VMware provides two primary workarounds in KB 78708. A permanent fix requires a firmware update.
The issue stems from a compatibility problem between the ESXi UEFI boot loader and certain UEFI firmware implementations. When ESXi attempts to "shut down" runtime firmware services (a normal step before taking full control of hardware), the firmware does not respond correctly or enters an invalid state. This is often triggered by: kb.vmware/s/article/78708
This KB highlights a classic computer science problem: VMware provides two primary workarounds in KB 78708