- Many players are having problems with Assassins Creed Shadows crashing when trying to start the game or freezing at 93% loading. There are several possible causes, including outdated drivers, corrupted game files, conflicts with overlays, or even missing admin permissions.
- Before trying any fixes, ensure your computer meets the minimum requirements for the game such as having Windows 10 (64-bit), a strong processor like Intel Core i7-7700, 16 GB RAM, and a good graphics card like GTX 1070.
- There are many simple fixes you can try, such as updating GPU drivers, verifying game files, disabling in-game overlays, running as administrator, or reinstalling the game on an SSD. If none of these solutions work,
If you’re trying to play Assassins Creed Shadows and the game keeps crashing at startup or gets stuck at 93%, you’re not alone. A lot of players are facing the same issue right now. It’s super annoying when you just wanna relax and play, but the game just doesn’t want to work right.
In this guide, I’ll try to explain some stuff that might be going wrong and what you can try to fix it. I’m not a developer or anything, just another gamer who ran into the same problem and managed to get the game running somehow. So take this more like advice from a friend, not some perfect technical article.
Also, just a note: this is more for people who just wanna try stuff without digging deep into coding or anything fancy. Just simple things that might help. Let’s get into it.
Why Is Assassins Creed Shadows Crashing?
Honestly, there’s no one single reason. It could be your PC, the game itself, a bug in the latest update, or even something small like an overlay messing things up.
- Outdated GPU drivers – A classic.
- Corrupted game files – Maybe something didn’t download right.
- Conflicts with overlays – Discord, Steam, etc.
- Missing admin permissions
- Overclocking
- Running the game on an older version of Windows
- Too many background apps running
- Problems with Ubisoft Connect or game settings
Minimum Requirements Check
Before anything else, make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Assassins Creed Shadows. Crashing at startup often happens on unsupported systems.
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- CPU: Intel Core i7-7700 / Ryzen 5 3600
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: GTX 1070 / RX 5700 XT
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: SSD with 100 GB free space
Assassins Creed Shadows Keeps Crashing? 15 Working Fixes You Should Try
Fix 1: Update GPU Drivers
Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are the most common cause of launch crashes.
- Nvidia users: Download latest driver from Nvidia’s website.
- AMD users: Use AMD’s Adrenalin tool.
Tip: Always select “Clean Install” during installation.
Fix 2: Verify Game Files
Corrupt or missing game files can cause freezing at 93%.
Ubisoft Connect:
- Open Ubisoft Connect
- Go to Library
- Click on Assassins Creed Shadows
- Select Properties → Verify Files
Steam:
- Right-click on the game → Properties
- Go to Installed Files
- Click Verify integrity of game files
Fix 3: Disable In-Game Overlays
Overlays from Discord, Steam, or Ubisoft Connect can cause crashes.
Discord: Go to Settings → Overlay → Disable “Enable in-game overlay”
Steam: Game Properties → General → Uncheck “Enable Steam Overlay”
Ubisoft Connect: Settings → General → Uncheck “Enable in-game overlay for supported games”
Fix 4: Run as Administrator
Missing privileges can stop the game from launching correctly.
- Right-click on the game’s shortcut or ACShadows.exe
- Click Properties
- Go to Compatibility
- Check Run this program as administrator
- Click Apply → OK
Fix 5: Disable Overclocking
If your CPU/GPU is overclocked, revert to default clock speeds. Overclocking often causes game instability.
- Use BIOS or tools like MSI Afterburner to reset to default.
- Reboot and try launching the game again.
Fix 6: Clear Ubisoft Connect Cache
Corrupted cache files can affect the game’s startup behavior.
- Close Ubisoft Connect completely.
- Press Win + R → Type:
%localappdata%\Ubisoft Game Launcher
- Delete the folder named cache
- Restart Ubisoft Connect and try launching again.
Fix 7: Install Visual C++ Redistributables
- Make sure all Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables are installed.
- Download all versions from Microsoft
- Install x86 and x64 versions
- Restart PC
Fix 8: Reinstall DirectX 12
- Some installations may miss required DirectX files.
- Download and run DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer
- Install and reboot
Fix 9: Switch to Windowed Mode (Force)
Some users report startup issues when the game launches in fullscreen.
- Go to:
Documents\Assassin's Creed Shadows\ACShadows.ini
- Edit the .ini file and set:
Fullscreen=0
- Save file → Launch game
Fix 10: Reinstall the Game on SSD
If your game is installed on an HDD, move it to an SSD. Games like Assassins Creed Shadows require fast read speeds.
- Uninstall from current location
- Reinstall on an SSD drive with at least 100 GB free
- Reboot system and launch
Fix 11: Disable Fullscreen Optimization
Some systems crash due to fullscreen optimizations.
- Right-click ACShadows.exe
- Go to Properties → Compatibility
- Check Disable fullscreen optimizations
- Click Apply
Fix 12: Update Windows
Ensure you have the latest Windows updates.
- Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update
- Click Check for updates
- Install all pending updates and restart
Fix 13: Use Clean Boot Mode
Third-party services or startup programs may cause conflicts.
- Press Win + R → Type msconfig
- Go to Services tab → Check Hide Microsoft services
- Click Disable all
- Go to Startup tab → Open Task Manager
- Disable all non-essential apps
- Restart PC and try launching game
Fix 14: Offline Mode Launch (Workaround)
If the game gets stuck at 93%, try launching without internet:
- Disconnect from internet
- Launch Ubisoft Connect → Launch game
- Once in-game, reconnect
Fix 15: Reinstall Ubisoft Connect
If all else fails:
- Uninstall Ubisoft Connect completely
- Restart PC
- Reinstall from Ubisoft’s official site
- Login and reinstall Assassins Creed Shadows
FAQs – Assassins Creed Shadows Crashing
Q1: Why does Assassins Creed Shadows crash at 93% every time?
A: The 93% loading crash is usually caused by corrupted files, overlays, or driver conflicts. Verifying files and disabling overlays often resolves it.
Q2: Will Ubisoft release a patch for the crashing issue?
A: Ubisoft has not confirmed an official fix yet, but upcoming patches are expected. Keep your game and launcher updated.
A: It can happen even on high-end systems. However, systems below minimum spec will crash more often.
Q4: Can mods or reshade cause the game to crash?
A: Yes. Remove any third-party mods, shaders, or injectors before launching the game.
Final Thoughts
Assassins Creed Shadows crashing at startup or freezing at 93% is a widespread problem, and in most cases, it’s caused by driver conflicts, corrupted files, overlays, or background processes. While Ubisoft has not released an official fix yet, the troubleshooting steps in this guide cover the most reliable solutions reported by players and the broader PC gaming community.
If you’ve tried everything and the issue still persists, it may be due to a deeper compatibility bug that requires an official patch. In that case, the best step forward is to submit a detailed support ticket to Ubisoft and monitor for future updates. Until then, keep your system optimized, avoid third-party overlays, and use verified installation sources only.
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