● Covered by 3 sources · 6 reportsMedium impact3 negative3 neutral
Microsoft Investigates August Windows Updates Causing Gaming Issues on Windows 11
Key points
- August 2026 Windows updates (KB5121003) are linked to gaming issues.
- Games may freeze, crash, or show "EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION" errors.
- Affects Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2.
- Microsoft is investigating the cause and collecting user feedback.
- KB5121003 was a mandatory security update.
- The update was released on August 11.
- The update fixed over 400 vulnerabilities.
- Games like ARC Raiders and The Finals are particularly impacted.
- Embark Games is working on a solution for its games.
- Microsoft blames RGB lighting device drivers for the gaming issues.
- The issue is triggered by launching games when RGB device drivers are present.
- MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is also affected by the update.
- The issue can cause unexpected system restarts.
- The issue can cause Blue Screen of Death errors.
- Microsoft provided a temporary workaround for the gaming issues.
- The issue is specifically linked to the inpoutx64.sys file.
- Microsoft is rolling out a permanent fix for the issues.
- The fix disables the problematic inpoutx64.sys driver.
August Updates Trigger Gaming Problems
Microsoft has confirmed it is investigating a potential issue with the August 2026 Windows updates, specifically KB5121003, which may be causing problems for gamers. Users have reported that certain games are failing to launch or are crashing unexpectedly on Windows 11 systems running versions 25H2 and 24H2.
Reported Symptoms and Affected Games
The issues reported by users include games freezing, closing without notice, displaying "EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION" errors, and causing unexpected system restarts. Specific games mentioned in user reports include ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Microsoft stated it received reports of these issues following the August 11, 2026, update release.
Microsoft's Response and Investigation
Microsoft has acknowledged the reports and is currently investigating to determine if the issue is caused by their updates. The company has asked gamers experiencing these problems to submit reports via the Feedback Hub app to assist in their investigation. An update will be provided once more information becomes available.
Context of Recent Windows Update Issues
The KB5121003 update was part of the August 2026 Patch Tuesday, which also included Secure Boot updates and improvements to File Explorer and Windows Search. This is not the first time Microsoft has encountered gaming-related issues with Windows updates; previous instances include blocking Windows 24H2 upgrades due to Easy Anti-Cheat blue screens and Asphalt 8 crashes in October 2024, and resolving an Auto HDR compatibility hold in 2025.
Updates
- Microsoft is rolling out a permanent fix for the issues.
- The fix disables the problematic inpoutx64.sys driver.
- Microsoft provided a temporary workaround for the gaming issues.
- The issue is specifically linked to the inpoutx64.sys file.
- The issue can cause Blue Screen of Death errors.
- Microsoft blames RGB lighting device drivers for the gaming issues.
- The issue is triggered by launching games when RGB device drivers are present.
- MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is also affected by the update.
- The issue can cause unexpected system restarts.
- KB5121003 was a mandatory security update.
- The update was released on August 11.
- The update fixed over 400 vulnerabilities.
- Games like ARC Raiders and The Finals are particularly impacted.
- Embark Games is working on a solution for its games.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Microsoft has begun deploying a permanent fix for Windows 11 system crashes and game launch failures linked to RGB lighting peripheral drivers. The fix disables the problematic inpoutx64.sys driver on affected consumer devices, resolving issues for games like ARC Raiders. This update addresses a specific compatibility problem impacting Windows 11 users with certain hardware configurations.
Microsoft has provided a temporary workaround for Windows 11 gaming problems, including crashes and freezes, that emerged after the August 2026 Patch Tuesday updates. The issues are linked to RGB device drivers, specifically the inpoutx64.sys file, which interferes with certain games.
Microsoft has identified that RGB lighting software is causing system instability, game crashes, and Blue Screen of Death errors in Windows 11, particularly after the KB5121003 update. The issue stems from RGB software drivers interfering with core system components, likely due to conflicts with anti-cheat mechanisms in games. This impacts users with RGB peripherals experiencing system instability.
Microsoft has identified that drivers installed by RGB lighting peripherals may be causing games to crash or fail to launch on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 systems after the August 2026 updates. This issue affects titles like ARC Raiders and The Finals, leading to freezes, errors, and system restarts for affected users.
A recent mandatory Windows 11 security update, KB5121003, is causing game crashes, login errors, and display issues for some users. Microsoft has launched an investigation into the reported problems, which primarily affect the gaming community.
Microsoft is investigating reports that the August 2026 Windows updates (KB5121003) are preventing some games from launching or causing crashes on Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2. This issue affects titles like ARC Raiders and MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, leading to freezes, unexpected closures, and errors for affected users.