Fix Ghost of Tsushima Audio Cutting Out on PC

It is incredibly frustrating when you are trying to play Ghost of Tsushima and the audio starts cutting out or crackling, completely ruining the immersion. Usually, this happens because the game's audio engine is struggling to handshake with your Windows sound settings, often caused by conflicting sample rates or background enhancements.

Why this happens

Windows audio enhancements or high sample rates often conflict with the specific audio architecture of Ghost of Tsushima. This leads to buffering issues that manifest as audio drops or distorted crackling.

Steps

1. 01
   Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray and select 'Sound settings'. Select your active output device and ensure 'Audio Enhancements' is toggled to 'Off'.
2. 02
   Right-click the speaker icon again, select 'More sound settings', and go to the 'Playback' tab. Right-click your active speakers, select 'Properties', then navigate to the 'Advanced' tab.
3. 03
   Change the 'Default Format' dropdown to '16-bit, 48000 Hz (DVD Quality)'. Click 'Apply' and test the game; if the issue persists, try '16-bit, 44100 Hz' instead.
4. 04
   If you still have no sound, go to 'Sound settings' and click 'All sound devices'. Check if your primary speaker device is marked as 'Disabled' and click 'Enable' if necessary.

Still not working?

If you are still hearing static or crackling after these steps, your audio drivers are likely outdated. Run 'Windows Update' to grab the latest manufacturer drivers, or visit your motherboard manufacturer's website to download the latest high-definition audio driver package. If you are using an external DAC or USB headset, try plugging it into a different USB port to rule out a bandwidth bottleneck.

Frequently asked questions

Will changing the sample rate affect my audio quality?

For gaming, setting it to 16-bit 48000 Hz is the standard for most titles and is unlikely to be distinguishable from higher settings. It is often the most stable setting for preventing stuttering.

Does this fix work for other games with audio issues?

Yes, disabling audio enhancements and setting the sample rate to 48000 Hz are universal troubleshooting steps that resolve audio crackling in many PC games.