Starcraft 2 Preparing Game Data

The "StarCraft 2: Preparing Game Data" screen is a common roadblock that occurs when the game client attempts to synchronize assets or download missing language files immediately after you hit "Play" in Battle.net. For most, it is a brief step; for others, it becomes a loop that downloads roughly 600MB at extremely slow speeds every single launch. Common Causes for the "Preparing Game Data" Loop

CRC Mismatch

If you are reading this because you are currently staring at a frozen blue bar, follow these steps in order. Each step solves a specific underlying cause. starcraft 2 preparing game data

Conclusion

If you are tired of the "Preparing game data" screen appearing every two weeks, stop updating your graphics drivers. Each new driver from NVIDIA or AMD forces a shader recompile. Find a stable, six-month-old driver and stick with it until a major game patch requires an update. The "StarCraft 2: Preparing Game Data" screen is