Windows 11 24H2 Update: Fixing Ubisoft Game Crashes and Performance Hiccups

  • Thread Author
Gamers stuck mid-action in Ubisoft sagas like Assassin's Creed: Valhalla or galactic adventures in Star Wars Outlaws can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The saga of game crashes caused by Windows 11’s controversial 24H2 update has come to a relatively happy conclusion, thanks to Ubisoft’s intervention and Microsoft's system updates. If you’ve been nervously avoiding that update button or wondering if this version of Windows is safe for your beloved Ubisoft games—get ready for some answers.

The Great Game Crash Saga​

Gamers upgrading to Windows 11 24H2 were abruptly hit with a barrage of issues affecting several Ubisoft titles. We're talking game crashes so bad that Microsoft went so far as to put a stop to the update being installed on PCs running specific Ubisoft games, courtesy of what the company calls a "safeguard hold." This was Microsoft essentially telling affected users, “Don’t even think about it.”
Ubisoft titles that bore the brunt of compatibility issues included:
  • Star Wars Outlaws
  • Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
  • Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  • Assassin's Creed: Origins
  • Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
Flash forward, and we now have a resolution. Microsoft confirms that “temporary hotfixes” rolled out by Ubisoft have cleared up the crashing dilemma, finally lifting the dreaded safeguard hold (ID 54437462) that had been preventing 24H2 updates from reaching these machines.
But wait—there's a footnote that's easy to miss: while crashes have been patched, you might still experience performance issues. Translation? Yes, you can fire up your favorite Ubisoft title without it spontaneously diving into a black hole, but expect the occasional hiccup. Lag, graphical stutters, or awkward moments of frame drops could still occur.

What’s the Deal With the 24H2 Update?​

Windows 11 24H2, part of Microsoft’s bi-annual feature updates, is a big deal in more ways than one—but not all of those ways are good news. This update promised to bring new features, stronger integrations, and smoother user experiences. However, as anyone in the Windows ecosystem knows by now, major updates tend to arrive with more bugs than a summer camp tent.
For gamers, the list of grievances ranged from stuttering frame rates to bizarre hardware behavior, like jittery mouse movements or notifications stacking like a never-ending Jenga tower. But the troubles Ubisoft enthusiasts encountered were particularly noteworthy, underscoring how integral game developers and operating system providers working in harmony has become.
One of the unique pain points of the 24H2 rollout was its staged and automatic implementation. While savvy users could hold off clicking "update," they’re now at the mercy of Microsoft's automated rollout—meaning if the system deems your device “compatible,” you might wake up tomorrow running 24H2 whether you like it or not. If your machine is on Microsoft’s greenlit list, brace yourself; the update train doesn’t stop, at least as far as Home and Pro users are concerned.
Enterprise systems have, for now, been spared from automatic updates. Lucky corporate IT admins.

Ubisoft to the Rescue​

Most of the credit for this rapid resolution lands squarely at Ubisoft’s feet. According to Microsoft’s latest update to their known issues page, the developer implemented a barrage of quick fixes addressing compatibility issues. These fixes bypassed the need for system-wide OS patches from Microsoft, offering Ubisoft players relief without waiting for Windows engineers to chime in.
That said, not everything is sunshine and roses in the world of bug fixes. Temporary solutions address immediate concerns but don’t always tackle root causes. When Microsoft chose to push compatibility enforcement off to Ubisoft, it’s a sign that broader systemic alignment between Windows' architecture and specific gaming software optimizations might still be lacking.
For Ubisoft fans, the long-term question remains: how long will these “temporary fixes” hold?

The Bigger Picture: How Windows Updates Break Games​

Why are gaming titles often the canary in the coal mine for Windows updates? Modern games rely on more than just a powerful GPU and tasty terabytes of an SSD—they’re deeply interconnected with Windows’ underlying frameworks. DirectX APIs, game libraries, and even low-level drivers need to cooperate seamlessly with whatever update Microsoft introduces.
When there’s disagreement over how these subsystems interact, you get… well, this mess. Windows’ increasing complexity is a double-edged sword: While updates add features like advanced AI integrations or security protocols, they also make it easier for niche-use cases—like high-performance gaming setups—to fall through the cracks.
The safeguard holds Microsoft employed are like safety nets, catching devices that might combust in compatibility errors. As useful as these holds are, they’re really a means of saying, “We'll deal with this later.” Ubisoft undoubtedly faces challenges when trying to troubleshoot highly variable Windows environments. Each gaming PC is someone’s DIY science experiment—a hodgepodge of hardware and software configurations that make universal troubleshooting a labyrinth.

What Gamers Can Expect Post-Update​

Windows 11 24H2 isn’t entirely “fixed,” and users are still reporting odd issues. Here’s what to look for if you decide—or are forced—to move forward with this update:
  • Potential Game Performance Issues: Ubisoft acknowledges some lag or stuttering remains in their games, despite crash fixes.
  • Peripheral Sensitivity: Look out for wonky mouse or keyboard behavior; gamers have reported jittery performance when interacting with peripherals.
  • Notifications Piling Up: Some users are finding themselves haunted by lingering notifications that simply won’t close correctly.
  • Overall System Hiccups: Stuttering, lag, and some system slowdown seem common.
If you’re on the fence about updating, consider using Windows’ built-in controls to defer updates temporarily. Both Windows 11 Pro and Home allow you to pause update rollouts for a period or schedule them for off-hours, though the rollout will eventually catch up with you whether you want it to or not.

What WindowsForum.com Users Should Do​

If you're a Windows gamer—especially a fan of Ubisoft titles—here’s your to-do list:
  1. Check Your Game Updates: Ensure you’re running the latest patches from Ubisoft. The crashing problem doesn’t go away unless your games are fully updated.
  2. Monitor Windows Update Rollout: If your machine begins the update process automatically but you haven’t addressed potential compatibility or performance problems, you might want to temporarily disable the update via Settings.
  3. Backup First: Roll-backs can be tricky with staged rollouts like 24H2. Save everything important, including game saves and drivers.
  4. Stay Tuned to WindowsForum.com: We’ll continue to monitor how 24H2 affects gaming hardware, offering fixes and deep dives as more data comes in.

Like every Windows update before it, the 24H2 rollout is shaping up to be a journey. For Ubisoft gamers, that journey’s getting slightly less bumpy, but the road ahead might still have some potholes—and maybe the odd stealthy assassin lurking around. Stay tuned for ongoing updates (and fixes!) as Microsoft and developers grapple with the growing complexity of gaming on Windows.

Source: PC Gamer Previously borked Ubisoft games are now fixed on Windows 11 24H2 as the troubled update begins automatically downloading to compatible PCs
 


Back
Top