How to Fix Path of Exile 2 Freezing PC Issues

Path of Exile 2, the highly anticipated sequel from Grinding Gear Games, offers players a Diablo-like action-RPG experience. However, some players are encountering frustrating PC freezes, requiring hard restarts. While an official patch is awaited, several workarounds can mitigate this problem.

Troubleshooting Path of Exile 2 PC Freezes

Reports indicate complete system freezes during gameplay or area loading. Before resorting to more involved solutions, try these initial steps:

1. Graphics API: Experiment with switching between Vulkan and DirectX 11 at game launch.
2. V-Sync: Disable V-Sync in the game's graphics settings.
3. Multithreading: Deactivate multithreading in the graphics settings.

If these adjustments fail, a more complex solution, suggested by Steam user svzanghi, involves CPU affinity manipulation:

1. Launch the Game: Start Path of Exile 2.
2. Task Manager: Open the Windows Task Manager and navigate to the "Details" tab.
3. Set Affinity: Right-click on POE2.exe and select "Set Affinity."
4. Disable Cores: Uncheck the boxes for CPU 0 and CPU 1.

This workaround prevents complete system lockups, enabling a graceful game exit via Task Manager. However, you must repeat this process each time you launch the game. Otherwise, further freezes will necessitate a full PC reboot.

For more Path of Exile 2 strategies and builds, including optimal Sorceress builds, consult The Escapist.