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First, update the Steam version of ELDEN RING: Bandai Namco’s May 28, 2026 PC update says it fixes some cases of momentary or prolonged freezing. If the pauses continue, check ray tracing, temporarily close third-party mouse-control applications, and update your graphics driver. No official source identifies a universal cause for freezes lasting exactly three seconds, so test these checks one at a time.
1. Update the game and verify its version
The most directly relevant fix is in the Steam PC update announced May 28, 2026. Bandai Namco says it addresses cases where the game may freeze momentarily or for a long time in some environments. The notice lists App Ver. 1.16.2 and Regulation Ver. 1.16.1. See the official update notice.
Update the game through Steam, then check the app and regulation versions shown on the title screen. If either differs from the versions in the notice, confirm that Steam has finished downloading updates and restart the game before testing again.
2. Turn off ray tracing as a test
Bandai Namco warns that ray tracing may be unintentionally enabled and can cause unstable performance on PC. In the game, open System > Graphics > Ray Tracing Quality. If it is on, turn it off temporarily and repeat the activity or visit the area where the freezes usually happen. The official performance notice includes this setting and path: Bandai Namco PC performance guidance.
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Changing this setting is a reversible diagnostic check, not proof that ray tracing caused the freeze. If turning it off makes no difference under comparable conditions, restore your preferred setting and move on.
3. Isolate third-party mouse-control software
Bandai Namco also says third-party applications that control mouse behavior may cause unstable frame rates. Temporarily exit or disable those utilities, then test the same gameplay situation. Close only the relevant applications, and re-enable them afterward if the test does not help.
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This guidance concerns software that controls mouse behavior; it does not establish that the physical mouse is faulty or needs replacement.
4. Check your graphics driver
Bandai Namco’s PC performance notice recommends updating graphics-card drivers because an update may significantly improve performance. Check for a current driver through the supported update channel for your GPU manufacturer, install an applicable update, and retest. A driver update is a worthwhile check, not a guaranteed fix for every freeze.
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If you use Intel Arc B-Series graphics
Intel’s December 26, 2024 release notes list an ELDEN RING DirectX 12 stuttering fix in certain scenes for Intel Arc B-Series graphics products. This is a specific, dated example—not evidence that the same driver issue affects other GPU families or every kind of freeze. Check Intel’s notes and your installed driver if you have that hardware: Intel Arc Graphics driver release notes and downloads.
5. Retest methodically
To find out whether a change matters, alter one thing at a time and repeat a similar situation where practical. Note when the pause occurs, how often it happens, and whether it changes after each test. A report of a two- or three-second pause describes one player’s experience, not a confirmed diagnosis or a measure of how common the problem is.
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6. Contact support if the freezes continue
If the checks above do not resolve the issue, collect details that can help support narrow it down: your GPU model and driver version, Windows version, game app and regulation versions, whether ray tracing is enabled, where or during what activity the pause occurs, how often it happens, and whether mouse-control utilities are running. Bandai Namco directs players with other issues to its support team through its official support page.
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