If Assassin’s Creed Shadows is freezing or there are sudden FPS drops on PC, here’s how to fix it
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Assassin’s Creed Shadows, just like every other new game, has its fair share of issues. Earlier, there were reports about the game crashing and stuttering. Now, it seems like some players are facing FPS drop and freezing issues. The worst part is that it’s even happening to those who own an RTX 4090, which is one of the most powerful GPUs out there for gaming, suggesting that the problem isn't related to hardware.
If you’re currently in the same boat, don’t worry, as we’re here to help you get rid of the issues. We’ll be going over different methods that will fix the FPS drop issues and prevent the game from freezing so you can enjoy the massive open world without any problems.
How to fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows FPS drop and freezing issues on PC
Here are a couple of methods that can help eliminate FPS drop and freezing issues.
Update your graphics drivers
Many people forget to update their GPU drivers regularly and then complain about performance issues in new games. Latest titles, including Assassin's Creed Shadows, require up-to-date drivers for smooth performance. For example, Nvidia recently released Game Ready Drivers version 572.83, specifically designed to improve compatibility with the latest games, including Assassin's Creed Shadows. So, head over to the official website of your GPU’s manufacturer now and download the latest version of the drivers from there.
Lower the graphics settings
Not all PCs can run the game at high settings. If your hardware isn't powerful enough, you'll continue to experience FPS drops or freezing issues. According to the official system requirements, you need at least an RTX 3060 Ti or Radeon 6700 XT to run the game at 1080p with Medium settings.
If you have one of these cards but are trying to play at 1440p or on high settings, you may need to lower the graphics or consider upgrading your hardware. You can check the system requirements below to see what kind of performance you can expect with your setup.
Make sure the PC is not overheating
If your CPU or GPU overheats, your PC will slow down to prevent damage. This is called thermal throttling, and it can cause FPS drops and freezing in games. We recommend using MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor, as these two software can help you monitor the temp of your components. If they go above the safe levels after you launch Assassin’s Creed Shadows, shut down your PC immediately and follow these steps:
- Clean your PC to remove dust from fans and vents.
- Replace the thermal paste of your CPU and GPU.
- Place the PC in a cool area.
- Add some more fans for better cooling.
Disable VSync
VSync is a setting that syncs the game's FPS with your monitor's refresh rate to prevent screen tearing. However, in some cases, VSync can cause FPS drops and freezing as it limits performance. Thankfully, the game allows you to disable it quickly via the settings.
- Launch Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
- Go to the Settings.
- Open Video Settings and click on Display.
- Find VSync and turn it off.
Install the game on an SSD
If you have installed the game on an HDD, your load times will be slower, and you might experience freezing or FPS drops during gameplay. Assassin's Creed Shadows is a big open-world game, and HDDs are much slower compared to SSDs. So, to fix the issue, delete the game and reinstall it on the SSD (if you have one in your system).
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