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Start by installing the newest Star Wars Outlaws update and your current graphics driver, then verify that the game is on a 65 GB SSD and that the PC meets Ubisoft’s CPU, GPU, RAM and DirectX requirements. After that, test one change at a time: disable overlays and recording tools, try fullscreen, borderless and windowed modes, switch VSync, match refresh rate to a frame rate your system can hold, and lower settings or upscaling when the GPU is below the target tier. If crashes began after Windows 11 version 24H2, record that detail and include DxDiag and MSInfo reports in a Ubisoft support case.
First, identify which problem you actually have
“Poor performance” can mean three different things, and each needs a different fix:
- Stutter or hitching: frame time spikes, shader or asset streaming pauses, overlays, storage delays, or a rapidly changing frame rate.
- Consistently low FPS: the CPU or GPU is below the hardware tier for the resolution and quality preset.
- Crashes to desktop: an outdated driver, damaged installation, overlay conflict, unstable background software, an operating-system interaction, or a game-specific bug.
Use the workflow below in order. Keep a short note of every change and the result; changing several settings at once makes the cause difficult to isolate.
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Check Ubisoft’s PC requirements before changing settings
Ubisoft’s published targets are useful reference points, not a guarantee for every combination of hardware, driver and operating-system build. The game requires Windows 10 or Windows 11 with DirectX 12, 16 GB of dual-channel RAM and 65 GB of SSD storage.
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| Target | CPU | GPU | Memory and storage | Ubisoft’s target settings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB, AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6 GB, or Intel Arc A750 8 GB with Resizable BAR enabled | 16 GB dual-channel RAM; 65 GB SSD | 1080p at 30 FPS, Low preset, Quality upscaler |
| Recommended | Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT | 16 GB dual-channel RAM; 65 GB SSD | 1080p at 60 FPS, High preset |
| High | Intel Core i5-11600K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT | 16 GB dual-channel RAM; 65 GB SSD | 1440p at 60 FPS, High preset |
| Ultra | Intel Core i7-12700K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX | 16 GB dual-channel RAM; 65 GB SSD | 4K at 60 FPS, Ultra preset |
The minimum GPU list includes the Arc A750 only with Resizable BAR enabled. If your system is below the minimum tier, lowering the preset may make the game launch, but it cannot turn that hardware into a 1080p/30 guarantee.
Why the SSD requirement matters
Outlaws is specified for an SSD, not an HDD. Confirm the game’s actual installation volume rather than checking only that another drive in the computer is an SSD. Leave enough free space for patches and Windows to work; a nearly full drive can worsen streaming and update failures. If the game is on an HDD, moving it to an SSD is the most direct hardware correction. An NVMe SSD is a reasonable upgrade path when the existing drive is too slow, too small or failing, but it is not a universal cure for GPU-limited frame rates.
Use this troubleshooting workflow
1. Establish a clean patch-and-driver baseline
- Install the newest game update offered by the launcher or console storefront that manages your PC copy.
- Install the current graphics driver from your GPU manufacturer: NVIDIA, AMD or Intel.
- Restart Windows after the driver installation, even if the installer does not require it.
- Launch the game before re-enabling optional overlays or tuning utilities.
Ubisoft’s crash guidance specifically recommends current graphics drivers for persistent crashes. A driver update is a first check, not proof that every crash is driver-related; if the issue remains, continue through the isolation steps.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2. Verify the installation and storage path
- Confirm at least 65 GB of SSD capacity is available and that the game files are on that SSD.
- Check that Windows can read and write to the drive normally and that the drive is not reporting errors.
- If an update repeatedly fails, free additional space before retrying rather than deleting random game files.
Moving the installation from an HDD to an SSD addresses a requirement violation. It will not compensate for a GPU that is below the target tier, so evaluate storage and graphics capability separately.
3. Remove overlay and capture conflicts
Temporarily disable every nonessential layer that draws over the game or records it. Test with Discord overlay, Ubisoft overlay, Steam overlay, NVIDIA or AMD overlay, Windows Game Bar, recording software, RGB utilities and hardware-monitoring tools turned off. Ubisoft notes that screen-capture and overlay applications can consume resources and cause display problems.
