TL;DR: Overwatch 2 keeps crashing with EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION. This is not a hardware issue. I ran MemTest86 on RAM, OCCT on CPU, GPU, and power, and heavy benchmarks like Cyberpunk 2077 with Path Tracing and DLSS Frame Gen. My system is completely stable everywhere else. The logs consistently show Overwatch’s Vivox voice chat client crashing while enumerating multiple audio devices (Elgato XLR Dock, Steam Streaming Speakers and Microphone, Realtek, DDJ-SB3). Even when Voice Chat is disabled in settings, Vivox still loads and cycles through devices until the client crashes. This is a software bug in Overwatch.
What Happens
The game crashes within 30 seconds to 7 minutes with EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION.
Every crash log and minidump points to Vivox audio device handling, not graphics.
Logs show Vivox repeatedly setting target devices and flipping between Default System Device, Default Communication Device, Elgato endpoints, Steam Streaming devices, DDJ-SB3, and Realtek.
The crash happens right after this device flood.
What I Have Already Tried
I performed a full clean reinstall of Battle.net and Overwatch, including deleting all residual folders in %programdata%, %appdata%, and %localappdata%.
I flushed DNS and rebooted my router.
I disabled my overclock.
I ran SFC and DISM repairs, both came back clean.
I updated NVIDIA drivers and also tried rolling back with DDU.
I disabled overlays including Steam, NVIDIA, and Discord.
I lowered graphics settings and disabled DLSS.
I uninstalled Elgato Wave Link, but Overwatch still crashes because Vivox continues enumerating devices.
MemTest86 shows no RAM errors.
OCCT stress tests for CPU, GPU, and power all passed without errors.
Other demanding games including Cyberpunk 2077, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Rainbow Six Siege run stable.
System Specs
CPU: i9-14900KF
GPU: RTX 4080, driver 32.0.15.8088 (July 2025)
RAM: 32 GB DDR5
OS: Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (build 26100)
Why This Is Not Hardware
Temperatures are normal (GPU 44–70 °C, CPU within spec).
RAM and CPU passed MemTest86 and OCCT with no issues.
GPU is stable under Cyberpunk 2077 with Path Tracing and DLSS Frame Gen, which is heavier than Overwatch.
The only game that crashes is Overwatch 2, and the only consistent factor is Vivox audio handling.
The Ask
Blizzard, please escalate this. This is a Vivox and multi-device audio crash. Players who use Elgato, DJ controllers, or Steam virtual audio should not have to disable half their audio stack just to play. Even when Voice Chat is turned off in the settings, Vivox still runs in the background and crashes the client.
Questions I need answered:
- Is Blizzard aware of Vivox crashing when multiple audio endpoints exist?
- Is there a supported workaround besides disabling essential audio devices?
- When will this be patched?
This issue has consumed hours of troubleshooting and more than 10 crash logs. My system is stable everywhere else. This is a repeatable bug inside Overwatch and it needs developer attention.