PSA: New Black Ops 3 stutter/issues on PC after recent Steam update

[NikkMann]

Alot of people have noticed Black Ops 3 has been having issues the last week or so. In menus its a consistent stutter every 1 second, once in a zombies map the game will often freeze or crash, and in MP fps will randomly be capped somewhere between 80 and 90.

Its being caused by the May 12 steam update. Steam did something wonky and now whenever the game connects to the internet through Steam's servers it starts having issues. This was a problem for a while in the Steam beta builds, and it appears it was not fixed and rolled over into the new official Steam update.

The only way to fix it for now is to launch the game in offline mode.

It HAS to launch offline, you can't launch it normally and then go offline. And if at any point it goes back online the issue will start again.

There are a few threads on the steam discussion forums about other users having this. Seems like some people have already sent support tickets to Activision and they said they would look into it.

If you're having the same issue please also send Activision and Steam a support ticket. The more they hear about it the faster we'll get a fix, either from their end or Steam's.

UPDATE Feb 28, 2023
After talking with serious, we managed to fix the fps stutter issue his patch used to have. I recommend everyone use his patch now instead of Koalagedon.

Black Ops 3 will also be getting an update in the near future so using Koalagedon may risk a ban.

You can find his patch here:
https://github.com/shiversoftdev/t7patch

UPDATE 1:
Thanks to a comment from Zerberus, you can temporarily fix the issue by reverting steam to an older version using this video. Problem is that you can't play online, and any games released after that steam version from 2020 will not be playable since steam did not "support" them back then, and you will not be able to play online. If you want to update steam back to normal after doing this, delete the steam.cfg that you put in there and restart steam, it should then auto update like normal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knIfk_-YOS8

UPDATE 2:
Someone made a video showing what is happening. This is the exact issue myself and others are having:
https://youtu.be/HVq8sOrKyas

UPDATE 3:
Got a response form Steam Support on May 27 that they are now aware of the issue and their engineers are working on a fix. Said it should be pushed to the Steam Beta in a week or so.

UPDATE 4 (June 9, 2022):
Still no fix, asked steam support if they have an updated ETA and they said they can't disclose future steam beta updates and closed my case.
In the meantime however, I found an....interesting fix.
A user on reddit replied to my post there and said that if you inject an mxt mod menu into the game it fixes everything.
Never used a mod menu before so took me a bit to figure it out but yep, it fixes everything.
I tested this by injecting the mod menu at different points in the game, once on the main menu, once in a custom multiplayer match, and once in solo zombies. I had to restart my game each time because once its injected there's no way to remove it with the game open.
In the main menu, immediately after injecting, the stutters went way.
In the custom multiplayer match, after playing for a bit, immediately after injecting (without moving at all), my fps jumped from 115 to 165 (what it was before this weird issue started)
In solo zombies, after playing for a bit, immediately after injecting (without moving at all), my fps went from 110 to 130 and I stopped getting random fps drops.
I really don't like the idea of having to use a mod menu all the time, so I tried injecting something else like Reshade but nope, it HAS to be the mod menu.
I'll see if I can contact the mod menu's developer for a...less hacky fix lol.
However, I really don't wanna go around advising people to mod their games, especially people who don't have any experience with modding stuff, so I'll just say to google it and figure it out yourself.
I dont encourage or condone any kind of cheating.

UPDATE 5:
So after talking in the mod menu's discord some more, the only feature it has that gets automatically enabled when injected is called "spoofing dlc", where it apparently makes the game think you own all the dlc even if you don't (I just didn't notice it because I actually own all the dlc, so nothing changed for me). If you download a version of it that disables the spoofing, then it does not fix the issue. So it looks like it has something to do with the game's dlc check thats causing the issue.
Maybe the network update from May 13 is causing it to ping steam too much for its dlc check which introduces the issue, and somehow the mod menu forcing the game to think it has all the dlc fixes it. This would also explain why other DLC heavy games like Hitman 3 and Left 4 Dead 2 have also been affected for other people, and backs the idea that one of the big networking changes steam made that update is what is causing this issue.

UPDATE 6:
Talking to one of the moderators on the mod menu's discord, he's confirmed that whats causing the issue is my previous guess of steam pinging the game's dlc too often. What their dlc spoofing does is stop steam from pinging the game's dlc all-together, hence why it stops the issue. So we now know the definite cause . I've asked him if he'll make a dll that only has the spoof, so we don't need to use a mod menu. Waiting for a response.

UPDATE 7:
The mod menu's creator doesn't seem too keen on doing it, but he said the .dll for his mod menu is un-encrypted, meaning anyone who knows how to code can go in and isolate the dlc spoofer part. He said all you need is a basic cpp editor like ida (whatever that means). I'm gonna ask around to see if anyone is willing to take it up, possibly also make it into an .exe that you can start before launching the game so it auto hooks into it once the game starts. Make it as easy as possible.
IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
I can send them the .dll

UPDATE 8 (June 16, 2022):
Tested the new steam beta update that says it "Fixed a case where Steamworks API calls could be briefly blocked by Steam client log file operations leading to micro-stutter in some games under very specific situations".
Found some interesting stuff.
So in the main menu, the stutter still happens IF you do NOT have all the possible DLC for the game installed (I didn't have the campaign and multiplayer DLC). When I installed those, the main menu stutter completely went away.
Unfortunately, the frame drops in zombies and loss of fps in multiplayer still happens (even with all the DLC installed).
Tested this by playing both modes for a bit without the mod menu, and then injecting it mid-match like I did in UPDATE 4, and the issues were fixed the same way they were in UPDATE 4.
So for now, the issue is still not fixed even with the steam beta update.

