Is Overwatch 2 freezing when you are in the white-hot heat of battle? If it is, it probably isn't helping your performance. And if it is helping your performance, that says some fairly worrying things about your ability at this game.
Either way, freezing isn't part of the game, and doesn't do anything to enhance the player experience. If you find it happens as a one-off, it probably isn't much to worry about.
Still, if Overwatch 2 freezing is something happening time and again, then it's probably something you need to sort. Read on, for some advice on how to do just that.
How to fix freezing in Overwatch 2
There are plenty of potential reasons why Overwatch2 might be freezing, so it's pretty tough to say definitively why it might be happening in any specific case. It is probably something to do with not having enough memory or disk space available, but there might be something else too.
Your best bet is to work your way through our suggested fixes, until you find the one that works for you. Let's crack on.
Overwatch 2 system Requirements
First of all, make certain that the computer you are using can actually cope with the demands of the game, by checking that it meets the minimum system requirements for Overwatch 2:
- Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i3 or AMD Phenom™ X3 8650
- Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 600 series, AMD Radeon™ HD 7000 series
- Memory: 6 GB RAM
- Storage: 50 GB available hard drive space
- Internet: Broadband internet connection
- Resolution: 1024 x 768 minimum display resolution
Remember, these are the bare minimum, and even these settings won't allow for optimal performance. But if your device doesn't meet these requirements, then you are going to struggle. There's little you will be able to do, apart from upgrade your system.
Check for Updates
Assuming you do have a powerful enough computer, then the next step is to look for updates. These include game updates, system updates, and even graphics drivers or DirectX updates.
if there are any updates available, install them and then try again, to see if this resolves the issue.
Change Settings
There are plenty of settings that you can change, and it's worth playing around with these to see if you can reduce or stop freezing in game.
This includes things like changing video settings, for instance reducing game resolution, switching Vsync on or off, and changing your display mode from windowed to full-screen (or vice versa). You can also limit the frame rate on the game, to see if this improves things.
You can also look at changing Graphics Settings, changing things like texture quality, shadow detail, and lighting quality.
Finally in this section, if you are overclocking your computer in an effort to wring every last drop of performance out of it, stop. Overclocking can actually be counter-productive and can even damage your hardware.
Repair Game Files
Assuming the above hasn't worked, you can try repairing the game files, in case there is an issue with a corrupted file. To do this:
- Open the Battle.net launcher.
- Go to the Games tab.
- Select Overwatch 2.
- Click the small gear symbol in the bottom-left corner of the menu.
- Select the Scan and Repair option.
The process usually takes a few minutes, so be prepared to wait a little while.
Optimise Internet Connection
Overwatch 2 relies on a good internet connection, so it's important to make sure you have optimised this as best you can. The usual fixes apply here - restart your router, close any background apps you don't need, or any bandwidth-hungry apps, to minimise network congestion.
If you are on WiFi, if possible switch to a wired connection, as this will generally improve stability.
You can also check to see if there are any server-side issues by following the official @BlizzardCS Twitter feed. If there are any issues, wait until these are resolved before trying again.
- Read More: Overwatch 2 account merge queue resetting: how to fix the account merge queue resetting problem
Uninstall then reinstall
If you've made it this far and are still experiencing freezing, then it's time to bring out the Bazooka. Uninstall, then reinstall the game. This will delete any damaged or corrupted files, and replace them all with nice shiny new ones.
Hopefully, this will fix the issue at last. If not, then we'd recommend contacting Blizzard Support for further support and advice.