Stuck and infinite loading screen issues in Path of Exile 2: Possible fixes

The early access launch of Path of Exile 2 on December 7, 2024, has been met with significant excitement but isn't without some technical hiccups. Initially, players faced challenges validating their keys, an issue that has now been resolved. However, a new problem has surfaced: players, particularly those using Windows 11 24H2, are encountering infinite loading screens.

This͏ frust͏rating issue appears to stem from the lack of ͏optimizatio͏n in the game with the latest Windows update. That said, here are͏ some potential fixes to help͏ you get back͏ to your adventur͏es in Wraeclast.

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How to possibly fix the loading screen error in

Path of Exile 2

A screengrab of the game's skill tree (Image via Grinding GEar games)

Option 1: Use BES (Battle Encoder Shirasé)

One of the more effective solutions being discussed within the community is using BES (Battle Encoder Shirasé) to limit Path of Exile 2's CPU usage. The issue seems to arise when the game pushes the CPU to 100% during loading screens, causing the system to freeze.

By using BES to cap the CPU usage at 95% (a -5% target), players have reported significant improvements, with the loading screens completing successfully.

Follow these steps to implement this method:

1. Download BES from its official website: https://mion.yosei.fi/BES/.
2. Install and open the application.
3. Add Path of Exile 2 to the program and set the CPU usage limit to 95%.
4. Run the game and see if this resolves the issue.

While this method is not an official fix, it has worked for many players and is worth trying if you’re stuck.

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Option 2: Revert to Windows 11 23H2

If BES doesn’t resolve the issue or you prefer a different approach, consider rolling back to the Windows 11 23H2 update. Since the optimization problem primarily affects the 24H2 version, reverting to a stable and well-supported version could eliminate the issue.

To roll back, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > System > Recovery.
2. Under “Go back to the previous version of Windows,” follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Restart your system and try launching the game again.

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Final thoughts

The infinite loa͏ding scre͏en issue in Path of Exile 2 is f͏rustrat͏ing, especially for early-access players eager ͏to explore the game. ͏Unt͏il Grin͏d͏ing͏ Gear G͏ames rel͏ease͏s a patch ͏to address this ͏pro͏blem, the abo͏ve possible fixe͏s ͏are yo͏ur best͏ bet to͏ w͏o͏rk a͏round it.

Note: The steps provided in this article serve as workarounds and are not guaranteed to work for everyone.