Fix: Stray Crashing or Not Loading on PS4 and PS5

BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive recently released Stray as a cat adventure third-person cyberpunk video game in July 2022 for PlayStation & Windows platforms. As the title suggests, a lost stray cat is alone and separated from the family, who must unveil an ancient mystery to find the real home. However, each game has its issues or flaws, and Stray is no exception because some players report crashing or not Loading on PS4 and PS5.

If you’ve been facing the same issue for a while, don’t worry; we’ve shared a couple of possible workarounds for you that may be useful. Although these methods are common for most game crashes on PlayStation consoles, you should check it out. We can’t blame developers for such issues because the startup crashing or not launching issues may appear due to several other possible reasons we’ve briefly mentioned below.

Fix: Stray Crashing or Not Loading on PS4 and PS5

The chances are that you’re encountering startup crashing issues or even the game not launching due to outdated game versions, outdated system software, corrupted saved game data, game database-related issues, etc. In some cases, issues with the game installation or console-related glitches may trigger such problems for the console players. You can jump into the steps below to check it out as you’re now aware of it.

1. Check System Updates

It’s recommended to check for system updates on the PlayStation console before getting into any other workarounds. Sometimes an outdated system build can cause several issues.

• Go to the Settings menu on the PlayStation console.
• Select System Software Update > Make sure to check for available updates and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.
• Once done, reboot the system to apply changes.

2. Delete Saved Game Data (PS4/PS5)

Well, corrupted or missing game data can also cause multiple issues with the crashing on the PlayStation console. We recommend you delete the saved game data on the PS4/PS5 console to check for the issue.

• Go to the Settings menu > Select Storage.
• Choose Saved Data > Select Stray.
• Press the Options button on the controller > Select the saved game data files (one or multiple).
• Hit Delete and confirm the task to complete it.
• Once done, make sure to reboot the console to apply changes.

All the game files which are locally saved will be deleted from your PlayStation console. But don’t worry. Since you’re online, all saved game data will be there. This should fix the Stray Crashing issue on PS4 or PS5 Consoles.

3. Rebuild Database (PS4/PS5)

Rebuilding the database on your PlayStation console can quickly resolve the potential issues or errors. To do so:

• Switch off your console completely. Unplug the power cable from the console and wait for around 2-3 minutes.
• Now, plug in the power cable, and turn it on to clear the Cached Data automatically from the system.

Check whether this issue has been fixed with the Stray game or not. If not, follow the next steps below.

• Now, press and hold the Power button on the PlayStation console until you hear 2 beeps. [The second beep will sound after seven seconds]
• The console will boot in the Safe Mode > Connect the controller to the USB with the console and press the PS Button on the controller.
• Next, you’ll get an option called ‘Rebuild Database’.
• Select Rebuild Database and confirm the task.
• It may take some time, depending on the hard drive data size. Have some patience.
• Once done, just reboot the system normally.

4. Reinstall Stray 

If in case, the crashing problem persists with the Stray game, then make sure to uninstall and reinstall the game on the console. It should gonna fix the issue. To do so:

• Go to Settings > Select Storage.
• Select the Stray game from the list and then Hit Delete.
• Once the game is deleted, download and install it again from the respective store.

5. Reset the Console

If none of the workarounds come in handy for you, try performing the factory reset to your console to check for the issue.

• Go to the Settings menu on the PlayStation console.
• Select the ‘Initialization’ tab > Select ‘Initialize PS4’ or ‘Initialize PS5’.
• From the next page, choose ‘Full.’
• Your PlayStation 4/5 will automatically start wiping itself to restore the factory defaults. This process may take a couple of hours, depending on the installed data on the storage.
• Let the process be completed. Once done, make sure to reboot the system.

In conclusion, while Stray has captivated many gamers, it’s not without its technical issues, notably on PS4 and PS5, where players have reported crashes and loading problems. If you’re experiencing these difficulties, several workarounds available could prove helpful. These solutions apply to most game crashes on PlayStation consoles and are worth exploring. It’s important to recognize that such issues aren’t always directly attributable to the developers, as startup crashes or game launch problems can arise from various other factors. The potential causes and corresponding solutions are discussed in detail in the guide, aiming to enhance your gaming experience with Stray.