Introduction

The release of Windows 11 version 24H2 introduced a series of compatibility issues affecting several Ubisoft titles, including Assassin's Creed series, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. These issues led to game crashes, freezes, and unresponsiveness, prompting Microsoft to implement compatibility holds to prevent affected systems from updating. Recent developments have seen Ubisoft deploying fixes to address these problems, though new challenges have emerged, notably with Path of Exile 2.

Background

Upon the rollout of Windows 11 24H2, users began reporting significant issues with certain Ubisoft games. Players experienced crashes during startup, loading screens, and active gameplay sessions. In response, Microsoft acknowledged the problem and applied compatibility holds on devices with these games installed, effectively pausing the update for affected users to prevent further disruptions.

Resolution of Ubisoft Game Issues

Ubisoft took proactive measures to resolve these compatibility issues:

  • Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora: Temporary hotfixes were deployed, mitigating crashes. However, some performance issues may still persist. The safeguard hold (ID 54580160) was lifted on December 5, 2024.
  • Assassin’s Creed: Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla: Updates were released to address the compatibility problems, ensuring stable gameplay. The safeguard hold (ID 54437462) was lifted on January 16, 2025.

These updates have allowed players to enjoy these titles without the previous disruptions. Microsoft has since removed the compatibility holds, enabling affected systems to proceed with the Windows 11 24H2 update.

Emerging Challenges with Path of Exile 2

Despite the resolution of issues with Ubisoft games, new challenges have surfaced with Path of Exile 2. Players have reported system freezes and crashes when loading new areas or instances. Notably, during loading screens, the entire system becomes unresponsive, necessitating a hard reset. This problem appears to be linked to the Windows 11 24H2 update, as users did not encounter such issues in previous versions.

Community discussions suggest potential workarounds, such as disabling multithreading or limiting CPU cores for the game process. However, these are temporary solutions, and an official fix from the developers is anticipated.

Technical Details

The compatibility issues stem from interactions between the Windows 11 24H2 update and specific game engines. For Ubisoft titles, the Anvil engine used in the Assassin's Creed series required updates to align with the new OS environment. Similarly, the Snowdrop engine powering Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora needed adjustments to maintain stability.

In the case of Path of Exile 2, the game experiences high CPU utilization during loading screens, leading to system freezes. This suggests a potential conflict between the game's resource management and the updated Windows scheduler or other underlying system components introduced in 24H2.

Implications and Impact

These compatibility issues highlight the challenges that can arise with major OS updates, particularly concerning gaming performance and stability. For developers, it underscores the importance of thorough testing and prompt patching to ensure a seamless user experience. For players, it serves as a reminder to stay informed about potential issues and to apply updates cautiously.

Conclusion

While Ubisoft has successfully addressed the initial compatibility issues with their titles following the Windows 11 24H2 update, the emergence of problems with Path of Exile 2 indicates that the gaming community must remain vigilant. Collaboration between game developers and OS providers is crucial to swiftly identify and resolve such issues, ensuring that updates enhance rather than hinder the gaming experience.