If Star Wars Outlaws stutters, crashes to desktop, or runs below its target frame rate, start with the two fixes most likely to affect both stability and performance: install the latest game update and update your graphics driver, then restart Windows. Verify that the game is installed on an SSD and that your system meets Ubisoft’s CPU, GPU, RAM, DirectX, and storage requirements. After that baseline, change one variable at a time—overlays, capture software, display mode, VSync, refresh rate, frame-rate cap, graphics quality, and upscaling—so you can identify the actual cause instead of applying several changes without knowing which helped.
The steps below separate crashes, hitching caused by unstable frame times, and consistently low FPS. They also cover the Windows 11 24H2 issue Ubisoft acknowledged and the evidence support needs if none of the fixes work.
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Check whether your PC meets Ubisoft’s target
Ubisoft lists Windows 10 or Windows 11 with DirectX 12, 16 GB of dual-channel memory, and a 65 GB SSD for Star Wars Outlaws. The published hardware tiers are targets rather than guarantees: a system can meet a tier and still need settings changes because of background software, driver state, thermal limits, or inconsistent frame delivery.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →| Target | CPU | GPU | Memory and storage | Ubisoft’s target settings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB, 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, upscaler on Quality |
| Recommended | Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or Radeon RX 6700 XT | 16 GB dual-channel RAM; 65 GB SSD | 1080p at 60 FPS, High preset |
| High-resolution target | Intel Core i5-11600K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X | GeForce RTX 4070 or Radeon RX 6800 XT | 16 GB dual-channel RAM; 65 GB SSD | 1440p at 60 FPS, High preset |
| Ultra target | Intel Core i7-12700K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D | GeForce RTX 4080 or Radeon RX 7900 XTX | 16 GB dual-channel RAM; 65 GB SSD | 4K at 60 FPS, Ultra preset |
These tiers describe the hardware Ubisoft used for each performance target. They do not promise that every scene will hold the listed frame rate, especially when ray tracing, heavy crowds, or other demanding options are enabled.
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Why the SSD requirement matters
The game requires a 65 GB solid-state drive installation. If it is on a mechanical hard drive, move it to an SSD before judging stutter or loading behavior. An NVMe SSD is a sensible upgrade when the current drive is an HDD or is nearly full, but it is not a universal cure for GPU-limited FPS or software crashes. Keep enough free space for Windows, shader data, and updates rather than filling the drive to its limit.
Check the graphics tier before raising settings
A GPU below the tier for your chosen resolution will usually need reduced settings or a lower internal render resolution. For example, the 1080p/30 minimum tier is not intended to deliver 1440p/60, and a card that can average 60 FPS may still produce visible hitching if frame times swing sharply. Compare your hardware with the table before trying advanced effects such as ray tracing or frame generation.
Use this troubleshooting order
Work through the following sequence. Change one item, test the same area of the game, and record whether the problem is a crash, a short hitch, or a sustained low frame rate. Reversibility and diagnostic value matter: a temporary overlay toggle tells you more about a conflict than changing ten graphics settings at once.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- Install the latest game update. Use the update function in the store or launcher where you own the game. Restart the launcher after the download completes so it actually applies the patch.
- Update the GPU driver from its hardware vendor. Install the current driver for your GeForce, Radeon, or Arc card, then restart Windows. Ubisoft’s crash guidance specifically identifies an up-to-date graphics driver as a first remedy for persistent crashing.
- Confirm the installation drive and free space. In the launcher’s installation settings, verify that the game is on an SSD and that the drive has room for updates. Move the installation if it is on an HDD.
- Disable overlays and capture applications temporarily. Turn off Discord, the Ubisoft and Steam overlays, graphics-driver overlays, recording software, RGB utilities, and other on-screen display tools. Test the game with all of them disabled, then re-enable them one at a time.
- Test display timing. In Windows display settings, select the monitor refresh rate you actually intend to use. In the game, compare fullscreen, borderless, and windowed modes. Test VSync both on and off; keep the setting that produces the steadier frame delivery on your system.
- Stabilize the frame rate. Lower options that exceed your GPU tier, use the recommended Quality upscaler mode, and cap FPS at a value your PC can hold consistently. A stable 45 or 60 FPS generally feels better than a rate that repeatedly jumps between much higher and lower values.
- Isolate background software. If the problem remains, perform a Windows clean boot or temporarily disable nonessential startup programs. Re-enable programs individually until the conflict returns. Re-enable security software after the test.
- Escalate with diagnostic files. If the issue survives the baseline and isolation tests, prepare DxDiag and MSInfo reports for Ubisoft support. For a reproducible title-specific bug, submit a report through Ubisoft’s Bug Reporter with the trigger and system details.
Fix stuttering and uneven frame pacing
Stutter is not always a lack of average FPS. Ubisoft explains that “lower or frequently changing FPS can cause your game to appear slow, or make it stutter.” A counter showing an acceptable average can therefore hide large frame-time spikes.
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Set a sustainable cap
Choose a cap your system can maintain in the busiest areas, not the number it reaches in an empty room. If the game alternates between 60 and 35 FPS, an appropriate lower cap can remove the repeated swings. Use the in-game limiter if available; otherwise use the control panel or a trusted frame limiter. Do not raise the cap again until the demanding area remains stable.
Match refresh rate to delivered FPS
A 144 Hz monitor does not make a system that renders 40 FPS behave like a 144 FPS system. Select the monitor refresh rate in Windows, then test VSync and the game’s display modes. A mismatch can present as judder, tearing, or uneven pacing even when the GPU is not fully saturated.
