Excited to play The Last of Us Part II on PC, but the game keeps crashing or lagging? We feel your pain. After years of waiting for this epic adventure to hit PC, the last thing anyone wants is to battle bugs instead of clickers.
Don’t worry! Whether your game is stuttering, freezing, or refusing to launch, we’ve got some fixes that just might do the trick. Let’s break things down in a fun and simple way, so you can get back to Ellie and Joel in no time!
1. First Things First: Check System Requirements
If your PC is struggling, make sure it meets at least the minimum specs. Here’s what Naughty Dog recommends:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1070 / AMD RX 580
- Storage: 100 GB SSD
If you’re barely meeting the minimum bar, try lowering the game’s graphics settings. Performance boost incoming!
2. Common Fixes to Get You Playing
Let’s try the easy stuff first. Sometimes, all you need is a little nudge in the right direction.
- Verify Game Files: If you’re using Steam, right-click on the game, go to Properties > Local Files, and click Verify integrity of game files.
- Update GPU Drivers: Outdated drivers are crash champions. Grab the latest ones from NVIDIA or AMD’s websites.
- Run as Administrator: Right-click on the game’s icon and select Run as administrator.
Still reading? Great! Let’s go deeper.
3. Crashing on Launch? Try These Tips
Some players report the game won’t even start. That’s frustrating, but these tricks may help:
- Disable Background Apps: Close things like Chrome, Discord, Spotify — they eat up resources.
- Temporarily Turn Off Antivirus: Some antivirus programs accidentally block parts of the game. Turn it off just to test.
- Reinstall the Game: Annoying, yes — but it might clean out corrupted files.
- Switch to Windowed Mode: Edit the config file (usually in Documents folder) to force launch in windowed.
Also, make sure you’ve installed all the Windows updates. Surprisingly, that solves a lot of weird issues!
4. Laggy or Stuttering Gameplay?
The Last of Us Part II looks amazing… but not if it’s running at 10 FPS. Here’s what to tweak for smoother action:
- Lower Graphics Settings: Start with things like shadows, texture quality, and motion blur.
- Turn Off V-Sync: Sometimes creates input lag. Disabling in-game and enabling G-SYNC or FreeSync works better.
- Use DLSS or FSR: If your card supports it, turn these on to boost performance without hurting visuals.
Also, make sure your laptop (if you’re using one) is plugged in and set to High Performance mode.
5. Mods or Overlays Causing Problems?
Mods are fun — but they can break your game, too. If you’ve added custom content, try removing it temporarily.
Also, overlays from apps like Steam, Discord, or GeForce Experience can mess things up. Turn them off and see if that helps.
6. Bonus Tips for Hardcore Troubleshooters
Still no luck? Try the following advanced steps to go full detective mode:
- Reinstall Visual C++ Redistributables: Get the latest package from Microsoft’s official site.
- Update DirectX: Make sure you’ve got the latest version.
- Use Compatibility Mode: Right-click the .exe file and set compatibility to Windows 8.
Keep in mind this game is huge and very demanding. Developers may drop performance patches too, so keep an eye out for updates.
Good Luck, Survivor!
Hopefully one of these tips helped get the game running smoothly. Now grab your backpack, load that rifle, and get back to smashing clickers.
If none of this worked, you’re not alone. Check game forums and Reddit — the community is often quick to find fixes for new issues.
Until then, stay safe out there… and remember: Endure and survive.
