How To Fix Counter-Strike 2 Keeps Crashing Mid Game

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) has brought many enhancements to the beloved FPS series, but some players have encountered frustrating crashes mid-game. If you're wondering why CS2 keeps crashing there are several potential causes and solutions to consider. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you troubleshoot and fix these issues.
1

Update Graphics Card Drivers

Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers are a common cause of game crashes. Ensure your graphics card drivers are up-to-date. For NVIDIA users, the GeForce Experience software can be used to check for updates. AMD users should use the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition. Updating drivers can resolve many performance and stability issues.

2

How to Update NVIDIA Drivers

  • Open GeForce Experience.
  • Click on the “Drivers” tab.
  • Check for updates and install if available.
3

How to Update AMD Drivers

  • Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
  • Click on the “Updates” tab.
  • Check for updates and install if available.
4

Verify the Integrity of Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files can cause crashes. Use the Steam client to verify the integrity of your CS2 game files. Here’s how:

  • Open Steam and go to your Library.
  • Right-click on Counter-Strike 2 and select “Properties.”
  • Go to the “Installed Files” tab.
  • Click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”

 

This process will scan and repair any corrupted or missing files. It is crucial to ensure all game files are correctly installed and functional.

5

Disable Full-Screen Optimization

Full-screen optimization can sometimes cause instability in games. Disabling this feature for CS2 might help:

  • Navigate to the folder where CS2 is installed.
  • Right-click on the CS2.exe file and select “Properties.”
  • Go to the “Compatibility” tab.
  • Check “Disable Full-Screen Optimization.”
  • Click “Apply” and “OK.”

If this doesn’t work, try setting the compatibility mode to Windows 8 from the same window. This can sometimes resolve compatibility issues with older games running on newer operating systems.

6

Update Windows

Keeping your Windows operating system up-to-date can resolve compatibility issues that might cause crashes. Here’s how to update Windows:

  • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
  • Click on “Check for updates.”
  • Install any available updates and restart your computer.

Updating Windows ensures that your system has the latest security updates and performance improvements, which can help stabilize your gaming experience.

7

Adjust In-Game Settings

Lowering in-game settings can also reduce crashes:

 

  • Launch CS2 and go to the settings menu.
  • Lower the resolution and turn off or reduce graphics settings such as shadows, anti-aliasing, and texture details.
  • Switch to Fullscreen Windowed mode instead of Fullscreen mode.

 

Reducing the strain on your system by lowering graphics settings can significantly improve game stability.

8

Disable Third-Party Overlays

Overlays from applications like Discord and GeForce Experience can cause crashes. Disable these overlays to see if they resolve the issue:

 

  • For Discord, go to User Settings > Overlay and toggle off “Enable In-Game Overlay.”
  • For GeForce Experience, go to Settings > General and toggle off “In-Game Overlay.”

 

Disabling overlays can prevent unnecessary conflicts and resource usage that cause crashes.

9

Close Background Applications

Running too many background applications can also cause crashes. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and close any unnecessary applications to free up system resources. This can include browsers, music players, or other non-essential programs that consume memory and CPU power.

10

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve most issues causing CS2 to crash mid-game. Always ensure your system meets the game’s minimum requirements and keep both your software and hardware updated. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to CS2 support or checking online forums for additional help.