Reduce the settings that exceed your GPU tier
Start with the preset associated with your hardware tier, then lower the most expensive options if frame times remain inconsistent. Use the Quality upscaler mode specified for the minimum target before moving to a more aggressive mode. Lowering internal resolution can help a GPU-limited scene; it will not fix a CPU bottleneck or a conflicting overlay.
Check overlays before replacing hardware
Screen-capture and overlay programs consume resources and can interfere with presentation. Disable them completely for a controlled test. If the hitch disappears, restore each overlay separately to find the culprit rather than assuming the game or GPU is defective.
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Stop crashes to desktop
Driver and patch state come first
Crashes that begin after an old driver or an incomplete update should be addressed by installing the current game build and graphics driver, followed by a Windows restart. This is the least invasive step and the one Ubisoft recommends for persistent graphics-related crashes.
Remove software conflicts
Capture tools, overlays, RGB controllers, and monitoring utilities can hook into a game’s rendering path. Close them for a full test, not merely the visible overlay panel. If stability returns, enable one application at a time until the crash recurs.
Check Windows 11 24H2 timing
Title Update 1.3.0, released October 24, 2024, stated: “We are also aware of an ongoing issue affecting PC players after the 24H2 Windows Update.” If your crashes started immediately after upgrading to Windows 11 24H2, record the Windows build and the date the behavior changed. That timing is important evidence for support; do not assume that reinstalling the game alone will resolve an operating-system interaction.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Use clean boot testing carefully
A clean boot disables nonessential background services so you can determine whether another program is involved. Test the game long enough to reproduce the crash, then restore normal startup and security protections. A clean boot is a diagnostic step, not a permanent recommendation to run without antivirus or other protections.
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Capture a reproducible report
For support, write down the exact trigger: launching a save, selecting New Game, entering a particular location, changing a graphics option, or playing for a set period. Include the GPU model, driver version, Windows build, game version, display mode, and whether overlays were disabled. Attach DxDiag and MSInfo reports when requested so support can inspect hardware and driver state.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Settings to try for poor performance
Use the following decision process instead of copying a single “best settings” list. The right choice depends on whether the GPU, CPU, memory subsystem, or frame pacing is limiting the scene.
If FPS is consistently low
- Start from the preset that matches your hardware tier and resolution.
- Lower demanding visual settings before changing unrelated Windows options.
- Use the Quality upscaler mode at the minimum tier; choose a more aggressive mode only if image quality remains acceptable.
- Reduce the output resolution or internal render scale when the GPU is the limiting component.
- Keep advanced ray-tracing effects off until the base frame rate is stable.
If FPS is high but movement still hitches
- Cap the frame rate below the worst-case dips.
- Test VSync on and off.
- Compare fullscreen, borderless, and windowed modes.
- Match monitor refresh rate to the sustained frame rate.
- Disable overlays, recording, and monitoring tools.
If the GPU is not fully used
Low GPU utilization with poor FPS can indicate a CPU limit, background process, frame cap, or synchronization setting. Check for a cap or VSync first, then repeat the test with overlays and background software disabled. A faster GPU will not solve a CPU-limited scene by itself.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf memory or VRAM usage is high
Close unnecessary programs, avoid running capture software during testing, and lower texture or other memory-heavy options if available. Ubisoft’s updates have included VRAM improvements, so confirm that the game is fully patched before concluding that your hardware is insufficient.
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Patch history relevant to PC performance
| Update | Date | PC-related 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. |
These notes explain why updating matters: some problems are addressed by the game itself, and later graphics-driver support can be required for newer rendering features. A patch can improve a class of issues without guaranteeing identical results on every CPU, GPU, monitor, or Windows build.
When an SSD, GPU, or CPU upgrade is justified
Move from an HDD to an SSD when storage is the mismatch
An SSD is a stated requirement. If the game is installed on an HDD, moving it is the first hardware change to make. An NVMe drive can also help when the existing SSD is nearly full or struggling with other workloads, but it will not turn a minimum-tier GPU into a 4K/60 card.
Choose hardware by the target you actually want
Use Ubisoft’s tiers as decision anchors: RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT for the published 1080p/60 High target, RTX 4070 or RX 6800 XT for 1440p/60 High, and RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX for 4K/60 Ultra. The accompanying CPU tier matters as much as the GPU, particularly at high frame rates. Check VRAM, upscaling support, and frame-generation support for the specific card; do not compare GPU names without considering resolution and feature use.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
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Upgrade only after software isolation
If the same hardware reaches its target in other demanding games but Outlaws crashes with overlays disabled and current drivers installed, replacing the GPU is unlikely to be the first answer. Collect reproducible evidence before spending money.
Submit a useful Ubisoft support report
Escalate when the game is patched, the driver is current, the SSD and requirements are confirmed, overlays are disabled, display timing has been tested, and a clean-boot check has not identified a conflict. Include:
- GPU model, CPU model, RAM amount and channel configuration, and whether the installation is on an SSD.
- Graphics-driver version, Windows edition and build, and game version.
- Resolution, refresh rate, display mode, VSync state, upscaler mode, frame-rate cap, and major graphics settings.
- The exact location or action that reproduces the issue, how often it occurs, and whether it is a crash, hitch, or sustained low FPS.
- Whether the issue began after a game update, driver update, or Windows 11 24H2 upgrade.
- DxDiag and MSInfo reports when requested by support.
For a repeatable title-specific defect, use Ubisoft’s Bug Reporter and describe the trigger precisely. “The game is slow” is less actionable than “the frame rate drops when entering a named location with VSync off in borderless mode after 20 minutes.”
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