How to Fix Path of Exile 2 Freezing PC Issues

Path of Exile 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the popular action RPG, has unfortunately been plagued by some PC freezing issues for certain players. This guide offers solutions to help resolve these frustrating crashes, allowing you to get back to slaying monsters without the need for constant hard resets.

Troubleshooting Path of Exile 2 Freezing Issues

Some players experience complete system freezes requiring a hard reboot, particularly during loading screens or gameplay. While an official patch is awaited, several workarounds can be attempted:

1. Graphics Settings Adjustments: Experiment with the following in-game graphics settings:

   • Switch between Vulkan and DirectX 11 rendering APIs.
   • Disable V-Sync.
   • Disable Multithreading.

2. CPU Affinity Workaround (Advanced): If the above steps fail, a more involved solution, suggested by Steam user svzanghi, involves manipulating CPU affinity. This method doesn't prevent freezing entirely, but allows for a graceful game exit and restart without a full system reboot.

   • Launch Path of Exile 2.
   • Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), click "Details".
   • Right-click POE2.exe, select "Set Affinity...".
   • Uncheck CPU 0 and CPU 1.

   This process must be repeated each time you launch the game. A freeze will still occur, but you can then close the game via Task Manager, avoiding a full system restart.

For now, these methods offer the best chance of mitigating Path of Exile 2's freezing problems. Keep an eye out for official updates from Grinding Gear Games for a permanent fix. For more Path of Exile 2 guides and strategies, be sure to check out The Escapist.