7 Ways to Fix Overwatch 2 Crashing Mid Game on a Windows PCs

Many OW2 players have reported Overwatch 2 crashing mid-game when playing it on Windows PCs. For instance, this is what one player’s Reddit post says about that issue: “Started playing OW2. Game has been crashing consistently midway through a match (usually during my 2nd match).” Consequently, players can’t get through OW2 matches when Overwatch 2 keeps on crashing mid-game in such a way. This is how you can fix Overwatch 2 crashing mid-game during matches.

Read also: 7 Ways to Fix Overwatch 2 Not Launching on a Windows PC

Run a Verification Scan for Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2 crashing mid-game could be due to corrupted game files. You can remedy this potential cause by running a file verification (repair) scan for OW2 with the Steam or Blizzard gaming clients. These Blizzard help and Steam support pages have instructions for running verification scans.

The Verify integrity of game files option

Set a New Launch Parameter for Overwatch 2

OW2 players confirm that setting a new –tank_WorkerThreadCount 2 -d3d11 -threads 2 launch parameter can fix Overwatch 2 crashing mid-game. This possible solution is primarily confirmed to work for the Blizzard launcher, but you can try it for Steam as well. You can set that launch parameter for Overwatch 2 in Blizzard as follows.

1. Start the Blizzard gaming client.
2. Click All Games to select Overwatch 2.
3. Next, click the cog button beside Play.
4. Select Game Settings.
5. Click Additional command line arguments to select that checkbox.
6. Input –tank_WorkerThreadCount 2 -d3d11 -threads 2 into the Additional command line arguments box.
   
   

   The Additional command line arguments checkbox

7. Press Done to set the launch setting.

Select the High Performance Graphical Option

1. Open the search box with the Windows logo + S keyboard shortcut. 
2. Input the search phrase graphics settings. 
3. Click Browse and select the Overwatch Launcher.exe file in the Overwatch 2 installation folder. 
4. Press the Options button for the Overwatch Launcher.exe file. 
5. Click High performance > Save. 

The High performance radio button

6. Repeat the steps above for the Overwatch.exe (application) file. 

Disable Radeon Boost

Disabling Radeon Boost is a player-confirmed way to fix Overwatch 2 crashing mid-game. This is a potential resolution for players with AMD graphics cards because that’s an AMD Radeon setting. These are the steps for disabling Radeon Boost.

1. Click the search box or magnifying glass icon to access the Windows file finder tool via the taskbar.
2. Next, input AMD software and select the matching search phrase.
3. Click the Gaming tab and select Global Graphics.
4. Turn off the Radeon Boost setting if it’s enabled.
   
   

   The Radeon Boost option

Adjust Overwatch 2’s Graphical Settings

A reconfiguration of certain OW2 graphical settings could fix Overwatch 2 crashing mid-game for some players. Try adjusting Overwatch 2’s graphical options like this.

1. Start your Overwatch 2 game.
2. Click Options to access the Video settings tab.
3. Select Off for the Dynamic Render Scale setting.
4. Next, select Disabled for the NVIDIA Reflex option.
5. Click the Display Mode drop-down menu and select Fullscreen.
   
   

   The Video tab

6. Select Apply to set the Overwatch 2 video settings.

Set a Higher CPU Priority for Overwatch 2

Setting a higher CPU priority for Overwatch 2 will prioritize that game over other programs. Doing this can sometimes resolve crashing issues since it assigns more processor time to Overwatch 2. This is how you can set a higher processor CPU priority for Overwatch 2.

1. Launch the Overwatch 2 game from Blizzard or Steam.
2. Press the Windows logo key in Overwatch 2 to return to the desktop.
3. Right-click somewhere on the taskbar and select the Task Manager menu option.
4. Click Details to view processes.
5. Right-click the Overwatch 2 game and move the cursor over Set priority.
6. Select the High option (don’t select Realtime).
   
   

   The Set priority option

7. Click the Overwatch 2 icon in the taskbar to return to the game.

Selecting this option doesn’t permanently set a high priority for Overwatch 2. You’ll need to select the high-priority option every time you start playing Overwatch 2.

Apply a Clean Boot

Applying the clean boot troubleshooting method will disable many unneeded apps and services starting with Windows. Doing this could fix Overwatch 2 crashing mid-game since it will free up system resources and might disable problematic background apps conflicting with the game. Check out Microsoft’s clean-boot help page for details about how to apply this possible solution with Task Manager and MSConfig.

The Services in MSConfig

Other Possible Ways to Fix Overwatch 2 Crashing Mid-Game

The resolutions above are some, but not necessarily all, the ways you may be able to fix Overwatch 2 crashing mid-game. If that game still crashes, try applying these additional potential solutions:

• Scan and repair Windows system files by executing an sfc /scannow command as instructed on this Microsoft page.
• Update the graphical driver for your PC’s GPU.
• Disable the Xbox Game Bar process and other recording software via Task Manager before playing Overwatch 2.
• Reinstall the Overwatch 2 game.

I hope one of those troubleshooting methods fixes the Overwatch 2 mid-game crashing on your PC. If the game continues to crash after applying those possible fixes, consider sending a support ticket about the issue to the OW2 help service. You can submit a support ticket by filling out the description box on this Blizzard page.