Cities Skylines 2 Crashing on PC? Fixes That Work

If Cities: Skylines 2 crashes on your PC, it’s usually due to outdated graphics drivers, insufficient RAM or VRAM, or a corrupted game file, and you can fix most crashes by updating drivers, verifying game files, and lowering graphics settings. This guide walks through the most common crash causes and the step-by-step fixes that resolve them, from the simplest to the more involved.

Why Cities: Skylines 2 Crashes So Often

Cities: Skylines 2 is a simulation game that loads an entire city simulation into memory, so it demands far more from your hardware than most other city builders. The game engine has to track thousands of citizens, vehicles, and buildings simultaneously, which puts heavy stress on your CPU, GPU, and RAM. If any one of those components is below the recommended spec, or if your system has a minor instability, the game can crash to desktop without warning.

Common crash triggers include:

Outdated graphics drivers – the game uses modern rendering features that older drivers handle poorly.
Insufficient RAM – the game can use 12-16 GB or more with a large city and mods.
Overheating – sustained load can push CPUs and GPUs to thermal limits, causing shutdowns or crashes.
Corrupted game files – a failed update or disk error can leave files that crash the game on load.
Conflicting mods – even though the game has built-in mod support, broken mods are a leading cause of crashes.
Unstable overclocks – an overclocked CPU or GPU that is stable in other games may crash in this one.

Before You Try Anything: Quick Checks

Start with the fastest fixes, as they resolve a large percentage of crashes:

Restart your PC – a fresh boot clears memory leaks and background processes that might interfere.
Check for Windows updates – run Windows Update and install all pending updates, especially optional driver updates.
Close background apps – shut down browsers, Discord, or other software that consumes RAM and GPU memory.
Update your graphics driver – go to NVIDIA or AMD’s website, download the latest driver for your GPU, and install it with a “clean install” option if available.
Verify game files – in Steam, right-click the game, select Properties, go to Installed Files, and click Verify integrity of game files. On Game Pass, use the Xbox app’s repair option.

If the game still crashes after these steps, move on to the deeper fixes below.

Lower Graphics Settings to Reduce Crashes

Even if your PC meets the recommended requirements, the game’s default “High” preset can be too demanding, especially in dense areas. Lowering settings reduces GPU and CPU load, which often stops crashes that happen when the action gets busy.

Try these specific settings changes:

Set Resolution to your monitor’s native resolution, but consider lowering it to 1080p if you’re on 1440p or 4K and experiencing crashes.
Set VSync to Off (or On if you have screen tearing, but Off is more stable for crashes).
Set Shadow Quality to Medium or Low – shadows are very GPU-intensive.
Set Reflections to Off or Low.
Set Volumetric Quality to Off or Low – this is a common crash trigger.
Set Depth of Field to Off.
Set Anti-aliasing to TAA or Off – higher settings can cause instability.

After changing settings, restart the game and test with a new or existing city. If the crash disappears, gradually raise settings one by one to find the culprit.

Update Drivers and Windows (and How to Do It Right)

Outdated graphics drivers are the #1 cause of crashes in modern games, and Cities: Skylines 2 is no exception. The game was released in 2023 and has received numerous patches that require up-to-date drivers to run correctly.

To update your driver correctly:

Identify your GPU: press Win + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter. Look at the “Display” tab for the GPU name and driver version.
Go to the official website of your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest driver for your exact model.
Run the installer and choose “Custom Installation” and then “Clean Installation” (NVIDIA) or “Factory Reset” (AMD) to remove old driver remnants.
Restart your PC after installation.

Also, update Windows itself: go to Settings > Windows Update and install all updates, including optional ones. Windows updates often include stability patches that help with game crashes.

Check RAM and VRAM Usage

Cities: Skylines 2 is a memory hog. The minimum requirement is 8 GB RAM, but the game can easily use 12-16 GB with a medium-sized city and a few mods. If you have 8 GB or 16 GB, you might be running out of memory, which causes crashes.

To check your RAM usage:

Launch the game and let it load a city.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Go to the “Performance” tab and look at Memory usage.
If memory usage is at 90% or higher, you’re likely hitting the limit.

