Full computer freeze while playing V3 (also ck3)

[Orinsul]

Integrity​

I have verified my game files (on Steam)​

Yes

I have disabled all mods​

No

Required​

Summary​

Full computer freeze while playing V3 (also ck3)

Description​

Sometimes when playing V3, the computer will freeze. no input, alt-contrl-delete no response, whatever video playing on second screen or music in the background, stopped, whole computer freeze.

Sometimes V3 will stick, hold half a second full frozen like this and then resume, might be linked to processing an event, but again it's the WHOLE PC freezing not just the programme. But it also freezes and stays stuck, I've let it stick like that for over an hour waiting to see if it will resolve.

Requires full restart. No response to key inputs.

Has also happened with CK3 though less common, happens almost every time I play V3, sometimes after hours of play, sometimes minutes in. No common cause identifiable.

Has never been experienced in any other game, including other paradox games. And only happened in the last month. So possibly something in recent updates to engine that V3 and CK3 share but which HoI4 does not?

Have tried verification and reinstall.

Windows 11 Pro
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 7 265KF 3.90 GHz
Installed RAM 128 GB (128 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super

Steps to reproduce​

No predictable occurrence. Play the game for long enough and it will happen, reload that save after restarting PC and it wont happen at that same point but at another unpredictable event.
(Ticked mods as when I have tested without mods haven't played long enough for it to happen.)

Game Version​

1.8.6

OS​

Windows

Additional​

Bug Type​

Other

Save Game​

Attachments​

View attachment logs.rar

Player Pain​

8

 

[SAS]

I have had this issue off and on since the last patch. Oddly this does not happen in HOI IV or any other computer game i play from other publishers. I do not have an Intel chipset.

 

[PDX_Sosanna]

Moving to Tech Support

 

[AndrewT]

if you have Windows 11 24H2 then you'll be experience the same problem that AFAIK all users with that version are.

Some users found relief in various ways:
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...r-installing-win11-24h2.1725554/post-30126081
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...-windows-11-24h2-update.1718749/post-30159638
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...-windows-11-24h2-update.1718749/post-30062333



A user has come up with another possible workaround
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/24h2-w11-update-issue-found-no-more-crashes.1728373/
Some affected users have definitely seen that help them with this issue. Do try this first as it has a decent record of success!

Also make sure your Nvidia driver is the latest, March 2025 at present.

And if nothing else helps, in CK3 switch the renderer to Vulkan in the launcher-game settings menu - performance will likely be worse but users are reporting it stops the PC freezes! Unfortunately Victoria3 does not seem to have that option.

 

[Orinsul]

These have resolved the issue, Thank You!

 

[minderbart]

Victoria 3 also freezes my whole pc, same problem i had on ck3 which i could only solve by switching to vulkan. something i cannot do in vic3.
none of the other solutions work. my drivers are all up to date too.

so does that mean i cannot play this game again?

 

[AndrewT]

In your Steam Library right-click on this game and choose Properties. Click on Set Launch Options, and paste this in there:
-vulkan

Any better?

 

[minderbart]

In your Steam Library right-click on this game and choose Properties. Click on Set Launch Options, and paste this in there:
-vulkan

Any better?

That seems to fix it. thank you very much

 

[minderbart]

That seems to fix it. thank you very much

never mind it just happened again.
it does increase the amount of time between freezes though.

 

[AndrewT]

never mind it just happened again.
it does increase the amount of time between freezes though.

Did you try this as well?

A user has come up with another possible workaround
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/24h2-w11-update-issue-found-no-more-crashes.1728373/
Some affected users have definitely seen that help them with this issue. Do try this first as it has a decent record of success!

 

[minderbart]

Did you try this as well?

i did that to try to fix ck3 some time ago. didn't work then, doesn't work now.

 

[AndrewT]

I see. I don't know why those steps that helped others are not helping you then! Perhaps you have an unrelated cause of this problem.

Are you on Windows 11 24H2?

 

[minderbart]

I see. I don't know why those steps that helped others are not helping you then! Perhaps you have an unrelated cause of this problem.

Are you on Windows 11 24H2?

maybe but the symptoms are exactly the same and switching to vulkan at least made the freezes go from every time open the game to every 5 or so times i open the game.

Ck3 was fixed this way.

i'm just gonna wait for an update and if that doesn't fix it i'll just write vic 3 off as a bad purchase and forget about it.

 

[AndrewT]

maybe but the symptoms are exactly the same and switching to vulkan at least made the freezes go from every time open the game to every 5 or so times i open the game.

Ck3 was fixed this way.

i'm just gonna wait for an update and if that doesn't fix it i'll just write vic 3 off as a bad purchase and forget about it.

One CK3 user in a similar situation found a way to get past it, apparently!

Possible workaround for the CK3 freezing entire PC bug on Windows 11 24H2

First, a disclaimer. This may not work for everyone and it limits games to single player (sorry multiplayer people). I found my own workaround and I'd like for others to try as well I've been following this thread for a while since I have...

forum.paradoxplaza.com

Might help, can't hurt ... !

 

[MarukoHatake]

The Vulkan renderer workaround only works for CK3.

On Vic3, it just makes the game stutter even more, about ten times worse, and then it crashes anyway.

It's been months, and we still know nothing about a potential fix.

I literally can't play the game I bought along with all the DLCs, and this is honestly cringe.

 

[exi123]

The Vulkan renderer workaround only works for CK3.

On Vic3, it just makes the game stutter even more, about ten times worse, and then it crashes anyway.

It's been months, and we still know nothing about a potential fix.

I literally can't play the game I bought along with all the DLCs, and this is honestly cringe.

I want to hop in here and say that I also still suffer from these random freezes in V3. Is there any official statement that the game has this issue with W11 24h2? A possible fix with the upcoming update would also be fine. It will get very ugly when this issue will still be around when CoC launches.

All other crashes relating to the 24H2 are solved now with driver, Microsoft and game updates, only V3 is still having issues. My system is up to date and healthy and way above the specs, so it is the game.

 

[AndrewT]

Is there any official statement that the game has this issue with W11 24h2?

Regarding Crashes on Windows 11's 24H2 Update

Hello everyone, Since the 24H2 Windows 11 update, some players have reported an issue where the entire computer freezes up either when starting Victoria 3, or during gameplay. We are working hard to find a solution to the issue but due to the...

forum.paradoxplaza.com

 

[Orinsul]

I'll add that the force update windows fix worked for me for V3, but doesn't work for CK3 total conversion mods (though does appear to work for base game) so it might have something to do with amount of memory/cache/etc in use? as maybe V3 doesn't use as much as CK3 with a total conversion does?
I don't know if this is helpful information but hope it helps