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If Stalker 2 is crashing or stuttering on PC, here’s what you can do to fix it

Our ultimate guide to help you get back in the game
Abdul Haddi
Last Updated on
If Stalker 2 is crashing or stuttering on PC, here’s what you can do to fix it
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Table of Contents

Stalker 2, one of the most anticipated games of the year, is finally available across all platforms, including PC. However, like many new titles, it comes with its fair share of issues. Early reviews confirmed the game suffers from “technical issues and severe bugs.” At the moment, some of the biggest problems players face include crashing and stuttering. For some, Stalker 2 crashes either at launch or after a few minutes of gameplay. Aside from that, players are reporting FPS drops caused by stuttering.

The worst part is that these issues can affect anyone, even if they have one of the best GPUs for Stalker 2 installed in their system. However, while these problems may seem serious, there are several methods that can fix them, and we’ll cover all of them in this guide. Also, if you’re interested in playing the game on the go, then you might be interested in checking out the best laptop for Stalker 2.

Why is Stalker 2 crashing or stuttering on my PC?

Stalker 2 may be crashing or stuttering on your PC due to several reasons, such as:

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  • Outdated GPU drivers.
  • Overheating.
  • Corrupt or missing game files.

How to fix Stalker 2 crashing or stuttering on PC

If the issue doesn't resolve itself, try the solutions mentioned below.

Step

1

Update GPU drivers

Nvidia, AMD, and Intel occasionally release new GPU drivers to ensure their graphics cards are compatible with the latest games. For instance, on November 12, Nvidia released Game Ready drivers for their GPUs to make them compatible with Stalker 2. So, if you haven’t updated your drivers in a while, now is the right time to do so, as running a game on outdated drivers can cause various performance issues.

For the latest version, simply visit the official website of Nvidia, AMD, or Intel, enter your GPU’s name, and download the latest drivers version from there.

Step

2

Replace or repair game files

Stalker 2 has a download size of 150 GB, and for some players, a few game files may become corrupted. When this happens, the game can cause various issues, including crashing and stuttering. This can also occur if any game files are missing.

Thankfully, Steam and Epic Games both have a feature through which you can quickly repair or replace such files.

Steam

  • Launch Steam and go to your Game Library.
  • Right-click on Stalker 2 and access its Properties.
  • Go to Installed Files and click on ‘Verify integrity of game files.’
Verify game files on Steam

Epic Games

  • Go to your Epic Games’ library.
  • Click on the three horizontal dots below the game’s icon.
  • Select ‘Manage’ and then click on ‘Verify’ files.
Verify files on Epic Games

Step

3

Use launch options

A player on the Steam Community Forum claimed that they were able to fix stuttering in Stalker 2 on PC by using different launch commands, and you can try using them as well as they might fix the problem for you.

  • Go to your Steam library.
  • Right-click on Stalker 2 and select ‘Properties.’
  • Now, under the launch options, write these commands: -xgeshadercompile -nothreadtimeout -NoVerifyGC
Launch options

Once done, try playing Stalker 2 again to see if they improved the performance. But if you notice they are causing issues instead of improvements, simply go back to the Properties and remove them.

Step

4

Check for overheating

A lot of people don’t know this, but overheating is also a big cause of game crashes. If the temperature of your CPU or GPU goes above the safe limit, the system will automatically close the game to prevent the components from getting damaged. For this, use a tool like HWiNFO to monitor the temperature while playing Stalker 2. If you notice the temperature is unusually high, exit the game and shut down your PC.

Then, take necessary steps to prevent your system from overheating, such as cleaning your PC, replacing the thermal paste of your CPU and GPU, and scanning your PC for malware.

 

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.