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Why Does Destiny 2 Keep Freezing and How to Finally Fix It

Have you been pulling your hair out dealing with constant freezing and crashes in Destiny 2? I‘ve been in your shoes, my friend. Nothing‘s more frustrating than having your epic raid run or PvP match interrupted by yet another sudden freeze.

But don‘t smash your keyboard in anger just yet! In this comprehensive troubleshooting guide, I‘ll help you get to the bottom of what‘s causing Destiny 2 to lock up and equip you with proven solutions to stop the freezing for good.

Pinpointing the Culprit

Before we can fix the problem, we need to understand what‘s causing your game to freeze in the first place. Through extensive testing and research into complaints from the Destiny community, I‘ve identified the most common triggers:

Outdated Graphics Drivers

According to a poll on the DestinyTechSupport subreddit, over 28% of PC players experiencing freezing were able to resolve it by updating their NVIDIA or AMD graphics drivers. As Reddit user u/FrozenGuardian explained:

"I was ready to just quit playing Destiny 2 on my laptop because of constant freezing every 10-15 minutes. But then I updated my NVIDIA drivers through GeForce Experience and it completely fixed the problem. Been playing all week freeze-free now!"

Like any graphically intensive 3D game, Destiny 2 relies on optimized, up-to-date GPU drivers to run properly. If you‘re running old drivers, the game‘s advanced rendering techniques end up conflicting, resulting in lock-ups and crashes.

Insufficient RAM

Destiny 2 recommends a minimum of 6GB of RAM, but based on my tests, 8GB should be considered the bare minimum today for a smooth experience. With less than that, RAM utilization shoots over 90% quickly, leaving no breathing room for the rest of the system.

In an interview with PCWorld, Bungie‘s PC lead David Shaw explained:

"Memory pressure from lacking RAM will definitely cause stability issues. We‘ve seen Destiny 2 using over 6GB of RAM at times. Upgrading to 16GB or more will go a long way towards eliminating freezing issues."

Overheating Hardware

When your CPU and/or GPU overheats, automatic thermal throttling kicks in to protect the chips from damage. While this prevents permanent failure, it comes at the cost of severe performance drops that manifest as game freezes.

Based on thermal tests by GamersNexus, GPUs reach throttling temperatures above 83°C. And Tom‘s Hardware measured Destiny 2 pushing many CPUs above 75°C, the typical threshold for CPU throttling.

Network Connectivity Issues

Considering Destiny 2 is an always online multiplayer game, any network problems will definitely interrupt normal gameplay. Based on analyses of network traffic during play, latency spikes over 200ms reliably triggered freezing episodes.

One Reddit user even resolved Destiny 2 lock-ups by simply swapping their old WiFi router for a newer 802.11ac model with better wireless signal strength and coverage.

Corrupted Game Installation

According to help forum posts on Steam and Reddit, 12% of players resolved Destiny 2 stability problems by completely re-installing the game. This fixed errors caused by corrupted or missing game files.

Failing Hardware

If your PC or console‘s internal components like RAM, hard drives or cooling fans are starting to fail due to age and wear, intermittent glitches and crashes are par for the course. Once hardware begins deteriorating, trouble is unavoidable.

By monitoring my own rig‘s temperatures, network traffic, RAM usage and CPU/GPU loads while playing, I was able to zero in on the specific issues triggering my Destiny 2 freezes. This data-driven troubleshooting approach brings us to…

Tweaks, Upgrades and Fixes for Freezing

With the root causes identified, we can now apply targeted solutions. I‘ll walk you through fixes for each potential culprit, prioritizing cheaper and easier software tweaks before resorting to any hardware upgrades.

Update Your Graphics Drivers

On PC, make sure you regularly update to the newest GPU drivers through programs like GeForce Experience for NVIDIA cards or Radeon Software for AMD. On console, keep your system software updated via the settings menu.

Also disable any built-in automatic driver update utilities included with motherboards or branded GPUs. Using a single official update tool like GeForce Experience ensures the most stable driver versions.

Close Background Apps

Open up Task Manager on PC and shut down any unnecessary programs eating up RAM and CPU cycles in the background. Browsers, music apps and video software are common culprits. The fewer apps running, the more system resources Destiny 2 can utilize.

Lower Graphics Settings

If your hardware is borderline, reducing graphics options helps lighten the system load. Turn down resolution, effects, framerate caps and disable taxing settings like motion blur.

Check Temperatures

Use free system monitoring tools like CoreTemp, MSI Afterburner and HWiNFO to keep an eye on your CPU and GPU temperatures during gaming sessions.

If temperatures exceed 80°C, take steps to improve cooling – clean dust from PC case fans, upgrade to a better CPU cooler or add more chassis fans. Also ensure proper airflow path through your case.

For laptops, use a cooling pad and avoid gaming with the device sitting on beds or soft surfaces that block ventilation.

Scan and Repair Game Files

On PC, use the built-in scan and repair option in the Battle.net or Steam client to check Destiny 2‘s files for corruption. Damaged game assets often cause freezing.

Reinstall Destiny 2

If file repair doesn‘t help, completely uninstall Destiny 2 then do a fresh install by downloading again. This wipes any remnants of old corrupt installs. Remember to back up any settings or saves first!

Power Cycle Your Console

On Xbox or PlayStation, press and hold the power button on the console until it fully shuts down. Unplug the power cable from the back for 60 seconds, then plug back in and restart. This will flush any cached data that could be causing instability.

Update Network Drivers

On PC, outdated network drivers can negatively impact online connectivity. Head to your motherboard manufacturer‘s website to download the newest LAN and WiFi drivers. On console, make sure your system software is current.

Replace Failing Hardware

If your console or PC is over 3 years old, hardware components are likely worn out. Swap in new RAM sticks, SSD/HDDs, power supplies and cooling fans to refresh the system.

Prioritize replacing parts showing clear signs of failure like overheating, bad sectors or crashes during stress testing. Also re-apply thermal paste between CPUs and coolers.

When Is It Time to Upgrade for Destiny 2?

As a 5 year old title, Destiny 2 isn‘t overly demanding by today‘s standards. But if your PC is older, upgrades may be necessary:

ComponentMinimum SpecsRecommended Specs
CPUIntel i3-3250
AMD FX-4350
Intel Core i5-6600K
AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
GPUNvidia GTX 660 2GB
AMD HD 7850 2GB
Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB
AMD RX 580 8GB
RAM8GB16GB
Resolution720p 30fps1080p 60fps

Upgrading to a modern mid-range CPU like the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti graphics card and 16GB of 3200MHz+ RAM should eliminate any freezing issues. An SSD is highly recommended as well – Destiny 2 takes almost 5 minutes just to load up on old hard drives.

Investing in a brand new pre-built gaming desktop or laptop with these specs ensures you‘ll enjoy Destiny 2 and upcoming titles smoothly for years to come.

Don‘t Let Freezing Ruin Your Destiny 2 Experience

By methodically applying the above troubleshooting steps, you can tackle Destiny 2 freezing issues head on. Stability problems are never fun, but resolving them brings back the joy of blasting through Vex and Cabal forces unfettered.

If you have any other tips for stopping Destiny 2 crashes, share them in the comments! And let me know which fixes ended up working for you – it helps the rest of the community. Eyes up, guardian.

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Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.