+Shift+Backspace to bring up the Special K Menu. Scroll down to plugins and click on it. You should see ReShade listed under there, with a load now button as well. Click it and et voilà! Reshade is now loaded. You should see the familiar overlay pop on.
15. Now just hit CTRL+Shift+Backspace again to close the Special K Menu and you can use the 'Home' key to trigger ReShade's Menu. Now you can set it up however you like.

Steps 12-15 will have to be repeated to ensure ReShade is loaded everytime you start the game.

Here's more documentation if you want to read more.

It's been a long time coming and I'm glad to be able to play again, hopefully, I've helped you play Forza again too!