Windows 11 24H2 Update Causes Gaming Crashes in Path of Exile 2 and Assassin's Creed Origins

Introduction

The release of Windows 11 version 24H2 has introduced significant challenges for gamers, particularly affecting titles like Path of Exile 2 and Assassin's Creed Origins. Users have reported frequent crashes, system freezes, and performance issues, leading to a disrupted gaming experience.

Background

Windows 11 24H2 is a major update aimed at enhancing system performance and introducing new features. However, post-update, several users have encountered compatibility issues with certain games, notably those developed by Ubisoft and Grinding Gear Games.

• Assassin's Creed Origins: Players have reported crashes during startup, loading screens, and active gameplay. Some experience black screens or unresponsive behavior, necessitating a system restart.
• Path of Exile 2: Users have observed complete system freezes, especially during zone transitions. The CPU usage spikes to 100%, rendering the system unresponsive and requiring a hard reboot.

Technical Details

The issues stem from compatibility conflicts between the game's engine and the updated Windows 11 environment. Temporary solutions, such as using graphics card spoofing libraries like d3d12-proxy, have been attempted with varying success. However, these are not universal fixes and may not work for all users.

The game experiences system freezes due to CPU cores being pinned at 100% usage during certain in-game actions, particularly when loading new areas. This behavior suggests a potential issue with the task scheduler or CPU core management in the updated Windows environment.

Implications and Impact

The gaming community has expressed significant frustration over these issues. The inability to play popular titles disrupts user experience and raises concerns about the stability of major Windows updates. Additionally, the lack of immediate fixes from developers and Microsoft has led to negative feedback and review bombing of affected games.

Responses and Solutions

Microsoft has acknowledged the issues and applied compatibility holds on devices with the affected games installed, preventing the Windows 11 24H2 update from being offered to those systems. They are collaborating with game developers to resolve these conflicts.

Ubisoft has released patches for Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Assassin's Creed Origins to address compatibility issues with Windows 11 24H2. However, Assassin's Creed Odyssey remains affected, with a fix still pending.

Some users have found temporary solutions, such as disabling multithreading or limiting CPU cores via affinity settings. While these methods may provide short-term relief, they are not ideal and can impact overall game performance.

Conclusion

The Windows 11 24H2 update has inadvertently disrupted the gaming experience for players of Path of Exile 2 and Assassin's Creed Origins. While developers and Microsoft are actively working on permanent solutions, users are advised to stay informed through official channels and consider delaying the update or implementing temporary workarounds until the issues are fully resolved.