Crashing During Priority: Citadel II

I have the same issue, as soon  as it transition to the cut scene with the illusive man the sound drops out and the game freezes. On 360, deleted DLC and even started a new playthough just to get the same point where it freezes. Unless the disc is manufactured poorly this cannot be from misuse since I just bought the game brand new.

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@null wrote:

I have the same issue, as soon  as it transition to the cut scene with the illusive man the sound drops out and the game freezes. On 360, deleted DLC and even started a new playthough just to get the same point where it freezes. Unless the disc is manufactured poorly this cannot be from misuse since I just bought the game brand new.

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Hi null,

I have hope the article below might help you. I'm a fellow gamer and not a Game Advisor. If the steps detailed on it do not solve the problem, please go to https://help.ea.com to get a Game Advisor to assist you.

Thanks for posting and good luck to you.

Here is the article:

MASS EFFECT 3 - FREEZING ON "CHECKING DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT" XBOX 360

If you're encountering an error that causes freezing, or for the game to become unresponsive, at the Main Menu when the "Checking Downloadable Content" message appears on Mass Effect 3 for Xbox 360, try turning on "Auto Log-In to Origin (EA)."

To do this, follow these instructions:

1. Exit "Mass Effect 3" and return to the Xbox Dashboard. 

2. Disconnect the console from the internet - if the console is not directly wired into the modem or router, unplug or disable the router / modem temporarily. 

3. Launch "Mass Effect 3." 

4. In the main menu, [Select Extras], [Select Options], [Select Online], [Turn on "Upload gameplay Feedback" and "Auto Log-In to Origin (EA)"] 

5. Save your settings and exit the game. 

6. Re-Connect your console to the internet. 

7. Reboot your console and launch the game. 

8. Your game should now bypass the "Checking Downloadable Content" screen.

My crash is in the game cutscene, not at the main menu checking dlc. Will contact EA, though.

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@null wrote:

Each time I get to the big Citadel mission the game completely freezes right after I talk to Bailey, which during the conversation the audio completely cuts out. I have so far wiped everything and started from scratch 3 times. I even deleted all DLCS and game files to see if it was a corruption problem but that still didn't work. I know it's not my ps3 because I was able to play Mass Effect 2, Bioshock, and many other games perfectly fine. This is so infuriating and I would really like to finish out this game so help would be very appreciated.

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Hi null,

As a fellow PS3 gamer, I have encountered this exact problem and done the same troubleshooting steps you have. To tell you the truth, ME 3 seems to hate PS3's. It's a russian roulette game of chance. All I can say is, that you have to speak with a Game Advisor and get their assistance because the problem most llikely has nothing to do with the disc or your Game Data Utility, nor Save Data Utility. It probably has a lot to do with your Internet connection, and Online Pass Code and Patch ver 1.09. You are not told that, though. But it is a very strong possibility. That is why I suggest you speak with a GA. Go to https://help.ea.com and click on CONTACT US. Follow the instructions.

By the way, don't keep on hard-booting the game each time it freezes you out. Let it rest  completely. ME 3 will take its toll on the PS3 and you might end up facing the YLOD sooner than later. Trust me when I tell you this.:robotfrustrated:

Good luck to you.

P.S. I think this article (below) might shed some additional light on the problem...I'm just placing it here as a source of information. The article is from EA's help database.

If you are having trouble connecting online or staying connected while playing online on yourPLAYSTATION 3, please perform all the troubleshooting tips listed below:

Step 1: Power-cycle your Modem

Turn off your modem and leave it unpowered for two minutes before restarting it. (This process will restart your Internet connection.)

Step 2: Connect your Console Straight to your Modem

Try connecting your PLAYSTATION 3 directly to the Cable/DSL modem using an ethernet cable. If the connection works, your connection issues are most likely being caused by your router.

Step 3: Disable your Media Server Connection

The Media Server Connection allows other devices to connect to your PLAYSTATION 3. Often, the Media Server Connection is known to cause issues when players try to connect to the Internet for online game play.

1. Access your Xross Media Bar menu
2. Navigate to Settings
3. Select Network Settings
4. Select Media Server Connection and choose the Disable option.

