"Following the release of Windows updates on August 11, 2026 (KB5121003) and later, Microsoft received reports of issues involving inability to run games as expected," Microsoft said on the Windows release health dashboard.
Microsoft's investigation and advisory
Microsoft confirmed it is investigating reports that some games fail to launch or crash after the August 11, 2026 update (KB5121003) and subsequent Windows updates. The company said affected systems run Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 and that users have reported gaming freezes, "EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION" errors, and unexpected system restarts in addition to games that simply will not start.
Which games and systems are reported affected
Microsoft named specific titles that have been reported as affected: ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. The firm tied the reports to systems running Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 following the rollout of KB5121003 and later updates.
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Fix the backlogMicrosoft points to RGB peripherals and driver components
In an update posted on Thursday, Microsoft said "ongoing investigation indicates that this issue is related to peripherals or internal device components which have RGB lighting features." Microsoft said such devices may install drivers or code components with file names similar to inpoutx64, and that where these drivers are present the issue can be triggered by launching certain games.
Microsoft added: "We are presently working to understand the relationship between these RGB components and the games which trigger this issue. We will provide an update when more information is available."
Embark Studios identifies inpoutx64.sys and offers an unofficial workaround
Embark Studios, the Swedish developer behind ARC Raiders and The Finals, told players the crash is related to the file inpoutx64.sys and said the problem stems from changes made to the Windows kernel driver with the recent update. Until Microsoft ships an official fix, Embark published a multi-step temporary workaround that requires users to delete the service and remove the inpoutx64 file from the Windows drivers folder.
Embark framed its guidance as a stopgap measure while Microsoft continues its investigation. The studio's advisory echoes Microsoft's pointer to components named like inpoutx64 but additionally links the issue to kernel-driver changes introduced by the Windows update.
Context: Microsoft has addressed update-related gaming problems before
Microsoft is not new to addressing gaming stability after updates. The company previously blocked Windows 24H2 upgrades after October 2024 problems that caused Asphalt 8 crashes and Easy Anti-Cheat blue screens. In January 2025 Microsoft lifted a compatibility hold after fixing a bug in the Auto HDR Windows feature that was breaking some games on Windows 11 24H2 devices. Early last year Microsoft also removed several upgrade blocks that had been preventing players of Asphalt 8: Airborne, Assassin's Creed, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora from upgrading to the latest Windows version.
What this means for gamers, developers, and hardware vendors
- Gamers: Players encountering crashes, freezes, EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION errors, or unexpected system restarts should be aware that the issue has been linked to RGB-related drivers such as inpoutx64.sys and that a developer-provided temporary workaround exists but is unofficial.
- Game developers: Studios like Embark are already communicating directly with players and offering temporary mitigations tied to specific driver files while Microsoft works on an official remedy.
- PC hardware vendors and peripheral makers: Vendors whose RGB devices install drivers or components with names similar to inpoutx64 may need to coordinate with Microsoft and customers as the root cause is investigated and an official fix is prepared.
Microsoft's roadmap in the advisory is clear: it is investigating the link between RGB device components and the games that trigger the crashes and promised further updates on the Windows release health dashboard when new information is available.
