Fix Ghost of Tsushima PC Audio Cutting Out or Crackling

Your audio in Ghost of Tsushima is likely cutting out or crackling because your Windows sound settings are conflicting with the game's high-fidelity audio engine. This usually happens when Windows forces incompatible sample rates or applies unwanted enhancements to your playback device.

Why this happens

Ghost of Tsushima can struggle to process audio if your Windows sound output is set to a sample rate higher than 48,000 Hz or if device enhancements are active.

Steps

1. 01
   Right-click the sound icon in your taskbar, select Sound settings, click your active speaker, and toggle Audio Enhancements to Off.
2. 02
   Right-click the sound icon again, select More sound settings, go to the Playback tab, right-click your active speaker, and select Properties.
3. 03
   Go to the Advanced tab, select 16-bit 48000 Hz (DVD Quality) from the drop-down menu, and click Apply.
4. 04
   If the issue persists, repeat the previous step but change the quality to 16-bit 44100 Hz (CD Quality).
5. 05
   Go to Sound settings, select All sound devices, and verify that your output device is marked as enabled.

Still not working?

If you are still experiencing crackling, your audio driver is likely outdated. Run all pending Windows Updates and restart your PC to ensure your drivers are current. If crackling persists, check your Device Manager to see if your audio driver is reporting an error code.

Frequently asked questions

Will changing the sample rate affect audio quality in other games?

Yes, changing this setting in Windows modifies the global output for your speakers, but 16-bit 48000 Hz is a standard quality setting that most modern games and media applications utilize without issue.

Why does the audio cut out specifically during intense combat?

This is often a sign that your CPU is struggling to process the game's audio alongside complex visual effects, or that your audio buffer is too small to handle the high volume of sound effects playing at once.