Having issues with black screens and lagging when playing Mafia Definitive Edition on your PS4? You’re not alone. Lots of PS4 gamers have reported these annoying problems. But don’t worry, this article will walk you through some troubleshooting steps to hopefully get Mafia Definitive Edition running smoothly again on your console.
Introduction
Mafia Definitive Edition is a remake of the classic 2002 game Mafia. It was released in 2020 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The game is an open-world action-adventure set in the fictional city of Lost Heaven during the Prohibition era of the 1930s. It follows the story of taxi driver Tommy Angelo who gets caught up with the mob.
While the game has received positive reviews overall, some PS4 players have experienced frustrating technical issues while playing Mafia Definitive Edition. The two most commonly reported problems are:
- Black screens – The game screen suddenly goes black and nothing displays.
- Lagging – The game stutters, hitches, and runs slowly with choppy frame rates.
Understandably, these problems can ruin your experience playing Mafia Definitive Edition on PS4. But don’t abandon hope yet! Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the black screen and lagging problems.
Troubleshooting Steps
1. Update the Game and System Software
The first thing you should always try is installing any available updates:
- For Mafia Definitive Edition, check online and in the PlayStation Store for any patches or updates released by the developer Hangar 13. Install these game updates if available. Developers frequently optimize games and fix bugs via patches.
- Also go to Settings > System Software Update and install any pending PS4 system software updates. Major system updates can sometimes improve performance and fix stability issues.
Updating both the game and your console’s system software is a basic first step towards troubleshooting black screen/lag problems.
2. Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated graphics drivers can also sometimes cause performance issues like lagging. To update your PS4’s graphics drivers:
- Go to Settings > System > System Software Update.
- If any System Software Updates are available, install them. These contain updates for the graphics drivers.
Keep your PS4 graphics drivers up-to-date for optimal performance.
3. Close Background Apps
Having too many apps and games running in the background can overload your PS4’s RAM and cause lagging. Before launching Mafia Definitive Edition:
- Press the PS button to open the quick menu.
- Go to Currently Open Apps and close any apps you aren’t using.
Suspending unused apps can free up system resources and boost gaming performance.
4. Restart Your PS4
Sometimes restarting your console can clear up software issues causing black screens and lagging:
- Fully power down your PS4 – don’t just put it in Rest Mode.
- After 30 seconds, power on your PS4 again.
- Try launching Mafia Definitive Edition again.
Restarting flushes out any bugs that may be temporarily causing problems.
5. Check Your Storage Space
If your PS4 internal drive or extended USB storage is nearly full, it can lead to games crashing, lagging, and other issues.
- Go to Settings > Storage to check your free space.
- Make sure you have at least 10-20GB of free space available.
- Delete any games/apps you don’t use anymore to free up space.
Running low on storage can hurt performance, so keep enough breathing room.
6. Reinstall the Game
If you’ve tried the other troubleshooting steps but are still plagued by black screens or lagging, reinstalling Mafia Definitive Edition may help:
- Delete the game from your PS4. This removes any corrupt game files.
- Redownload the game either from the PlayStation Store or from the disc.
- With the game reinstalled fresh, try launching it again.
Reinstalling replaces any files that may have become corrupted on your PS4.
7. Adjust Graphics Settings
Lowering the graphics settings in Mafia Definitive Edition can sometimes resolve lagging problems:
- In the game’s settings menu, lower the Graphics Quality preset if possible.
- Turn down or disable taxing settings like Anti-Aliasing, Shadow Quality, Reflections, Texture Detail, Model Detail etc.
- Reduce Resolution Scale below 100% if lag persists.
Adjust settings based on your PS4’s capabilities to maintain smoother frame rates.
8. Check for Overheating Issues
Like PCs, consoles can suffer performance issues if they overheat. To ensure your PS4 isn’t overheating:
- Clean any dust buildup from the console’s vents using compressed air.
- Make sure the PS4 has open space around it for ventilation.
- Avoid stacking objects on top of the console.
- Check that the cooling fans are working properly and not obstructed.
- Use a laptop cooling pad underneath the PS4 if needed.
- Also check for overheating error codes like CE-36329-3.
Preventing overheating helps avoid problems like lagging and game crashing.
9. Initialize/Factory Reset Your PS4
Initializing (factory resetting) your PS4 will wipe its drive and reinstall the system software fresh. This can fix many persistent issues, but you’ll lose all of your installed games and data:
- Go to Settings > Initialization and select Initialize PS4.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the initialization.
Only initialize your PS4 as a last resort after trying everything else!
Conclusion
Black screens and lagging can certainly be annoying problems while playing Mafia Definitive Edition on your PS4. But hopefully after trying the various troubleshooting steps in this article, you’ll be able to get the game running smoothly again.
Be sure to install any game and system updates, close background apps, restart your console, and check for heating issues. Adjusting graphics settings and reinstalling the game are good steps to try as well. And if all else fails, initializing your PS4 will give it a fresh start.
With some persistence using these tips, you can overcome the technical issues in Mafia Definitive Edition. Now get back to taking down mobsters in the streets of Lost Heaven! Let us know in the comments if any of these solutions worked for you.
FAQ
Here are some common questions about fixing Mafia Definitive Edition’s black screen and lagging problems on PS4:
