Steam overlay causes Hitman World of Assassination to crash to desktop silently (Win11 64 Home)

[justinstyles]

I am posting here in Steam discussions rather than Hitman discussions because...
1. no crash on other games (play 3 others daily) within Steam when using Steam overlay; and
2. no crash if Steam overlay is not used.

Since 11 and 13 September 2024 updates to Steam, Steam overlay activation causes "Hitman World of Assassination" to crash silently to desktop.
I can duplicate the problem 100%:
1. Run Steam.
2. Start Hitman.
3. When game is running (past the "ENTER" screen to view menu of game modes, etc.), open Steam overlay.

Game can crash as soon as 2 seconds or up to ~20 seconds after using Steam overlay.

I have used "Delete Web Browser Data" from within Steam Settings, disabled "Restore my previous browser tabs when starting a game", and even removed Clock from Toolbar (since clock was listed as changed in patch notes).

Hope for advice on solution.
Best regards.

[V3LTA]

Try to run in borderless?

[justinstyles]

Thank you for replying, V3LTA; there is no "borderless" option.
There are "Windowed", "Fullscreen", and "Exclusive Fullscreen" choices. I have been using "Fullscreen" due to advice 1+ year ago for reducing load on PC (when I was using Win10), which I think is closest option to "borderless"?

Either way, you gave me another option to consider changing: I will try "Exclusive Fullscreen" although I do not run other programs (browser, etc.) in background when playing.

Best regards.

[blunus]

Exclusive Fullscreen is the classic name for borderless mode. It sets the same way borderless did.

[V3LTA]

Originally posted by blunus:

Exclusive Fullscreen is the classic name for borderless mode. It sets the same way borderless did.

I didnt know this tbh makes sense though

[Seaman]

Nice

[justinstyles]

Thank you, blunus, for correcting me (Exclusive Fullscreen = borderless); unfortunately, while the game lasted longer (~60s) after entering Steam overlay, it crashed eventually.
I tried it twice: 1st where I chose Steam overlay (no open in it since I'd closed "Guides" and "Web Browser" in prior sessions) then another session where, in-game, I chose a new DLC, which automatically redirects to the Steam store page for that DLC in Steam overlay's web browser. The DLC method lasted longer before crash.

As confirmation that the problem remains Steam overlay, I played without opening Steam overlay and was able to complete a mission (~25 minutes) without any apparent problems.

Best regards.

[Watchman]

Can confirm it happens, and only after new update, never had it before

[Iron Know]

yeah thats right

[justinstyles]

Reading through Steam's generic "Steam client crashes" troubleshooting, I am not running most programs (e.g,. browsers, game store clients such as Epic (EGS) / Ubisoft / EA). I am running Windows anti-virus (tried turning it off and also tried excluding Steam and Hitman WoA) and GeForce Experience (tried turning it off too).
The crashes unfortunately returned to occurring within 3-5 seconds of switching to Steam Overlay.

It's trying to run something as the mouse cursor gains the "thinking / processing" circle for 1-2s then game silently crashes.

Other games (I play 3 others reqularly) continue accept Steam Overlay without any crashes.or hesitation when using Steam Overlay.

Best regards.

[Iceira]

You might want to delete game own overlay userdata, steam change this awhile ago.

It's properties on each game, so we dont have to delete all overlay on every game, i think.

Might be part of the problem then old layout cookie data get screwup if we can call it that.

gl with it, if it even help or not.
dont think steam user think each game has own overlay user settings now.

just to make it clear its under privacy section, on each game.
problem is do it help here, i dont know. ( gl test this out )
Dont expect steam support and game devs think on this. ( its still so new )

Even us as helper here, do not think on this every time. ( and we are not support here )

[justinstyles]

Thank you, Iceira, for your advice; yes, I did not know that each game (in its own "Manage Game") has its own "delete overlay data" section.
Unfortunately, Steam Overlay still crashes the game silently.

I deleted the overlay data via the Hitman WoA section then, to be thorough, exited Steam (shut it down), turned off computer, waited a few minutes then turned on computer (I use Win11) and started Steam (I do not have Steam auto--start at computer boot). Then started Hitman, but still crash when I use Steam overlay.

Best regards.

[blueskull]

OP, did you finally find a solution?

[justinstyles]

No solution yet for me.
I played without overlay use (enabled since I can use without any problems on all of the other games that I play daily), but since I was playing Freelancer mode, I wanted to use hitmaps in the overlay.
Over the past 2.5 months, my desire to play Freelancer and Hitman greatly reduced due to this crash-to-desktop problem. I have only played to complete 2 new challenges and a few Elusive Targets.
The Steam update of 5 Nov mentioned an overlay issue being resolved so, after its install, I started Hitman, but no change: the exact same (and very brief symptom of stuttering / freezing when overlay appears) crash-to-desktop.
(as a side note, the 12 Nov update did not change anything; still same crash, still overlay + Hitman only, and no other games have the problem.... thankfully?)

There is another update 3 Dec, which I've installed, but I won't have a chance to try Hitman for a day or more.

I suppose this must be an edge case as usually, Valve / Steam or game developer may cause a crash or other problems in a game that I play, but it's resolved within a month or so, and commonly reported by other players.
I found no posts on Steam or other sites (reddit, hitmanforum, Google Search) before mine (at the time; I've not checked since September).

I've considering to submit an official (zendesk) ticket to IO Interactive, but am reluctant as I believe they'll me it's a Steam problem (which would be true as Epic, Nintendo, Playstation, and Xbox don't have Steam overlay), and I don't want to waste my time simply to receive a re-direct.

Best regards.

[Nelsondaily]

Dang, this is happening to me to quite often when either 'alt+tabbing' or opening Steam Overlay. It sucks man.

[Iceira]

Originally posted by Nelsondaily:

Dang, this is happening to me to quite often when either 'alt+tabbing' or opening Steam Overlay. It sucks man.

Look there is a reason we dont comment on other possibilities, other overlay app has been caught in interference issue with steam overlay,

afaik there is
Nvidia overlay.
Discord overlay.

I'm sure other steam user can add even more other app issue with it, but to know what is going on at each pc owner own pc not going to happend here.

Dont forget video record overlay, its here it might be issue in what do user want to have and need.

Feel free to enter safe boot mode and test steam own first then other combination with other overlay, that's what i will do.