Step 4: Disable your Router's Firewall

If you are using a router, please try disabling your firewall on the router to see if there is a conflict. If this resolves the issue, please contact your router manufacturer to ensure that the router is configured correctly to allow game play online.

• Online Ports:
  •  
  • UDP 3658 (peer to peer)
  • TCP 6000 (VOIP)

Step 5: Try Deleting Possible Corrupted Update Files

There may be a corruption in the game or update files that are stored on the system itself. Please try deleting these game files and try the connection again. To do this:

1. Press the PS button on the controller to enter the PLAYSTATION 3 XrossMediaBar
2. Select the Game tab.
3. Select the Game Data Utility and press the X button.
4. Find and delete all the game data or roster files listed.
   Note: When you play online, the online roster will automatically download before an actual match starts.

Step 6: Create a New PSN Account

You can also try creating a new Playstation Network account.

1. Press the PS button the controller to enter the PLAYSTATION 3 XBM (XrossMediaBar).
2. Select the Users tab.
3. Select Create a New User Account and press the X button.
4. Enter a name for the account and login to the new user account.
5. Select the Friends tab.
6. Select Sign up for Playstation Network and press the X button.
   Note: When creating the new Playstation Network account, please use a different, valid, accessible e-mail address.

If you still have an issue, please contact us to reach a Game Advisor. Include the following information:

• What is your PLAYSTATION 3 account name? What is the e-mail address associated with it?
• A detailed account on the events that led to this issue. (Please include exact error messages, if any.)
• Do you run other programs while playing the game? (i.e., music players, downloaders, Web browsers)
• Did this game ever run fine online before?
• Who is your Internet Service Provider?
• What type of connection do you have?
• Is your Internet connection shared (i.e., in a workplace, apartment complex, educational institution)?
• Do you have any other device that is connected to the router or modem?
• Is your wireless network secure?

Do you have a router? If so, is it wired or wireless? What is the brand and model?

I'm experiencing the same issue on PS3; after defeating Cerberus when you land at C-Sec Headquarters for the Priority:Citadel mission, I initiate the conversation with Bailey, at which point the sound cuts out, and as soon as the dialogue cut-scene finishes, the game freezes. Sometimes, it won't even load the game. I tried loading prior saves, I tried disabling the Media Server, the internet connection, I even tried deleting all my saves and starting a new SP campaign; but when I get to this point again, the same freezing problems at the exact same point.

The odd part is, I must've played through the game 5+ times without experiencing any difficulties. It wasn't until recently, after having downloading the newest DLC (Citadel) and a couple of other random DLC's (Firefight Pack, Genesis 2), that I started experiencing this issue- and frustratingly enough, I can't even try the new Citadel DLC because you have to complete the Priority:Citadel mission first, and that's where I'm stuck.

Unfortuntately, all of the tips listed on this page would appear to be fairly pointless; most of them deal with ISP settings and connectivity issues, and the problem is exclusive to the single-player mode... Since the freezing issue at the Citadel appeared, I've had no problems playing the multiplayer mode, and the problems persist even when one has entirely disabled the internet connection on their console . 

Thus, even though I tried them just in case, I'm extremely skeptical that any of the suggestions listed on this page will help. This is extremely frustrating as I want to play my new DLC, but I'm not going to start ANOTHER new game to try even more fixes, so unless I can find a way to fix this that does NOT involve deleting my save YET AGAIN, I'm probably going to have to get a refund for the Citadel DLC and give up on Mass Effect 3 altogether. I honestly cannot express how frustrating this entire episode has been- Mass Effect 3 is one of my favorite games, one I've sunk ALOT of money into, between all the various DLC's, and typically, when people buy games or add-ons, we generally like them to be functional enough that we can actually play them.

Righty ho! I had this exact same problem myself. I'd get to the cutscene with Leng and TIM only to have audio cut off and the game freeze on me. Tried it a third time just to be sure and got through it!

Now I'm not sure this works for sure but try to press Square (or whatever button on X360 skips cutscenes). The minute Kai Leng's scene begins tap Square a few times to make the cutscene jump forward a bit. Keep doing it until the video starts running smoothly again.

Hope this works for you.

i'm amazed after all the attempts to fix this issue that simply pressing square repeatedly works. Thanks 🙂