How to fix NBA 2K25 crashing errors

If you’ve been unable to enjoy a good game of NBA 2K25 in a while due to incessant crashes, we know there’s nothing more frustrating. Thankfully, provided the cause is on your end, you can handle those annoying crashing errors in a jiffy.

Online video games like NBA 2K25 run on servers, making them vulnerable to complicated bugs and hiccups that occur due to several reasons. While you can usually tackle minor player-sided causes like outdated drivers, laggy internet connections, and software interruptions with ease, internal server-sided ones need the developer’s intervention to be fixed. 

Here’s what you can do to figure out why NBA 2K25 is crashing on your platform.

NBA 2K25 crashing errors: How to fix

Since NBA 2K25 launched on Sept. 6 (Sept. 4 for pre-orders), players have taken to Reddit and Steam to rage about the annoying crashing issues they’ve been facing. You certainly aren’t the only one crashing out of the game at startup or when loading up MyCareer or MyGM modes; the issues are widespread across platforms and are affecting players differently.

Needless to say, 2K could have done a better job optimizing its latest NBA iteration, especially its PC version. A $70 pricetag isn’t cheap and if you pay that kind of money for a game, you’d expect it to launch without issues at the very least.

Well, things should get better with time as 2K solves prevailing issues and optimizes servers, but until then, you can try the following workarounds to potentially get rid of the crashes.

1) Disable game overlays

If you use overlays (Discord, NVIDIA, AMD, etc.) for quick actions, we suggest disabling them as they are one of the most common reasons for crashes in games. This may stop or at least reduce the crashing issues you’ve been facing in NBA 2K25.

2) Check for outdated drivers

Whether you’re on a console or PC, make sure your platform’s software is up to date. If on PC, make sure your video drivers are updated to their latest versions.

3) Fix internet woes

We don’t need to reiterate how notorious laggy internet connections can be. Make sure you check if your network isn’t acting up when trying to play NBA 2K25. Restart your router and modem and connect to a direct internet connection instead of wireless if possible. You can also try switching up the DNS your network uses to a more gaming-friendly one. Lastly, make sure you aren’t connected to a VPN.

4) Disable Windows Defender

If you use Windows Defender, disable its firewall and then check if you’re able to launch NBA 2K25 without issues. Try the same if you are using a third-party antivirus tool. If this fixes the crashes, you now know the culprit. Make sure the game isn’t being blocked by the anti-virus you are using. You can dig into the firewall settings and check if its .exe file is allowed through the barrier. If not, adding it to the green list should fix the crashes.

If none of the above fixes work (they may not for many players as there are internal factors involved), we recommend submitting a ticket to 2K and wait for a curated solution.