Fixing stutter and low frame rates
What to check first when Halloween: The Game stutters, drops frames or crashes, and which performance problems have already been patched on PC, PS5 and Xbox.
On PC, check the requirements first
Two requirements are stricter than most games and account for a lot of trouble. You need Windows 11 64-bit; Windows 10 is not supported at any tier. And the game must be installed on an SSD or NVMe drive, at both the minimum and recommended tier.
The SSD one matters most for stutter. A game that requires an SSD at every tier is built around fast loading, and running it from a mechanical drive gives you exactly the intermittent hitching people complain about. Move it to an SSD before you touch anything else.
The minimum GPU is rated for 1080p at 30fps, not 60. If your PC sits at the minimum spec, 30fps is what to expect.
What has already been fixed
Patch 1.0.4 was mostly a stability patch. It fixed crashes after finishing a Story Mission and while loading into a match on every platform, and the performance hit when Loomis spawns in as a reinforcement, which crashed lower-spec platforms outright. The cause turned out to be Loomis's hair.
Xbox got the most attention. A range of memory and GPU crashes on Series X|S were fixed, and the Series X Performance Mode settings were adjusted to run better. Series S lost its Quality/Performance toggle: it now runs a single graphics mode capped at 30 FPS, with better textures and hair physics switched on.
If you shelved the game over crashes, update it and give it another go. Still crashing rather than stuttering? The crash fixes page goes through each trigger by platform, from Loomis spawning in to the Series X rebooting.
A quick checklist
On PC: Windows 11, the game on an SSD, drivers up to date, and the latest patch installed. If you only meet the minimum spec, aim for a steady 30fps rather than chasing 60.
On Xbox Series S: there is no mode to pick any more, so the 30 FPS cap is expected, not a bug.
On every platform: if a crash happens at the same point every time, such as the end of a story chapter or when Loomis arrives, make sure you are on Patch 1.0.4 or later.
Common questions
- Will it run on Windows 10?
- No. You need Windows 11 64-bit at both the minimum and recommended tier.
- Do I really need an SSD?
- Yes. It is required at both tiers, and a mechanical drive is the most common cause of intermittent stutter.
- Why is Xbox Series S locked to 30 FPS?
- Patch 1.0.4 replaced the Series S Quality/Performance toggle with a single graphics mode, capped at 30 FPS, to fix stability. In exchange, textures are better and hair physics are on.
- Why did the game stutter when Loomis showed up?
- Loomis's hair caused a big performance hit when he spawned in as a reinforcement, and a crash on lower-spec platforms. Patch 1.0.4 fixed it.
More guides
What civilians are supposed to do
The civilian loop the game never teaches, from scoring to fighting back.
Stalk, Bloodthirst and executions
Why the execution prompt is not showing up. It is almost never about where you are standing.
Perk decks and progression
Four level tracks, the graveyard, and how to budget points between card rolls and prestige.