Recent Windows 11 Update Causing Issues With D2r and Other Games

And just when we thought we could find another issue to blame on Blizzard? Note, the issue has been verified by multiple tech sites and Nvidia.

"Some users have reported that Windows 11 24H2 update causes instability and freezing issues with Diablo II: Resurrected, while the game runs fine on Windows 10."

The issue affects systems running both Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 builds. "Lower performance may be observed in some games after updating to Windows 11 October 2025 KB5066835 [5561605]"

Added information:

Nvida relased a hotfix for 24H2

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/fo ... leased-11/


Note that this is in addition to an issue reported by ShadowHeart here.

post3872961.html#p3872961

The only way to solve this is to use Windows 11 23H2. Just saving people a whole load of time and hassle.

There is also a hotfix from Nvidia.

GeForce Hotfix Display Driver 581.94 from Nvidia’s Customer Care.

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/fo ... leased-11/

This isn’t new. It’s a year old issue. Source: me. I bought a new PC one year ago that came preinstalled with Windows 11 24H2. It had freeze issues on D2R from day one. Eventually caved a few months later and reinstalled with 23H2 (and locked it to that version to prevent Windows from trying to upgrade automatically). The fact that it still isn’t solved a year later is flabbergasting. And for the record, Windows 11 23H2 just went EOL a few weeks ago so if you’re on Windows 11 you have two options - stay on an increasingly insecure system or upgrade to one that can’t play D2R without complete system freezes.

I also mentioned it here:
post3872961.html#p3872961

ShadowHeart wrote: 2 months ago

This isn’t new. It’s a year old issue. Source: me. I bought a new PC one year ago that came preinstalled with Windows 11 24H2. It had freeze issues on D2R from day one. Eventually caved a few months later and reinstalled with 23H2 (and locked it to that version to prevent Windows from trying to upgrade automatically). The fact that it still isn’t solved a year later is flabbergasting. And for the record, Windows 11 23H2 just went EOL a few weeks ago so if you’re on Windows 11 you have two options - stay on an increasingly insecure system or upgrade to one that can’t play D2R without complete system freezes.

I also mentioned it here:
post3872961.html#p3872961

Nvida relased a hotfix for 24H2 9 days ago.

The problems began after Microsoft pushed out its October 2025 cumulative update for Windows 11, known as KB5066835.

"Lower performance may be observed in some games after updating to Windows 11 October 2025 KB5066835 [5561605]" Nvidia The link is above.

The article mentions performance issues. The issue I’m talking about has to do with the total system freezes issue. The freeze issue is a year old (since 24H2 came out). You’re talking about a Windows patch that came out in May 2025. The freeze issue had already existed for over 6 months before that.

Let me describe the Windows 11 freeze issue for you - everything runs 100% smoothly for an hour or more. It varies. No performance issues whatsoever. Game runs perfectly. Then suddenly out of nowhere there’s a stutter where the game seems to freeze for a second or two, then it goes back to normal. Then the game plays perfectly again. There may or may not be more short freezes before the full freeze, it varies. Then eventually, complete system freeze. Monitors frozen solid. No mouse movement. No reaction to keyboard input. If you wait long enough (can be multiple hours), the system may eventually unfreeze by itself (and by that point your D2R will still be running but be thrown back to the splash screen due to lost server connection). This is assuming you’re patient enough to wait that long (I once left my home with my PC frozen like this only to come back the next day and find it unfrozen).

This seems like two completely separate issues, and it’s great if Nvidia has patched a performance issue that has arisen with a Windows patch, but until I hear otherwise the original 24H2 freeze issue is still unpatched. (I know many people with this particular issue)

ShadowHeart wrote: 2 months ago

The article mentions performance issues. The issue I’m talking about has to do with the total system freezes issue. The freeze issue is a year old (since 24H2 came out). You’re talking about a Windows patch that came out in May 2025. The freeze issue had already existed for over 6 months before that.

Let me describe the Windows 11 freeze issue for you - everything runs 100% smoothly for an hour or more. It varies. No performance issues whatsoever. Game runs perfectly. Then suddenly out of nowhere there’s a stutter where the game seems to freeze for a second or two, then it goes back to normal. Then the game plays perfectly again. There may or may not be more short freezes before the full freeze, it varies. Then eventually, complete system freeze. Monitors frozen solid. No mouse movement. No reaction to keyboard input. If you wait long enough (can be multiple hours), the system may eventually unfreeze by itself (and by that point your D2R will still be running but be thrown back to the splash screen due to lost server connection). This is assuming you’re patient enough to wait that long (I once left my home with my PC frozen like this only to come back the next day and find it unfrozen).

This seems like two completely separate issues, and it’s great if Nvidia has patched a performance issue that has arisen with a Windows patch, but until I hear otherwise the original 24H2 freeze issue is still unpatched.

We are talking about two different issues, KB5066835 is a Windows 11 24H2 update released in October 2025.

Right; that’s what I thought.

(and for the record, KB5058499 does not fix the freeze issues, like the quote in your OP mentions, at least not for everyone - several people have confirmed that the freeze issue persists)

ShadowHeart wrote: 2 months ago

Right; that’s what I thought.

(and for the record, KB5058499 does not fix the freeze issues, like the quote in your OP mentions, at least not for everyone - several people have confirmed that the freeze issue persists)

EDIT: "KB5058499" was a May 2025 fix for the issue reported about 9 months ago but it introduced new issues such as installation problems, unresponsiveness of certain system components, and more. So this lead to a series of updates such as June 10, 2025—KB5060842, that didn't fix anything, followed by four more releases until we arrive to the current issue October 14, 2025—KB5066835"

your fault for updating to W11 lol.
W10 is already shit why go higher lol.

MintBlancmanche wrote: 2 months ago

your fault for updating to W11 lol.
W10 is already shit why go higher lol.

I'm still using Windows 10, along with classic shell, and although I've been spec'ing parts for a new build, this one is still quite good. So you must be referring to Shadowheart? LOL

People need to realize benchmarks. Windows 10 is good NF!