UPDATE 9 (July 20, 2022):
Since its obvious now that Steam and Activision will not fix this issue, I am offering a commission for a few hundred dollars for a tool that fixes this issue (by integrating the DLC spoofer) and also integrates some other stability and security fixes, along with graphics customization, for BO3.
Here is the design doc for what I want in the tool. Feel free to message me if you want to take the commission and we can talk feasibility and price.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mlp_RIg2peutQUsMJyfd7KQXosD9yljAHMOvKnkJNqU/edit?usp=sharing

UPDATE 10 (July 22, 2022):
I've come to an agreement with a very experienced coder for BO3 and he's making a tool that should hopefully fix this issue (said he might even be able to fix it without needing to use the DLC Spoofer, but no guarantees), along with other stability and crash fixes and some options to enhance the graphics past what the engine limits them to. Said it will take around 2 weeks to make.

UPDATE 11 (August 5, 2022):
Just giving a status update on the tool. The coder is making good progress, but has run into some unexpected bugs and is trying to sort them out. He's been sending me stuff to test so rest assured it is actually being worked on. He was actually out of town for work the last few weeks and working from a laptop, but got back home yesterday so he can work on it in full now. No ETA right now, but shouldn't go past the end of August and that's accounting for troubleshooting stuff.

UPDATE 12: TEMPORARY FIX FOUND (August 13, 2022):
Thanks to user Khepri, a temporary fix has been found while the tool is made which does not involve injecting mod menus are unlocking paid DLC for free.
I have made a guide here:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2848569913

UPDATE 12.5 Sept 14, 2022:
There's been alot of buzz recently from youtubers complaining BO3 zombies is unplayable. This is patently false. Please see this video from Serious, the guy who made the current version of the community patch that blocks hackers from crashing you:
https://youtu.be/jDQkNV5J4SM

UPDATE 13 Sept 16, 2022:
Unfortunately, the current developer of the tool had to drop it for personal reasons, he only got a few of the points in the design doc done so we just decided it wouldn't be worth it for him to keep working and me to pay him.
Fortunately, Serious, the maker of the community patch against hackers (in the video linked in the UPDATE above) has agreed to take on the commission. He is extremely well versed with the BO3 engine and said he should be able to do most if not all of the items in the design doc and also integrate his community patch into it.
He will be able to start working on it at the end of September after he wraps up some stuff for school.
His current version of the community patch contains a wip version of an fps fix, but it has some bugs/issues that I'm trying to help him sort out. Hopefully by the time my tool is done it'll all be fixed.

UPDATE 14 - Sept 23, 2022:
The September 22, 2022 steam update has stopped Koalageddon from working, so the "fix" in my guide above does not work anymore. Simply amazing steam, gg. You can uninstall Koalageddon.
Serious' community patch mostly fixes the fps issues, BUT it has an issue with random fps drops. Serious is aware and I've been talking with him to try and fix it.
Its better than nothing, so for now just use his patch:
https://github.com/shiversoftdev/t7patch

UPDATE 15 - Oct 8, 2022:
Found a fix to get the guide method working again thanks to user Battletarkus that's actually really simple, guide has been updated with the steps.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2848569913
Again, the reason you would still want to use the guide method over Serious' community patch (which also has a version of the fps fix) is because his version has issues on some systems where you will get random massive fps drops in-game (way more than without the patch), the guide/koalageddon method does not have that issue, it is a complete fix.
Of course, you are more than welcome to run both of them at the same time, since Serious' patch is also is great for stopping hackers, but then you will still get the fps drop issues from Serious' patch.

[brandon]

infrared님이 먼저 게시:

fighternp님이 먼저 게시:

im not the person asking for a dll ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Ok but why did you point out that its not a dll then? I'm pretty sure he was just mentioning the patch.

because someone asked for a dll and he said "Guys, here's an easy fix that isn't a mod menu." then he listed the fix that isn't a dll. idk maybe if you read the conversation you wouldnt be so confused

[NikkMann]

KingKrouch님이 먼저 게시:

NikkMann님이 먼저 게시:

How are you using DXVK?

Drag the dxgi.dll and d3d11.dll files (from the tar file from DXVK's releases section) into the game's install folder. Should work afterwards, the downside being that DXVK on Windows generally messes around with HDR and causes everything to go a bit dark after you quit the game or alt-tab.

If there was a DXGI interop for DXVK (So it basically would let you use DXGI to present the game window and have the flip model optimizations for windowed/borderless mode, while using Vulkan for everything else), that last part wouldn't be an issue though.

