Helldivers 2 Crashing: Fixes That Work

If Helldivers 2 keeps crashing on your PC or PlayStation 5, the fix is usually one of a few straightforward steps: update your GPU drivers, disable the Steam overlay, or verify game files. Below are the most reliable solutions, ordered from simplest to most involved, based on the common causes reported by players.

Why Helldivers 2 Crashes

Helldivers 2 is a demanding co-op shooter built on an in-house engine. Crashes typically stem from one of three sources: outdated graphics drivers, corrupted game files, or conflicts with background software (like overlays or antivirus). On PC, the game is also known to be sensitive to unstable overclocks—both on the CPU and GPU. On PS5, crashes are rarer but can occur after a system software update or when the console overheats.

Another frequent culprit is the anti-cheat software (GameGuard). If it fails to initialize or is blocked by security software, the game may crash to desktop shortly after launch. Finally, a full storage drive or insufficient virtual memory (pagefile) can cause random crashes during intense firefights.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Before diving into deeper troubleshooting, try these steps—they resolve a large percentage of crashes:

• Restart your PC or console. It clears temporary glitches and frees memory.
• Check for game updates. Arrowhead releases patches frequently; an outdated version can crash.
• Update your GPU drivers. For NVIDIA, use GeForce Experience; for AMD, use Adrenalin. A clean install is recommended.
• Verify game files. On Steam: right-click Helldivers 2 > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files. On PS5: highlight the game, press Options, and select Check for Updates.
• Disable overlays. Steam overlay (Steam > Settings > In-Game), Discord overlay, and any GPU overlays (GeForce Experience, AMD Radeon Software) can interfere with the game’s rendering.

If the game still crashes, move to the more specific solutions below.

Disable Steam Overlay and GameGuard Conflicts

Steam’s overlay is a known source of crashes in many games, and Helldivers 2 is no exception. To disable it for this game only:

1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
2. Right-click Helldivers 2 and select Properties.
3. In the General tab, uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.”
4. Also consider disabling the Steam Input controller configuration if you use a controller—sometimes it causes input-related crashes.

GameGuard, the anti-cheat, sometimes fails when it detects other anti-cheat software (like from Valorant or Fortnite) running in the background. Close those games completely before launching Helldivers 2. If you use antivirus software, add the Helldivers 2 folder and the GameGuard folder to the exclusions list, as real-time scanning can trigger false positives and crash the game.

Adjust Graphics Settings for Stability

If crashes happen during gameplay (not just at launch), your graphics settings might be too high for your hardware. The game is known to be heavy on VRAM. Try lowering these settings:

• Render Scale (set to 100% or lower)
• Shadow Quality (set to Medium)
• Volumetric Clouds (set to Off or Low)
• Anti-Aliasing (use TAA or off)

Also, set the game’s frame rate limit to 60 FPS if you have a high refresh monitor—uncapped frames can cause instability on some systems. On PS5, make sure your console has adequate ventilation. If you have a disc version, clean the disc and ensure it isn’t scratched.

Fix Overclocks and Virtual Memory

Unstable overclocks are a classic cause of crashes in demanding games. If you’ve overclocked your CPU, GPU, or RAM, revert them to stock speeds temporarily. Use tools like MSI Afterburner to reset GPU clocks, and disable XMP/EXPO in the BIOS for RAM. If the crashes stop, you know the overclock was the problem—adjust it to a stable level or keep it off.

Insufficient virtual memory can also cause crashes. On Windows, set a custom pagefile size:

1. Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Go to the Advanced tab > Performance > Settings.
3. Under Advanced, click Change under Virtual Memory.
4. Uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size,” select your system drive, choose “Custom size,” and set Initial and Maximum size to 1.5 times your RAM (e.g., 16384 MB for 16 GB RAM).
5. Click Set, then OK, and restart your PC.

When to Try a Clean Reinstall

If nothing else works, a clean reinstall can eliminate corrupted files that verification might miss. Uninstall the game, then delete the remaining folders in Steaminoz and %AppData%
oamingoz (back up your settings if you want). Then reinstall the game. On PS5, you can delete the game and reinstall from your library.

Before reinstalling, also check if your Windows installation is up to date. Outdated operating system files can cause compatibility issues. Run Windows Update and install all optional quality updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Helldivers 2 crash on startup?

Startup crashes are often due to outdated GPU drivers, GameGuard conflicts, or corrupted files. Update your drivers, disable overlays, and verify the game files. If it still crashes, try running the game as an administrator (right-click the .exe, Properties > Compatibility > Run as administrator).

Does Helldivers 2 crash on PS5?

Yes, but less frequently than on PC. Common fixes on PS5 include checking for system software updates, ensuring the console has good airflow, and reinstalling the game. If the crash is persistent, try rebuilding the PS5 database via Safe Mode (turn off the console, then press and hold the power button until it beeps twice, and select “Rebuild Database”).

Will lowering graphics settings reduce crashes?

Yes, if the crashes are caused by VRAM exhaustion or GPU instability. Lowering settings like shadows and volumetric effects reduces memory usage and can stabilize the game. It’s a good first step after updating drivers.

Can antivirus cause Helldivers 2 to crash?

Yes, antivirus software can interfere with GameGuard and cause crashes. Add the game’s installation folder and the GameGuard folder to your antivirus exclusions, or temporarily disable real-time protection to test.

Is there a known fix for the “blue screen” crash?

Blue screen crashes usually indicate a hardware or driver issue. Update your chipset drivers, check your RAM with Windows Memory Diagnostic, and ensure your power supply meets the game’s requirements. If you’ve overclocked, revert to stock.

Does verifying game files delete my progress?

No, verifying game files only checks the integrity of installed files and re-downloads any corrupted ones. Your saves are stored separately and are not affected.

Related

• Save Visual Voicemails Before Switching Services
• Set FFmpeg Bitrate for Church Stream on Limited Broadband
• TV Streaming Websites: How They Work & What to Know