Consistent Crashes, High CPU Usage, Low GPU Utilization on RX 7800 XT

Technical Help
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1

Game Version

Default Version (February 23rd, 2026)

Platform

Steam on Windows

Mods

None currently in use
All previously used mods have been fully removed

Hardware Specifications & Operating System

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D (8 cores, 16 threads)

  • GPU: AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT

  • Memory: 48 GB DDR4 RAM

  • Operating System: Windows 11 Home

  • Virtual Memory / Pagefile:

    • Pagefile set to 40 GB

    • Total virtual memory ~87 GB

Steps to Reproduce

Launch the game and attempt to create or play a household. The crash occurs during gameplay.

Save Files

None available. I am currently unable to progress far enough to create or maintain a save due to crashing.

Details

I am experiencing repeated crashes during gameplay along with abnormal performance behavior.

The issue began suddenly. The game was running normally the previous day (3/19/26) without crashes.

  • The game crashes consistently during gameplay

  • CPU usage spikes up to around 90 percent

  • GPU usage remains low and does not scale properly

  • The game sometimes remains running in the background after crashing (Steam still shows it as active)

Troubleshooting Performed

  • Performed a clean GPU driver uninstall and reinstall

  • Cleared shader cache

  • Reinstalled the game and verified integrity of files

  • Disabled all overlays

  • Fully removed all mods and confirmed a clean installation

  • Performed disk cleanup and a full system restart

Additional Notes

  • My system exceeds recommended specifications

  • The issue persists after all troubleshooting steps

  • The issue occurs on a clean install with no mods

  • Behavior suggests a possible API, driver, or engine level issue rather than a hardware limitation

  • The crash appears to occur during a normal in game scripted sequence or loading transition, rather than at launch. In the recorded example, the game hangs during the scene, displays a loading spinner, then crashes to desktop. This suggests the issue may be related to scene loading, streaming, scripting, or engine stability rather than startup configuration.

2

Thank you for reporting this and for sharing the video :folded_hands:

Could you please let us know which programs are running in the background while those crashes occur?

3

You bet!

At the time of the crashes, the only background application running was Discord. Oh, and of course Steam but that is a given for it was running Inzoi :stuck_out_tongue:

  • All overlays are disabled

  • I have also closed or disabled other background applications including EA App, Epic Games Launcher, and any unnecessary processes before launching the game

  • I ensured minimal background activity prior to testing

The issue still occurs even under these clean conditions. :frowning:

4

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image588Ă—439 15.7 KB

**

Chat GPT may have found the issues, I swear mods will be the death of me. Just when you think you nuked all of them, something is still lingering. I nuked below.

**

:bomb: THE PROBLEM (clear as day)

This line right here:

"modsDirectoryMode": "CFCore"

AND:

"userAgent": "cfcore.ue 1.33.3"

AND:

https://88849.api.curseforge.com

:brain: Translation (this is HUGE)

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Your game is STILL running the CurseForge Core integration

Even though:

  • you disconnected it

  • you removed mods

  • you cleaned folders

:backhand_index_pointing_right: The CFCore plugin is still active inside the game

:police_car_light: THIS explains EVERYTHING

  • Mod popup still showing :check_mark:

  • “Couldn’t load mods library” :check_mark:

  • Crashes during load :check_mark:

  • CPU spikes :check_mark:

:backhand_index_pointing_right: The game is trying to:

initialize CurseForge mod system… but it’s broken / missing data

:collision: then crashes during scene load

:fire: THIS IS THE ACTUAL FIX PATH

We need to disable or break CFCore inside the game.

**

I am currently uninstalling and reinstalling after the nuke. I will keep you posted!

UPDATE: The verdict is in! It’s still crashing LOL.

5

Hilarious thing guys…. Its working.

All I did, was hit restore defaults in settings at the main menu…

What an insane ride that was LOL.

6

Thank you so much. It worked. I’ve been loading my saves and try a new save for so many hours.

7

Glad it’s finally working for you :grinning_face:

Feel free to mark the reply as “solution” so other users with similar issues can try it right away.

8

I feel you! I literally worked on troubleshooting I feel like FOR LITERAL HOURS. Towards the end, I was like let’s give this a try for giggles. Turns out that’s what it needed.

CRAZY!