With games on consoles and PC, a common solution for a wide variety of issues is to clear the cache.
That said, we've often received questions from players about how to do this, so we're providing the info. To clear the cache, follow the steps below.
Nintendo Switch
- Open "System Settings" in the HOME menu.
- Then select "System", choose "formatting options" and then select "Reset Cache."
- Select the user you'd like to clear the cache for, then follow the on-screen instructions.
PlayStation 3
When you play a game for the first time on the Playstation 3 it will automatically install any necessary game data into a system folder called the "Game Data Utility." This folder is also the location for any patches or updates your games may receive.
- While in the Playstation 3 Cross-Menu Bar (XMB) navigate to the "Game" section.
- Scroll through this section until you find a folder called "Game Data Utility"
- Open the folder to populate the Game Data list
- Scroll though the Game Data list until you find the game you are experiencing issues with.
- With the game entry you need highlighted, press the Triangle button
- An options menu associated with the game you have highlighted will appear on the right hand side of the menu.
- Select "Delete" and press X to confirm.
- Once you have deleted the cache data you will then be prompted to re-install the missing data when you next play.
NOTE: If the data you deleted was a game patch, you will only be prompted to re-download the information again the next time your console is connected to the internet. Choosing not to re-download patch data may affect your associated game experience as any bug fixes installed with the patch will no longer be in place.
PlayStation 4 and Playstation 5
The PlayStation 4 and 5 doesn't actually have a cache to clear. That said: It never hurts to power down/power up your console if you're encountering performance issues in the console.
- Press and hold the PlayStation button on your controller.
- Select "Turn Off PS4/PS5".
- Let the PlayStation 4/5 fully power down and wait for 10 to 20 seconds.
- Restart the PlayStation 4/5.
Xbox 360
- Press the Guide button on your controller, go to Settings, and select System Settings.
- Select Storage or Memory.
- Highlight any storage device, and then press Y on your controller. (It doesn't matter which storage device you select; the cache will be cleared for all storage devices.)
- Select Clear System Cache.
- When prompted to confirm storage device maintenance, select Yes.
Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X
- Press and hold the Xbox button in the center of your controller to access the "Power Center"
- Select "Restart Console" option
Note: If the console appears to be frozen or the Power Center cannot be accessed, press and hold the Xbox button on the front of the console for 10 seconds until the console turns off. After the console shuts down, press the Xbox button on the console again to restart.
Steam - Verify Integrity of Game Cache
- Right click the game from within the Steam library
- Select Properties
- Click on Local Files tab
- Select option to "Verify Integrity of Game Cache"
Epic
- Open Launcher
- Go to your Library
- Underneath the game icon, it will say ‘Launch’ and have a gear icon next to it
- Click the gear icon and select ‘Verify’