Since the start of Season 18, many players (myself included) have been running into a repeatable crash related to Vivox Voice Chat in Overwatch 2. The game crashes even if voice chat is disabled in the in-game settings.
The crash produces the following error:
Overwatch - 2.18.1.1: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION reading from 0x00000053eccf73b8
Crash Context
- The crash occurs shortly after loading into a match or after Vivox attempts to (re)initialize devices.
- Audio devices appear to be cycled repeatedly in the logs.
- Disabling in-game voice chat in the settings menu does not stop Vivox from initializing.
Relevant Log Extract
[VoiceChat]: ==[VC] Client begin Base initialize
[VoiceChat]: ==[VC] Client initialized
[VoiceChat]: ==[VC] Devices started
[VoiceChat]: ==[VC] SetTargetOutputDevice Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)
[VoiceChat]: ==[VC] SetTargetInputDevice Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)
…
[VoiceChat]: ==[VC] DetermineVoiceChatAudioDevices
From the logs, Vivox repeatedly switches between “Default System Device” and the actual headset devices, which seems to trigger the crash.
System Information
- OS: Windows 10 Pro (22H2, Build 19045)
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
- GPU Driver: 32.0.15.8129
- RAM: 48 GB
- Game Build: Overwatch_142533_Retailx64
- Crash happens: Whether voice chat is enabled or disabled in the in-game settings
Steps to Reproduce
- Launch Overwatch 2 (Season 18+).
- Queue for a match.
- Wait for Vivox voice chat to initialize.
- The game eventually crashes with EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION.
Notes
- This issue did not occur before Season 18.
- Blocking Vivox ports or disabling voice chat in settings has no effect.
- Multiple users have reported similar crashes since the season launch.
- Appears related to how Vivox handles audio device detection and switching.
Impact
This bug prevents some players from playing at all, as the crash can occur repeatedly during matches. Any insight or workaround (such as fully disabling Vivox) would be greatly appreciated.
Log:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ERROR
-------------------------------------------------------------------
<BlizzardError.Summary:>
Overwatch - 2.18.1.1: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION reading from 0x00000053eccf73b8
<:BlizzardError.Summary>
<BlizzardError.Assertion:>
EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION reading from 0x00000053eccf73b8
**Crashing Thread** (ID: 14400)
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70E9F6F0A>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70ECF9165>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70ECECF10>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF7101E063A>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF7101DA30B>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70EC61DE2>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70EBE719A>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70EBE6AD8>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70EBE654F>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70EBE08DC>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF7101DC9AF>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70EF1CCF3>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70EB390AD>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70E919F0A>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70EE0F82D>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70EDEFE62>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70E95CC57>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70FD03702>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70E7A9AB8>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70E79154D>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70FC76320>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70FD375F2>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70FD38990>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70FD19F34>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70FC760C2>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70FC75A77>()
DBG-ADDR<00007FF70E798335>()
<:BlizzardError.Assertion>
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SYSTEM INFO
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Application: K:\Odubz\OW\Overwatch\_retail_/Overwatch.exe
Build: Overwatch_142533_Retailx64
Is Elevated: 1
Created: 18:03:31 Sep 17 2025
Game Server IP: 137.221.73.101
Bnet Account ID: 871024766
Game Account ID: 711894653
Is Remote Session: 0
Telemetry Session ID: ee67d696-d5d8-435f-968d-44ced7f8c0d9
Telemetry Host ID: 09952798-964e-4d58-9446-6421ef17e24b
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
Operating System Version: 22H2 (OS Build 19045)
Operating System Platform: 64-bit
Application Platform: 64-bit
Is WINE: 0
System Model: System Product Name
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
Boot Time: 2025-10-05T19:24:04Z
GPU Type: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
GPU Driver: 32.0.15.8129 - C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmdi.inf_amd64_7c3f03c5df8f409e\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmdi.inf_amd64_7c3f03c5df8f409e\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmdi.inf_amd64_7c3f03
GPU Driver Date: 20250905000000.000000-000
GPU Core Delta Freq: 0
GPU Memory Delta Freq: 0
GPU Voltage Delta Freq: 0
Graphics API: Dx11
Physical Resolution: 1920x1080
Effective Resolution: 1535x863
Display Mode: Windowed
Number of physical cores: 4
Logical core: 0 - physical mapping: 0 (group 0) - efficiency class: 0
Logical core: 1 - physical mapping: 0 (group 0) - efficiency class: 0
Logical core: 2 - physical mapping: 1 (group 0) - efficiency class: 0
Logical core: 3 - physical mapping: 1 (group 0) - efficiency class: 0
Logical core: 4 - physical mapping: 2 (group 0) - efficiency class: 0
Logical core: 5 - physical mapping: 2 (group 0) - efficiency class: 0
Logical core: 6 - physical mapping: 3 (group 0) - efficiency class: 0
Logical core: 7 - physical mapping: 3 (group 0) - efficiency class: 0
Total Memory: 49109 MBs
Available Memory: 35135 MBs
