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We could not find a confirmed, game-specific cause for Shadows of Doubt crashing on PS5, and no official fix that works for every player. What follows is a sequence of checks taken from PlayStation’s general crash and launch guidance, ordered from the least disruptive to the most. Work through them in order and stop once the crashes stop. If they do not, the last section explains how to escalate with the details that matter.
What is and is not established
- PlayStation’s official support pages are general guidance. The launch-troubleshooting guide (“How to troubleshoot issues when starting a game (US)”) and the crash guide (“PlayStation game freezes or crashes”) do not name this game or describe a known bug in it. The crash guide we reviewed was the Thailand regional page, so menu labels may differ on your region’s site.
- Community discussion is mixed. An older thread on r/Shadows_of_Doubt, titled “DO NOT buy this game on PS5”, includes both crash reports and claims that play improved after updates. These are anecdotes from a historical thread. They do not show how common the problem is today or prove that any single fix works.
- We did not find a developer or publisher statement about PS5 crashes for this title, so no official workaround can be cited.
Record the failure before changing anything
Write down the error code if one appears, whether the game closes to the home screen or the console shuts down, when it happens (on launch, during loading, in a particular area, or at random), and the steps that reproduce it. A screenshot or short video helps. These notes tell you whether the problem is title-specific, which determines where to go next, and they are the information support teams will ask for.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Shadows of Doubt | $35.22 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Horror Tales: The Wine (PS5) | $28.37 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
DEATHLOOP - PS5 | $10.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Broken Pieces PS5 | $34.64 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Scars Above, 1 PS5-Blu-Ray-Disc | $29.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Ten checks to try, in order
Updates and restart
- Update the game. From the PS5 home screen, highlight the game tile, press the Options button on your controller, and select Check for Update. Install any update, then launch the game and test.
- Update PS5 system software. Go to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings, and install any pending update.
- Restart the console. Use Power > Restart PS5 rather than putting the console into Rest Mode, then test again.
Installation and storage location
- Confirm the installation is complete (digital copies). Check that the download finished and that no install is paused or queued. An incomplete install can fail on launch or during play. Expected result: the game shows as fully installed with no pending download.
- Move the game off USB extended storage. If the game runs from a USB drive, go to Settings > Storage, open the USB extended storage device, select the game, and choose the option to move it to internal storage. The exact label varies by region and firmware. Test again after the move.
Save file test
- Test a fresh save. Before changing anything, back up your existing save through Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS5), either to cloud storage or to a USB drive. Then start a new save or new game and note whether the crash occurs at the same point. If the crash stops on a new save but returns when you load the old one, the old save file is the likely trigger. That points to the save, not to a confirmed game bug.
Reinstall
- Delete and reinstall (digital copies). PlayStation’s crash guide recommends deleting and re-downloading a crashing digital game. Back up your save first (step 6), because deleting the game can remove local data. Reinstall from your library and test. The reinstall recommendation in the guide applies to digital copies; for disc copies, ask PlayStation Support before reinstalling.
Safe Mode recovery
- Clear the cache in Safe Mode. Turn the console fully off, then press and hold the power button until you hear the second beep (about seven seconds). Connect your controller with a USB cable, select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database, and choose the cache option first. Restart and test. Back up your saves before this step, as noted in step 6.
- Rebuild the database only if the crash persists. Rebuilding the database can take time, and it is a more disruptive step than clearing the cache. Keep the console plugged in while it runs and do not power off during the process.
Escalation
- Escalate by scope. If several games crash, PlayStation says the console itself may have a problem and directs users to its repair guidance through PlayStation Support. If only this title crashes, contact the game’s publisher and ask about known issues on PS5. Include the details in the checklist below.
Read the results: one game or several
These comparisons help you interpret what you see. None of them proves a root cause on its own.
| Comparison | What a pattern suggests | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| One game vs. several games | Only this title crashes: likely title-specific. Several games crash: possible console issue. | Title-specific: contact the publisher (step 10). Several games: follow PlayStation’s repair guidance (step 10). |
| Digital vs. disc copy | The official reinstall recommendation is written for digital copies. Disc crashes are not covered by that step. | Digital: reinstall (step 7). Disc: contact PlayStation Support before reinstalling. |
| Old save vs. fresh save | Crashes only on an old save: the save file may be involved. | Keep the backup and report the save state with your report (step 6). |
| Internal vs. USB extended storage | Crashes only when running from USB: storage location may be involved. | Move the game to internal storage (step 5), then test. |
What to avoid early
- Console reset or system-software reinstall. PlayStation warns that resetting erases data stored on the console. Treat these as late-stage options, not harmless first attempts, and back up game data before either.
- Physical accessories. The official guidance does not support fans, controllers, storage drives, or repair kits as crash remedies without a specific diagnosis.
What to include when you contact support
Gather these items before you write to PlayStation Support or the publisher:
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#1 Best Overall
Shadows of Doubt
- Become a private investigator and track down a serial killer in a fully-simulated sci-fi city.
- Think like a detective and use a variety of gadgets to gather evidence and solve cases in this truly unique detective experience.
- Meet individual citizens, each with their own name, job, apartment and daily routine, in unique, procedurally-generated cities.
- Take on new cases to earn cash, purchase new gadgets and equipment, and customise your apartment.
- The exact error code or message, if one appears.
- Reproduction steps, including whether the crash happens on launch, during loading, or at a specific point.
- A screenshot or video of the crash, if you can capture one.
- Whether other games also crash.
- Whether the game is digital or disc, and whether it runs from internal or USB extended storage.
- Results of the save test (step 6) and the steps you have already tried.
If you have an exact error code or a pattern that these checks did not cover, share it in the comments. The details decide the right escalation path.
Quick Recap
Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Bestseller No. 3
Bestseller No. 4
Bestseller No. 5
Best Value
Scars Above, 1 PS5-Blu-Ray-Disc
- Tauche in ein ausgeklügeltes Abenteuer ein, das von Klassikern der Science-Fiction inspiriert wurde
- Setze eine Kombination aus Fernkampfwaffen, Gerätschaften, Verbrauchsgegenständen und Nahkampf ein
- Schalte mit dem gesammelten Wissen neue Gerätschaften, Waffen und Fähigkeiten frei
- Aufregende Bosskämpfe: Grauen erregende Gegner, die nach vielseitigen Strategien und Taktiken verlangen
Rank #4
Broken Pieces PS5
- DEEP THRILLING ATMOSPHERE - Explore the sleepy Saint-Exil region through a deep environmental narrative and discover a cult obsessed with sending sinners out to sea and why the military so obsessed with small, sleepy French coastal town?
Rank #3
DEATHLOOP - PS5
- Value for money
- Good product with exc\
- Perfect puzzling: Puzzles slowly increase in complexity enabling seamless progression and rewarding exploration.
Rank #2
Horror Tales: The Wine (PS5)
- Mediterranean Horror: Explore the forsaken capital of an awe-inspiring archipelago. Do not let yourself be fooled by the gentle sea breeze, the Mediterranean vistas or the comforting summer sun. Since the Devil's Fevers pandemic ravaged the city, it was abandoned, and now only horrific nightmares await there.
- Survive your Nemesis: Someone is relentlessly hunting you. Suffer and agonize while you try to run away from the encounters with this strange stalker obsessed with you.
- Intense Challenges: Solve environmental riddles, physics puzzles and other similar challenges in an interconnected vertical world. Even while being chased and hunted.
- Accessibility and Photomode: Tweak more than 20 Accessibility settings to create a tailored experience for you. Use the Photomode to make perfect shots and unlock many secrets using it.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
