Ah, video games—once a realm to lose ourselves in fantasy and now a battleground where operating systems and applications wrestle for supremacy. If you're a Path of Exile 2 fan, chances are you've been grinding your best loot when—bam!—your seemingly reliable Windows 11 PC freezes like you're caught in a time-stopping spell. The good news? Microsoft is aware, but the bad news? The fix isn't here... yet. Let’s dive into what’s happening, why it's happening, and what you can do about it.
Here's the kicker: the CPU usage spikes to 100% on all cores, which makes it feel like your hardware is low-key auditioning for a furnace commercial. A noticeable trend here stems from the utilization of DirectX 12, suggesting that the issue may be rooted in how Windows 11 24H2 handles task scheduling for modern APIs.
Windows enthusiasts will also note that this isn’t just affecting players of Path of Exile 2. Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Origins has also found its way into this rogues’ gallery of problematic games. The irony? Both are stunningly ambitious games designed to push your hardware and system optimization to the limit.
DirectX 12 is cutting-edge for PC gaming. Unlike its predecessors, it allows direct communication between hardware (like GPUs) and software, enabling better resource utilization. However, this "direct" approach also leaves less room for error. If Windows 11 mismanages thread allocation across CPU cores, it pushes resources beyond their limit—and voila, you have an ice-cold, locked-up machine.
Interestingly, Task Scheduler issues aren’t new. Similar root causes have been flagged in previous Windows updates affecting DirectX 12 and gaming workloads. What’s unique here is the widespread impact on AAA titles like Path of Exile 2 and Ubisoft’s Assassin's Creed Origins, suggesting Microsoft might have underestimated the effect of certain kernel tweaks.
Considering the timing of these freezing issues, the delay could be attributed to the complexity of balancing core scheduling, game workload optimizations, and other system resources without inadvertently breaking something else. Windows updates often try to juggle diverse hardware configurations, from top-tier Ryzen 9 PCs to modest laptops powered by legacy Intel chips. Finding a one-size-fits-all fix isn’t as straightforward as it sounds.
Gamers remain the ultimate guinea pigs when running the latest tech. Yet, until Microsoft straightens this out, the only safe path forward for many is to roll back or cross their fingers with makeshift fixes.
Stay tuned, Windows warriors. Whether by patch or perseverance, this too shall pass.
Source: Windows Latest Path of Exile 2 freezes PC after Windows 11 24H2? Microsoft is looking into it
The Great Freeze: What’s Going On?
Reports have emerged from frustrated gamers about their PCs becoming unresponsive when trying to play Path of Exile 2 after updating to Windows 11 24H2. What begins as a promising gaming session quickly devolves into tech rage: a complete system freeze, laggy mouse movements, and stuttering audio. Worse yet, rebooting appears to be the only "solution" when this freeze hits, as even Task Manager refuses to cooperate.Here's the kicker: the CPU usage spikes to 100% on all cores, which makes it feel like your hardware is low-key auditioning for a furnace commercial. A noticeable trend here stems from the utilization of DirectX 12, suggesting that the issue may be rooted in how Windows 11 24H2 handles task scheduling for modern APIs.
Windows enthusiasts will also note that this isn’t just affecting players of Path of Exile 2. Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Origins has also found its way into this rogues’ gallery of problematic games. The irony? Both are stunningly ambitious games designed to push your hardware and system optimization to the limit.
Community Feedback: CPU Task Scheduling Culprit?
A glance at online forums like Steam and the Microsoft Feedback Hub paints a bleak—yet telling—picture:- CPU Affinity Bandaid: Some users found temporary relief by manually tweaking CPU core affinity (the process that assigns specific cores to certain tasks). By disabling some cores, the freezing subsides. However, this quick fix comes at the cost of game performance. After all, modern games like Path of Exile 2 are optimized to benefit from multiple CPU cores.
- Ryzen Master Workaround: For AMD users, the Ryzen Master tool has been suggested, enabling fine adjustments to core usage. While marginally successful in some cases, it’s far from a solution.
- GPU Driver Reinstallation: Some gamers reinstalled GPU drivers but found no luck. The freezing issue appears deeply intertwined with Windows 11 itself rather than driver conflicts.