Total Page File: 59349 MBs
Avail Page File: 42988 MBs
GPU Memory: 8067 MBs
GPU Allocated Memory: 1490 MBs
GPU Peak Memory: 1611 MBs
GPU Temp: 56 C
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLICATION STATE
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Command Line: K:\Odubz\OW\Overwatch\_retail_\Overwatch.exe -uid prometheus
Tank State: Loop Running
Video Device State: Active
Device Ext Refs Count: 321
Last OS Error: 0x0
Resource Errors: false
Running Time: 0:23:52 (H:M:S)
Most Recent Logs:
[ALW] [Engine] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:01.901Z]: Selected Graphics API: Dx11
[ALW] [Engine] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:01.901Z]: Selected VidDeviceType: Dx11
[ALW] [Engine] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:03.485Z]: Render Thread startup time: 0.857494 secs
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.560Z]: ==[VC] Client begin Base initialize
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.560Z]: ==[VC] Client Base initialized
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.560Z]: ==[VC] Client begin initialize
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.560Z]: ==[VC] Client initialized
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.560Z]: ==[VC] DetermineVoiceChatAudioDevices
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.560Z]: ==[VC] Devices started
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.560Z]: ==[VC] Client started
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.660Z]: ==[VC] SetTargetOutputDevice Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.660Z]: ==[VC] SetTargetInputDevice Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.713Z]: #=[VC] ResponseGetOutputDevices 01 0(0:811c9dc5) (Default System Device|Default System Device) ({0.0.0.00000000}.{a9576dea-a6d5-4e5a-8d6b-69efe15a5ecc}|Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)) ({0.0.0.00000000}.{a9576dea-a6d5-4e5a-8d6b-69efe15a5ecc}|Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)) ({0.0.0.00000000}.{a9576dea-a6d5-4e5a-8d6b-69efe15a5ecc}|Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset))
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.713Z]: ==[VC] Output devices added [(Default Communication Device|Default Communication Device),(Default System Device|Default System Device),(No Device|No Device),({0.0.0.00000000}.{a9576dea-a6d5-4e5a-8d6b-69efe15a5ecc}|Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset))]
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.713Z]: ==[VC] New active output device (Default System Device|Default System Device)
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.730Z]: ==[VC] SetTargetOutputDevice Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.730Z]: ==[VC] SetTargetInputDevice Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.730Z]: #=[VC] ResponseGetInputDevices 01 0(0:811c9dc5) (Default System Device|Default System Device) ({0.0.1.00000000}.{d47a6e0a-cf56-4873-84fe-424dc50d5ed5}|Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)) ({0.0.1.00000000}.{d47a6e0a-cf56-4873-84fe-424dc50d5ed5}|Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)) ({0.0.1.00000000}.{d47a6e0a-cf56-4873-84fe-424dc50d5ed5}|Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset))
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.730Z]: ==[VC] Input devices added [(Default Communication Device|Default Communication Device),(Default System Device|Default System Device),(No Device|No Device),({0.0.1.00000000}.{d47a6e0a-cf56-4873-84fe-424dc50d5ed5}|Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset))]
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.730Z]: ==[VC] New active input device (Default System Device|Default System Device)
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.747Z]: ==[VC] SetTargetOutputDevice Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.747Z]: ==[VC] SetTargetInputDevice Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.814Z]: #=[VC] ResponseGetOutputDevices 01 0(0:811c9dc5) (Default System Device|Default System Device) ({0.0.0.00000000}.{a9576dea-a6d5-4e5a-8d6b-69efe15a5ecc}|Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)) ({0.0.0.00000000}.{a9576dea-a6d5-4e5a-8d6b-69efe15a5ecc}|Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)) ({0.0.0.00000000}.{a9576dea-a6d5-4e5a-8d6b-69efe15a5ecc}|Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset))
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.829Z]: #=[VC] ResponseGetInputDevices 01 0(0:811c9dc5) (Default System Device|Default System Device) ({0.0.1.00000000}.{d47a6e0a-cf56-4873-84fe-424dc50d5ed5}|Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)) ({0.0.1.00000000}.{d47a6e0a-cf56-4873-84fe-424dc50d5ed5}|Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset)) ({0.0.1.00000000}.{d47a6e0a-cf56-4873-84fe-424dc50d5ed5}|Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset))
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.878Z]: ==[VC] RequestSetActiveOutputDevice ({0.0.0.00000000}.{a9576dea-a6d5-4e5a-8d6b-69efe15a5ecc}|Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset))
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.878Z]: ==[VC] RequestSetActiveInputDevice ({0.0.1.00000000}.{d47a6e0a-cf56-4873-84fe-424dc50d5ed5}|Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset))
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.895Z]: #=[VC] ResponseSetActiveOutputDevice 02 0(0:811c9dc5)
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.895Z]: ==[VC] New active output device ({0.0.0.00000000}.{a9576dea-a6d5-4e5a-8d6b-69efe15a5ecc}|Headset Earphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset))
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.895Z]: #=[VC] ResponseSetActiveInputDevice 02 0(0:811c9dc5)
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:02:13.895Z]: ==[VC] New active input device ({0.0.1.00000000}.{d47a6e0a-cf56-4873-84fe-424dc50d5ed5}|Headset Microphone (CORSAIR VOID PRO Wireless Gaming Headset))
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:24:55.445Z]: ==[VC] DetermineVoiceChatAudioDevices
[NRM] [VoiceChat] [External(0)] [External()] [2025-10-07T10:25:46.899Z]: ==[VC] DetermineVoiceChatAudioDevices