Client crashes/hangs upon entering the game with my character in Dawn of the Hunt

Note: I wasn’t sure what information to include, so I researched bug reporting and previously analyzed a crash dump file with WinDbg for a related issue. Please let me know if additional details are needed.

**Title:** Game Hangs (constant loading screen but gear wheels are moving and tips still appear) on Loading Screen After Character Selection (Previously Crashed with Exception Code e0000001)

**Description:**\
After selecting any character and clicking login, the game now hangs on the loading screen and does not progress, starting after verifying game files on Steam on April 17, 2025. Previously, the game crashed to desktop at this stage with EXCEPTION_CODE_STR: e0000001, but after verifying game files (one file failed to validate and was reacquired), the crash stopped, and the hang began. Issue persists with both Vulkan and DirectX 12 renderers across all characters in different leagues and locations.

**Steps to Reproduce:**

1. Launch Path of Exile 2.
2. Select any character from the character selection screen.
3. Click login.
4. Game hangs on the loading screen and does not progress.

**System Specifications:**

- Operating System: Windows 11 Pro, Version 10.0.26100 (Build 26100).
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, Driver Version 576.02 (tried reverting to 572.83, then updated back to 576.02).
- Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12400, 6 cores, 12 logical processors.
- Memory: 32.0 GB (31.7 GB total physical, 15.9 GB available).
- Storage: 1.8 TB SSD.
- Motherboard: ASUS TUF GAMING H670-PRO WIFI D4, BIOS Version 3.4, dated 8/12/2022.
- Displays: Primary 2560x1440 @ 165 Hz with G-SYNC, Secondary 2560x1440 @ 165 Hz with VRR.
- Virtualization: VBS enabled, HVCI enabled.
- Secure Boot: Disabled.
- Game Settings: Tried Vulkan (primary renderer) and DirectX 12, resolution 2560x1440.

**Previous Crash Dump Analysis (Historical Context):**\
Before the hang issue, the game crashed with WinDbg analysis showing: EXCEPTION_CODE_STR: e0000001, MODULE_NAME: PathOfExileSteam, FAILURE_BUCKET_ID: APPLICATION_FAULT_e0000001_PathOfExileSteam.exe!Unknown, SYMBOL_NAME: pathofexilesteam+24f5df7.\
Stack trace:

- KERNELBASE!RaiseException+0x8a
- PathOfExileSteam+0x24f5df7
- PathOfExileSteam+0x24ec420
- PathOfExileSteam+0xd1d35f\
No new .dmp file is generated since the game now hangs instead of crashing.

**Character Details:**

- Primary character: Level 50, "Dawn of the Hunt" league, Act 1 Cruel difficulty, last known location: Clearfell Encampment.
- Other characters: Same hang occurs with characters in Standard league, logged out in different locations. Issue affects all characters across leagues.

**Recent Changes:**

- Game updates: Patch 0.2.0f or hotfixes around April 14–17, 2025 (issue started April 17).
- Driver updates: Updated to NVIDIA 576.02, reverted to 572.83, then updated back to 576.02.
- OS: Running Windows 11 Build 26100 (24H2).

**Troubleshooting Steps Taken:**

- Verified game files via Steam; one file failed to validate and was reacquired, after which the game stopped crashing but now hangs on the loading screen.
- Tried both Vulkan and DirectX 12 renderers—hang persists.
- Tested multiple characters in different leagues (Dawn of the Hunt and Standard)—hang persists.
- Reverted NVIDIA drivers to 572.83, then updated to 576.02 again.

**Logs and Screenshots:**

- Game logs: Available upon request.

**Additional Context:**

- Running Windows 11 24H2, which may have compatibility issues with games.
- VBS and HVCI enabled, which may conflict with game memory access.
- Dual monitors with G-SYNC and VRR enabled, which may affect rendering.
- Hang persists with both Vulkan and DirectX 12 and across all characters, suggesting a deeper engine or client-server issue.

My client no longer has any issues magically. It is a miracle. I hope the information I provided helps someone somewhere somehow. I've been struggling with this all day.