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Do not permanently uninstall security software to perform this test. Disable only the suspected overlay or capture component, reproduce the problem, then turn it back on. If the crash disappears, re-enable components one by one until the conflicting program is identified.
4. Test display timing and presentation modes
Graphics problems can come from the way frames are presented rather than from average rendering speed. In the game’s display options:
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- Try exclusive fullscreen, borderless fullscreen and windowed mode separately.
- Test VSync on, then off, recording the result for each mode.
- Set Windows and the game to a monitor refresh rate your system can sustain consistently.
- Remove unusual multi-monitor or variable-refresh combinations temporarily if they make the problem hard to reproduce.
Keep the setting that produces the smoothest frame delivery, not necessarily the highest instantaneous FPS. Restore your preferred mode after the fault is isolated.
5. Stabilize frame pacing instead of chasing the highest average FPS
Ubisoft explains that “Lower or frequently changing FPS can cause your game to appear slow, or make it stutter.” A system that alternates between 60 and 35 FPS can feel worse than one that holds 40 FPS steadily. If the frame rate swings, lower the options that exceed your GPU tier, use the recommended Quality upscaler mode, and cap FPS at a value the PC can maintain in demanding areas. Choose the cap from observed sustained performance rather than from the monitor’s maximum number.
Reduce resolution or upscaling quality only after checking whether the GPU is the limit. If GPU utilization is low while frame time remains high, a CPU limit, background process or streaming delay may be responsible; lowering every visual option will not fix that bottleneck.
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6. Isolate background software with a clean boot
If the game still stutters or crashes with overlays disabled, perform a clean boot or temporarily disable nonessential startup programs. Reproduce the problem, then re-enable items in small groups until the conflict returns. Record the program that triggers the fault and update, reconfigure or remove that program. Re-enable security software after the test.
This step has diagnostic value because it distinguishes a game or driver fault from an interaction with another application. It is reversible, so keep a list of anything you disable.
7. Escalate with reproducible evidence
When the workflow does not resolve the issue, contact Ubisoft support and attach a DxDiag report and an MSInfo report. For a title-specific defect, use Ubisoft’s Bug Reporter and include:
- GPU model, driver version and CPU model.
- Windows edition and build, including whether Windows 11 24H2 is installed.
- Game version or title-update number.
- Installation drive type (SSD or HDD) and available free space.
- Display resolution, refresh rate, VSync state, upscaling mode and FPS cap.
- The exact location, mission or menu where the issue occurs and the precise trigger.
- Whether disabling overlays, changing display mode or lowering settings changed the behavior.
A repeatable trigger is more useful than a general statement that the game is unstable. Include the time of the crash and any error text if available.
Settings choices by hardware target
Systems around the 1080p/30 minimum tier
Start with Low settings and the Quality upscaler mode specified by Ubisoft. Aim for a stable 30-FPS cap rather than allowing the frame rate to swing between higher and lower values. Close capture tools and overlays before testing, because the minimum tier has little spare CPU and GPU headroom. If the GPU has 6 GB of VRAM, avoid raising texture or ray-tracing options above the minimum target while diagnosing hitching.
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Systems around the 1080p/60 recommended tier
The RTX 3060 Ti and RX 6700 XT class is Ubisoft’s reference for High settings at 1080p/60. If 60 FPS is not sustained, lower the most GPU-intensive options first and use a cap that remains stable in busy areas. A High-tier label does not mean every feature can be maximized simultaneously; background applications, thermal limits and driver state still matter.
Systems targeting 1440p/60 or 4K/60
The 1440p/60 target is built around an RTX 4070 or RX 6800 XT with a Core i5-11600K or Ryzen 7 5800X. The Ultra 4K/60 target rises to an RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX and a Core i7-12700K or Ryzen 7 5800X3D. If your hardware sits between these tiers, select the lower tier as the starting point and increase settings one at a time. Upscaling and frame-generation features can change the displayed FPS, but they do not remove the need for adequate base rendering performance or sufficient VRAM.