Tried this, fps got slightly worse and like you said HDR stopped working so don't really see a reason to use it

[infrared]

fighternp님이 먼저 게시:

infrared님이 먼저 게시:

Ok but why did you point out that its not a dll then? I'm pretty sure he was just mentioning the patch.

because someone asked for a dll and he said "Guys, here's an easy fix that isn't a mod menu." then he listed the fix that isn't a dll. idk maybe if you read the conversation you wouldnt be so confused

I'm not confused, you are. He just said that it's a fix you don't need respond on behalf of someone else. He didn't even quote the guy asking for a dll so he wasn't talking to him.

[Blek]

Zen님이 먼저 게시:

That's not true, WAW all the way up to Bo3 are god like games.
You don't need to force your opinion upon others and call them kids.

Respect

[Cdi]

I am shaking and crying.

[✪ Joaco]

yo did you find a solution or what?

[Helios]

-Racketeer-님이 먼저 게시:

cod games were always trash XD , but kids buy anyway .... so they dont care

Lmfao, coming from a Dbd player. Hilarious!

[www.ninemil.com]

Official Treyarch patch incoming, (not sure if just for RCE or for both RCE and performance): https://twitter.com/charlieINTEL/status/1630649905990574080

"Neil Wood, a spokesperson for Activision and Treyarch, the studio that developed the game, sent the following statement: “Call of Duty: Black Ops III was published in 2015, and we are committed in continuing to support this title 8 years following its original release. We are aware of a technical issue on the Steam version of Call of Duty: Black Ops III and are scheduled to deploy an update this week. We thank our community for their continued support.”

Edit: the source Tech Crunch article, here:

https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/28/gamers-are-fixing-a-video-game-taken-over-by-hackers/

[Lunar]

Finally

[Blek]

www.ninemil.com님이 먼저 게시:

Official Treyarch patch incoming, (not sure if just for RCE or for both RCE and performance): https://twitter.com/charlieINTEL/status/1630649905990574080

"Neil Wood, a spokesperson for Activision and Treyarch, the studio that developed the game, sent the following statement: “Call of Duty: Black Ops III was published in 2015, and we are committed in continuing to support this title 8 years following its original release. We are aware of a technical issue on the Steam version of Call of Duty: Black Ops III and are scheduled to deploy an update this week. We thank our community for their continued support.”

Edit: the source Tech Crunch article, here:

https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/28/gamers-are-fixing-a-video-game-taken-over-by-hackers/

'bout ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ time!

[Itchysten]

but will they fix the fps issue as well (from this original post)

[NikkMann]

UPDATE Feb 28, 2023
After talking with serious, we managed to fix the fps stutter issue his patch used to have. I recommend everyone use his patch now instead of Koalagedon.

Black Ops 3 will also be getting an update in the near future so using Koalagedon may risk a ban.

You can find his patch here:
https://github.com/shiversoftdev/t7patch

[torbo]

www.ninemil.com님이 먼저 게시:

Official Treyarch patch incoming, (not sure if just for RCE or for both RCE and performance): https://twitter.com/charlieINTEL/status/1630649905990574080

"Neil Wood, a spokesperson for Activision and Treyarch, the studio that developed the game, sent the following statement: “Call of Duty: Black Ops III was published in 2015, and we are committed in continuing to support this title 8 years following its original release. We are aware of a technical issue on the Steam version of Call of Duty: Black Ops III and are scheduled to deploy an update this week. We thank our community for their continued support.”

Edit: the source Tech Crunch article, here:

https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/28/gamers-are-fixing-a-video-game-taken-over-by-hackers/

LET'S GOOOOOO

[zombie cat]

www.ninemil.com님이 먼저 게시:

Official Treyarch patch incoming, (not sure if just for RCE or for both RCE and performance): https://twitter.com/charlieINTEL/status/1630649905990574080

"Neil Wood, a spokesperson for Activision and Treyarch, the studio that developed the game, sent the following statement: “Call of Duty: Black Ops III was published in 2015, and we are committed in continuing to support this title 8 years following its original release. We are aware of a technical issue on the Steam version of Call of Duty: Black Ops III and are scheduled to deploy an update this week. We thank our community for their continued support.”

Edit: the source Tech Crunch article, here:

https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/28/gamers-are-fixing-a-video-game-taken-over-by-hackers/

Thank goodness that treyarch is making things right.

[1200]

losvideosdetorbo님이 먼저 게시:

www.ninemil.com님이 먼저 게시:

Official Treyarch patch incoming, (not sure if just for RCE or for both RCE and performance): https://twitter.com/charlieINTEL/status/1630649905990574080

"Neil Wood, a spokesperson for Activision and Treyarch, the studio that developed the game, sent the following statement: “Call of Duty: Black Ops III was published in 2015, and we are committed in continuing to support this title 8 years following its original release. We are aware of a technical issue on the Steam version of Call of Duty: Black Ops III and are scheduled to deploy an update this week. We thank our community for their continued support.”

Edit: the source Tech Crunch article, here:

https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/28/gamers-are-fixing-a-video-game-taken-over-by-hackers/

LET'S GOOOOOO

I am so damn happy to read this