PlayStation 5 launch disc model games crash, freeze or close

The checks in more detail

If it happens in every game, rebuild the database: turn off the console, then hold the power button until you hear the second beep to start Safe Mode, connect a controller by cable, and choose Rebuild Database, which does not erase data. Heat is a factor: the PS5 needs space around it for air, with the vents clear and no covering, and dust inside can raise temperatures, which you can remove from the vents with a soft brush or compressed air. A crash that arrives after a long gaming session with a hot console points to heat. Check the network, since online games can fail if the connection drops.

A crash with a specific error code can be searched on PlayStation's support page. If Safe Mode options do not help, you could try resetting the console, but back up saves first to the cloud or a USB drive, because a full reset erases data. If you added an M.2 drive, check that it is seated and has a heatsink, and try removing it. If crashes continue across games with a clean database and reset, the console may have a hardware fault, so contact PlayStation support with the serial number. When the console crashes with a CE error code at the screen, the code starts with CE and has a number,

and you can look it up on PlayStation's help page for the exact meaning, which tells you whether the cause is a game, a disc, the network or the system. A scratched or dirty disc can freeze a disc-based game, so wipe it with a soft cloth from the center outwards and try another disc, or install the game fully to the drive. Check that the console has the latest system software, which can fix stability bugs, and that the game is patched. A game that crashes only in one mode, such as a high frame rate option, may need that option turned off until a patch arrives.