"Could not initialize graphics system. Make sure that your video card and driver are compatible with DirectDraw."

Have tried launching direct exe, as admin, etc. Nothing.

I see other people are having the problem.

What's the issue. Are we getting a fix or did I just blow money?

Try this - right click the game shortcut and click properties. Click on the compatibility tab and select the following:

- Run this program in compatibilty mode - Pick Windows XP Service Pack 2 (!!NOT 3!!)
- Disable Visual Themes
- Disable Desktop Composition
- Run this program as an Administrator

I also had this happen to me when I started the game for the first time, but when I restarted my PC I didn't get any errors and the game just started.

Hope it works for you too.

Same here, although I was able to replicate what another user said: rebooted, and before anything else runs, it seemed to be ok.

GeForce GTX 680 installed.... someone else had a 670, wondering how relevant this is.

Could be an issue with GeForce Experience. Try deactivating or better uninstalling it if you have the tool running.

Well, here's something: it crashes, too.

And I got it to run after rebooting, and I could even alt-tab out and back in again, but after winning that particular single-player game, I enver got to the score screen and it all crashed.

Same problem on my PC. I'm using two GTX970 SLI and all I get is the starting fmv and the directdraw error.

Feeling you my brothers--I've tried everything from d/l the widescreen fix to the Win7 color fix. No love. Someone has to have figured this out...Please help :)!

Contact Support.

Still not working, ive been trying all your tips here. What can i do? -_-

Anyone solved this still cant play star wars battlegrounds

I'm having trouble with this. I haven't seen a solution yet. Anyone able to help?
Running Windows 10 with Intel HD Graphics 3000

I finally managed to run this game under Windows 10 with the help of DgVoodoo 2.

Download it here (the latest version in the time of writin is 2.54):
http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2.html

Just place dgVoodooCpl.exe and the 3 .dll files from the MS folder into the game directory of SW: Battlegrounds (default installation location is C:\GOG Games\Star Wars - Galactic Battlegrounds\Game).

Now try to run the game. The Ddraw.dll error should gone.

I was getting a "Could not initialize graphics system. Make sure that your video card and driver are compatible with DirectDraw" error when trying to run in my "win11" brand new laptop. I searched help files, and tried to make compatibility changes as directed. I did but nothing worked. Until today, a simple solution worked like a charm. If you have similar error: Go to "Graphic Settings" > "Custom options for apps" and add "StarWars Galactic Battlegrouns Clone Campaigns" (battlegrounds_x1.exe file under "Game" folder) and finally from the "options" select "Power saving". With this solution laptop uses Intel graphics card deactivating other "High performance" game card. That worked well for me. Hope this fix helps for others. Cheers.