Diablo 4: Queued for Game Start Game Pending Issue Explained

As we get ready to play a game for the first time, especially during its initial release or peak times, many highs and lows go on, and Diablo 4 is no exception. While yes, it’s incredibly fun to be among the first few to play a game on launch day, this comes with an unfortunate downside: Getting slammed with errors. You may encounter issues throughout the login, queue, and character creation process, and navigating these can sometimes be challenging. If you’d like to learn more, continue reading to find a comprehensive explanation of the Start Game Pending Issue in Diablo 4.

Queued for Game Start Game Pending Issue in Diablo 4 Explained

When you first log into Diablo 4, reach the character selection menu, and pick start game, you’ll briefly enter a queue before loading into the game. During this process, you’re met with a brief “Start game pending” or similar menu, simply stating that the game is readying for your arrival. However, you’ll occasionally find yourself stuck on this screen for minutes at a time, with seemingly no end to the pending process despite being out of the queue.

Related: Error Code 316719 in Diablo 4 Beta Explained

Like various other errors in the game, particularly those like Error 397500 and Error 315306, just to name a few, this Start Game Pending issue mainly results from the influx of players that join during the game for the first time. This was a prevalent issue during the Early Access and Open Beta weekends, with the issue returning once more during the game’s official launch. When this happens, queue times tend to increase, and the servers get overloaded.

This is the natural course for most massive online games, especially during their initial launch days. Thankfully, it tends to calm down quickly. Personally, I noticed this issue disappear almost entirely by the third and fourth days of the June Early Access period, with it surfacing again on the first global launch day.

Can You Fix the Start Game Pending Issue in Diablo 4?

If you want to try a quick solution, you can cancel this queue and head back to the character selection menu before picking your character and reattempting to enter the game. Otherwise, you’ll, unfortunately, have to restart the game and either queue again or wait until the hype dies down slightly before attempting to rejoin.

To keep an eye on updates about this issue and other related bugs, you can also keep an eye on the official Blizzard Customer Support Twitter page.

Diablo 4 is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. To learn more about the game, check out how to complete Kor Dragan Stronghold in Diablo 4, or click the Diablo IV tag below to explore our entire content collection!