Path of Exile 2: PC Freezing Bug - Fix Revealed

Path of Exile 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the popular action RPG, has encountered some performance hiccups for certain players. Some users report complete PC freezes requiring hard restarts, particularly during loading screens or gameplay. While a developer patch is awaited, several workarounds can mitigate these issues.

Troubleshooting Path of Exile 2 Freezes:

Several in-game settings adjustments may resolve the problem:

• API Switch: Experiment with changing the graphics API between Vulkan and DirectX 11 at game launch.
• V-Sync: Disable V-Sync in the graphics settings.
• Multithreading: Deactivate multithreading in the graphics options.

Advanced Solution (Requires Manual Steps):

If the above adjustments prove ineffective, a more involved solution, suggested by Steam user svzanghi, offers a temporary fix:

1. Launch the Game: Start Path of Exile 2.
2. Open Task Manager: Access your PC's Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc). Click "Details".
3. Adjust CPU 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 freezes, allowing you to force-quit the game via Task Manager and relaunch without a full PC reboot. However, this process must be repeated each time you start the game.

For more Path of Exile 2 tips, strategies, and builds (such as optimal Sorceress builds), be sure to check out The Escapist.