RTX 50-series and DLSS 4
Title Update 1.5.1, released February 6, 2025, added RTX 50-series support and DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, along with updated DLSS models for RTX GPUs. These features are available only on compatible hardware and the supported game version. Treat generated frames as a presentation option after the underlying game is stable; they do not replace the driver, storage and overlay checks above.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do when the game crashes to desktop
Crashes immediately at launch
Confirm Windows 10 or 11 with DirectX 12, update the GPU driver, restart Windows, and test with overlays and capture tools disabled. Verify that the installation is on an SSD and that the drive has free capacity. If a clean boot changes the result, restore background applications one at a time to find the conflict.
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Crashes when selecting New Game
Title Update 1.3.0 fixed a reported crash when selecting New Game. Install the latest available update before attempting older workarounds. If the crash persists on the current version, report the exact menu path, save state and game version to Ubisoft rather than assuming the old defect is still the cause.
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Crashes that began after Windows 11 24H2
In its October 24, 2024 notes for Title Update 1.3.0, Ubisoft said it was “aware of an ongoing issue affecting PC players after the 24H2 Windows Update.” Record the Windows build and the date the crashes began. Install available game and driver updates, then include DxDiag and MSInfo in your support case. Do not claim that 24H2 causes every crash; the notice identifies an acknowledged issue, not a universal diagnosis.
Crashes after changing graphics options
Return to a conservative preset, disable overlays, and test fullscreen, borderless and windowed modes separately. Change one option per launch. If the game becomes stable, increase settings individually so the triggering option is identifiable.
Patch history that can change the diagnosis
| Update | Date | Relevant PC changes reported by Ubisoft |
|---|---|---|
| Title Update 1.1.2 | September 10, 2024 | Overall PC performance and optimization improvements, crash fixes, stability improvements, FPS-drop improvements and VRAM improvements. |
| Title Update 1.2 | October 3, 2024 | Improved stability and performance; fixed FPS drops with Intel Arc GPUs; improved VRAM, RTXDI, Frame Generation and Ray Reconstruction performance. |
| Title Update 1.3.0 | October 24, 2024 | Fixed a crash when selecting New Game, improved stability and FPS drops, improved GeForce Now stability, and acknowledged an ongoing PC issue after Windows 11 24H2. |
| Title Update 1.5.1 | February 6, 2025 | Added RTX 50-series support and DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, plus updated DLSS models for RTX GPUs. |
Because updates can alter rendering paths and known bugs, note the title-update number whenever you compare a result with an older guide or forum post.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Choosing between a software fix and a hardware change
- Driver update: reversible and the correct first step for persistent crashes or rendering faults.
- Overlay or capture disable: highly reversible and useful for identifying resource and presentation conflicts.
- Display-mode, VSync or refresh-rate change: reversible and aimed at frame pacing or synchronization problems.
- Lower settings, upscaling or an FPS cap: reversible and appropriate when the GPU cannot hold the selected target.
- SSD move or NVMe upgrade: a hardware-path correction when the game is on an HDD, the SSD is full or the drive is unreliable; it will not fix a CPU- or GPU-limited scene by itself.
- GPU or CPU upgrade: justified only after confirming that the component is the sustained bottleneck and that the rest of the system meets the game’s requirements.
Do not treat any one toggle as a universal cure. The same symptom can come from a frame-time spike, an overlay conflict, insufficient hardware headroom or a title-specific crash.
Quick Recap
A concise checklist before contacting support
- Game updated to the newest version available in your launcher.
- GPU driver updated and Windows restarted.
- Game installed on an SSD with at least the required 65 GB capacity and free working space.
- System checked against the 16 GB dual-channel RAM, CPU, GPU and DirectX requirements.
- Discord, launcher, GPU, recording and RGB overlays disabled for a test.
- Fullscreen, borderless and windowed modes tested, with VSync and refresh rate recorded.
- Settings or upscaling lowered and a stable FPS cap tested.
- Clean boot performed if the problem remains.
- DxDiag, MSInfo and a reproducible Bug Reporter description prepared.
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