- Rollback Frenzy: A faction of users rolled back from Windows 11 24H2 to Windows 11 23H2 or even Windows 10, reporting smoother gameplay. While this "when-all-else-fails" option restores stability, it negates the newest security patches and features.
Why is Windows 11 24H2 Acting Out?
This is where the detective work gets interesting. Industry chatter zeroes in on Windows Task Scheduler, the system process responsible for managing how your CPU cores handle tasks. The overarching issue may be with how the OS prioritizes workloads when DirectX 12-heavy applications like games demand optimal performance.DirectX 12 is cutting-edge for PC gaming. Unlike its predecessors, it allows direct communication between hardware (like GPUs) and software, enabling better resource utilization. However, this "direct" approach also leaves less room for error. If Windows 11 mismanages thread allocation across CPU cores, it pushes resources beyond their limit—and voila, you have an ice-cold, locked-up machine.
Interestingly, Task Scheduler issues aren’t new. Similar root causes have been flagged in previous Windows updates affecting DirectX 12 and gaming workloads. What’s unique here is the widespread impact on AAA titles like Path of Exile 2 and Ubisoft’s Assassin's Creed Origins, suggesting Microsoft might have underestimated the effect of certain kernel tweaks.
Microsoft’s (Slow) Response
The tech giant isn’t oblivious to the chaos. Microsoft has marked the issue with a "looking into it" tag on its Feedback Hub, meaning they’re aware of the problem and are actively investigating. Still, gamers are left in the lurch with no official patch or hotfix in sight.Considering the timing of these freezing issues, the delay could be attributed to the complexity of balancing core scheduling, game workload optimizations, and other system resources without inadvertently breaking something else. Windows updates often try to juggle diverse hardware configurations, from top-tier Ryzen 9 PCs to modest laptops powered by legacy Intel chips. Finding a one-size-fits-all fix isn’t as straightforward as it sounds.
Your Options: A Practical Guide
If you’re one of the many affected by this, you don’t have to sit idly by. Here are some temporary actions to consider:1. Rollback to an Earlier Update
- If the game is unplayable, rolling back to Windows 11 23H2 or 10 guarantees short-term stability.
- Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and select "Go Back to the Previous Version."
- Be warned: You’ll lose any features exclusive to 24H2, but for gamers, it’s often worth it.
2. Manually Set CPU Affinity
- Open Task Manager before starting the game.
- Under the "Details" tab, find the Path of Exile 2 process.
- Right-click and choose Set Affinity, limiting the game to fewer CPU cores.
- Restart the game and test for performance gains (it’s hit or miss, depending on your hardware configuration).
3. Disable Background Applications
- Make sure heavy-duty applications (like browsers with 47 tabs open) aren’t hogging unnecessary CPU or memory resources.
4. Monitor Microsoft’s Feedback Hub
- Stay alert for announcements about patches.
- Install new updates cautiously; early adopters often face glitches.
5. Try GPU Driver Updates
- Use either NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Software Adrenalin Edition to ensure you’ve got the latest drivers. While it didn’t fix most reported freezes, it’s a necessary step to rule out GPU incompatibility.
What Comes Next?
Given Microsoft’s track record, we can hope for a resolution in the form of a cumulative update or hotfix in the coming weeks. However, it’s disappointing to see that gaming optimizations, hyped as a major reason for upgrading to Windows 11, are overshadowed by recurring bugs when core components like Task Scheduler falter.Gamers remain the ultimate guinea pigs when running the latest tech. Yet, until Microsoft straightens this out, the only safe path forward for many is to roll back or cross their fingers with makeshift fixes.
Join the Discussion
What’s your experience with Windows 11 24H2’s gaming performance? Has Path of Exile 2 or other titles brought your rig to its knees? Share your story, tips, or frustrations in our forums—let’s tackle this problem together!Stay tuned, Windows warriors. Whether by patch or perseverance, this too shall pass.
Source: Windows Latest Path of Exile 2 freezes PC after Windows 11 24H2? Microsoft is looking into it