If you’re running out of RAM, try:

Closing background programs (especially browsers).
Lowering the game’s resolution (uses less memory).
Removing mods that add assets.
Adding more RAM (if your motherboard supports it).

VRAM (video memory) is also critical. The game recommends 6 GB VRAM, but on higher settings it can use more. If your GPU has 4 GB or less, lower texture quality and resolution to reduce VRAM usage.

Disable Overlays and Background Recording

Overlays from Steam, Discord, GeForce Experience, and Xbox Game Bar can cause crashes in many games. They hook into the game’s rendering process and can conflict with the engine.

To disable them:

Steam Overlay: In Steam, right-click the game > Properties > uncheck “Enable Steam Overlay while in-game”.
Discord Overlay: In Discord, go to Settings > Overlay and turn off “Enable in-game overlay”.
GeForce Experience: Open GeForce Experience, go to Settings > General, and turn off “In-Game Overlay”.
Xbox Game Bar: Press Win + I > Gaming > Game Bar and turn off “Game Bar”.

Also, disable any recording software like OBS or ShadowPlay if you’re not using them. After disabling overlays, restart the game and see if the crash persists.

Fix Corrupted Game Files and Reinstall

Corrupted game files are a common cause of crashes, especially after a large update. The game’s files can become corrupted due to disk errors, interrupted downloads, or antivirus interference.

To verify and repair files:

Steam: Right-click the game > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files.
Xbox App / Game Pass: Go to the game’s page, click the “…” menu, select “Manage”, then “Repair”.
If verification finds no issues, try a clean reinstall: uninstall the game, delete the game folder (if any remains), and reinstall.

Also, make sure your antivirus isn’t blocking the game. Add the game’s folder to your antivirus’s exclusions list, especially if you use third-party antivirus software.

When to Check Overheating and Power Supply

If your PC crashes only after playing for 30-60 minutes, it’s likely an overheating issue. The game stresses the CPU and GPU heavily, and if your cooling is inadequate, temperatures can reach critical levels.

To monitor temperatures:

Download a monitoring tool like MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor (free).
Run the game for 15-20 minutes, then check the max temperature recorded.
If your CPU is above 90°C or your GPU above 85°C, you have a cooling problem.

Solutions include cleaning dust from fans, improving case airflow, or replacing thermal paste (if you’re comfortable doing that). Also, if your power supply unit (PSU) is underpowered or old, it may not deliver stable power under load, causing crashes. If you suspect the PSU, test with a known-good PSU or consult a professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does Cities: Skylines 2 crash on startup?
A: Startup crashes are usually due to outdated drivers, corrupted files, or missing system updates. Try updating your GPU driver, verifying game files, and reinstalling the game. Also, check if your PC meets the minimum requirements – the game requires Windows 10 64-bit, an Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, 8 GB RAM, and a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 480.

Q: Does the game crash more with mods?
A: Yes, mods can cause crashes, especially if they are outdated or conflict with each other. Disable all mods and see if the game runs. If it does, enable mods one by one to find the culprit. Also, check the mod’s page for compatibility with the current game version.

Q: How much RAM do I really need for Cities: Skylines 2?
A: The official minimum is 8 GB, but 16 GB is strongly recommended for a smooth experience. With a large city and several mods, 32 GB is ideal. If you have 8 GB, you’ll likely see crashes or stuttering as your city grows.

Q: Will lowering graphics settings fix crashes?
A: Often, yes. If the crash happens when the screen is busy (e.g., when zooming in on a dense area), lowering settings like shadows, reflections, and volumetric quality reduces GPU load and can prevent crashes. It’s a good first step before more drastic fixes.

Q: I have a high-end PC, why does it still crash?
A: Even high-end PCs can crash due to driver bugs, overheating, or software conflicts. Try disabling overlays, updating drivers, and checking temperatures. Also, some early versions of the game had known performance issues that were fixed in later patches, so make sure your game is updated to the latest version.

Q: Is there a known issue with Windows 11?
A: The game is compatible with Windows 11, but some users have reported crashes related to the “Memory Integrity” feature in Windows Security. If you have it enabled, try turning it off (Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Device Security > Core Isolation > Memory Integrity) and see if the crash stops. Remember to re-enable it after testing.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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