Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown brings Ubisoft’s iconic franchise back to life with a fresh take on fast-paced platforming, intense combat, and time-based puzzles.
While the game has been generally well-received for its art style and gameplay mechanics, Nintendo Switch players are reporting a recurring issue: frequent crashes. These crashes can occur during gameplay, after cutscenes, or when loading new areas—disrupting immersion and progress.
Common Crash Scenarios on Switch
Players experiencing crashes often describe similar patterns. Here are the most frequently reported moments when the game tends to crash:
| Crash Scenario | Typical Trigger |
|---|---|
| During area transitions | Moving from one zone or region to another causes the game to freeze or exit |
| After cinematic cutscenes | Game crashes right as gameplay resumes |
| Mid-combat or boss fights | Crashes occur with too many enemies or effects on screen |
| While saving or autosaving | Corruption or instability during save processes |
| After long play sessions (2+ hours) | Memory buildup causes performance degradation, leading to crashes |
Understanding these patterns is the first step in identifying root causes and applying the right fixes.
Possible Causes of Crashes on Nintendo Switch
While Switch ports generally aim for optimization, the hybrid console has performance constraints compared to PS5 or PC. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown may be pushing those limits in ways that trigger software instability.
1. Memory Constraints
The Switch has limited RAM (4 GB shared), and games with high texture loading, animations, and large world zones can overwhelm it. If memory isn’t efficiently managed—either by the game or OS—crashes are likely.
2. Software Bugs or Optimization Flaws
Porting a modern title to the Switch sometimes leads to missed bugs or optimization issues. These can include:
- Poor memory allocation during transitions
- Delayed asset loading causing data overflow
- Inconsistent frame rates during combat-heavy scenes
3. Corrupted Game Data
A partially downloaded update or corrupted save file can lead to instability when trying to load affected segments.
4. System Firmware Compatibility
An outdated Switch system may not fully support the game’s latest patch or features, especially after major OS updates from Nintendo.
5. Heat Buildup and Performance Throttling
Extended play sessions in handheld mode can cause the Switch to heat up. To protect hardware, the system may throttle performance, potentially triggering instability or sudden shutdowns in demanding scenes.
Troubleshooting Steps for Prince of Persia Crashes
Here’s a step-by-step guide to resolving or at least mitigating the crashing issue:
Step 1: Check for Game Updates
Ubisoft frequently releases hotfixes post-launch to address bugs and performance issues.
How to Check:
- On the Switch home screen, highlight Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
- Press the + button.
- Select Software Update > Via the Internet.
Tip: Make sure your console is connected to Wi-Fi for real-time patch access.
Step 2: Restart Your Console and Clear Cache
A soft reboot can refresh system memory and improve stability.
To restart:
- Hold the Power button for 3+ seconds.
- Select Power Options > Restart.
To clear cache:
- Go to System Settings > System > Formatting Options.
- Select Clear Cache (your save data and game won’t be affected).
- Choose your user profile and confirm.
Step 3: Free Up Storage Space
Low internal memory can interfere with save processes and game loading.
| Action | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Delete unused games | Makes room for dynamic file caching |
| Move data to SD card | Balances load between internal memory and SD |
| Clear screenshots/videos | Reduces strain on system storage |
Maintain at least 1–2 GB of free space for system operations.
Step 4: Reinstall the Game
If the crashes persist after updates and cache clearing, the game data itself may be corrupted.
Steps:
- From the Home screen, press + on the game icon.
- Go to Manage Software > Delete Software.
- Re-download from the Nintendo eShop.
- Launch the game again and test.
Step 5: Update System Firmware
Game patches often rely on updated system-level features or APIs.
To update:
- Go to System Settings > System > System Update.
- Install the latest firmware if available.
Step 6: Avoid Long Continuous Play Sessions
Some players report more frequent crashes after playing for over two hours.
Workaround:
- Save your progress and restart the game every 90–120 minutes.
- If playing in handheld mode, consider docking the system for better cooling.
Step 7: Backup and Delete Corrupted Save Files
A bad save file can lead to recurring crashes in the same area.
Steps:
- Use Save Data Cloud Backup (Nintendo Switch Online members).
- Delete local save data via System Settings > Data Management > Save Data.
- Restart the game with a fresh save to test if the issue resolves.
Crash Prevention Quick Reference Table
| Fix | Use When | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Game update | Crashing after launch or transitions | Easy |
| Console restart | Crashes after extended use | Easy |
| Clear cache and free storage | Laggy UI or loading issues | Easy |
| Reinstall game | Frequent crashes in same zone or sequence | Moderate |
| Update system firmware | Game updated but still unstable | Easy |
| New save file | Game crashes after loading same checkpoint | Moderate |
When to Contact Support
If all steps fail and crashes continue, you may be dealing with a persistent bug or hardware-level issue. Reach out to Ubisoft or Nintendo with the following:
- Game version number (from the + menu)
- Switch system version
- Description of when and where the crash occurs
- Whether it’s digital or physical copy
- Screenshots or videos (if available)
You can report directly via:
- Ubisoft Support
- Nintendo Support
Final Thoughts
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a visually rich, action-heavy title that may push the Nintendo Switch close to its performance ceiling. Crashes are frustrating, but in most cases, they’re tied to patchable bugs, memory overflow, or corrupted data—not unfixable design flaws.
By staying updated, managing memory, and following best practices for storage and session length, most players can stabilize their experience. As Ubisoft continues to roll out performance fixes, player feedback remains essential to making the game fully enjoyable on all platforms—including the Switch.
