Microsoft has resolved a Windows 11 gaming issue that caused some popular games to become unresponsive, crash, or even restart affected PCs.
The problem appeared after the August 11, 2026 Windows updates, including KB5121003, but Microsoft says the Windows updates themselves were not responsible for the problem. Instead, the issue was linked to certain RGB-enabled peripherals and internal hardware components using a driver named inpoutx64.
Microsoft opened its investigation on August 19 and confirmed the resolution on August 26.
Which Games Were Affected?
Reports primarily involved three games:
- ARC Raiders
- MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls
- THE FINALS
Affected users could experience several different symptoms when launching these games. In some cases, the game would simply stop responding or close without warning. Others reported seeing an “EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION” error, while some systems could unexpectedly restart.
The common factor was the presence of the inpoutx64 driver, which can be installed by software associated with RGB lighting hardware.
Microsoft Says the Windows Update Wasn’t to Blame
Although the problem started appearing after recent Windows 11 updates, Microsoft’s investigation found that the updates were not the underlying cause.
Instead, certain RGB-enabled devices can install drivers or related components with filenames similar to inpoutx64. When those drivers were present, launching particular games could trigger the crashes and other unexpected behavior.
This is an important distinction for affected gamers because uninstalling or rolling back the August Windows update isn’t considered the solution.
Microsoft Has Started Blocking the Problematic Driver
Microsoft has now deployed a fix that prevents the inpoutx64 driver from loading on affected systems.
The initial block targets PCs that have ARC Raiders installed and have the specific driver enabled. Once the block is applied, Windows disables the driver and displays a notification explaining what happened. After that, Microsoft says the game should launch normally.
The company is also working to expand the block to systems running MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls.
For THE FINALS, the issue has already been resolved by developer Embark Studios.
The Fix Is Rolling Out Automatically
For most Windows 11 users, there is nothing that needs to be done manually.
Microsoft says the resolution is being distributed automatically to Windows consumer and business devices that aren’t managed by an IT department. A restart is required after the fix reaches the device.
The rollout began on August 26 at 6 PM PT and may take up to 24 hours to reach all affected systems.
Microsoft also plans to include the driver block in the September 2026 Windows security updates and future Windows releases.
Enterprise-managed PCs are different. The fix won’t automatically propagate to devices managed by an organization’s IT department, so administrators may need to use the workaround provided by Microsoft.
Temporary Workaround for Affected PCs
If you’re still experiencing the problem and need a temporary solution, Microsoft recommends disabling the inpoutx64 driver through the Windows Registry.
Because the Registry is an important part of Windows, users should back it up before making any changes.
The relevant Registry location is:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\inpoutx64
Under this key, locate the Start value, open it, and change Value data to:
After closing Registry Editor, restart the PC.
Microsoft’s investigation has not found evidence that disabling this particular Registry entry causes unintended behavior. However, users who aren’t comfortable editing the Registry should avoid making changes without first creating a backup.
The driver can be re-enabled later by restoring the Registry value to its previous setting.
Windows 11 Versions Affected
Microsoft lists the following client versions as affected:
- Windows 11 version 25H2
- Windows 11 version 24H2
No Windows Server versions are listed as affected.
What Gamers Should Do Now
If you’re playing ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, or THE FINALS and recently experienced crashes or unexpected restarts, an RGB-related driver could be worth checking.
The good news is that Microsoft has already begun rolling out a fix, so most unmanaged Windows 11 PCs should receive the driver block automatically. Restarting the PC after the resolution arrives is necessary.
For gamers who haven’t encountered the issue, there’s generally no reason to change anything manually. Microsoft is handling the driver block through Windows, with the fix also scheduled to become part of the September security updates.
The incident is another reminder that gaming problems following a Windows update aren’t always caused by the operating system update itself. In this case, the conflict came from a third-party hardware driver interacting with specific games.
Stay tuned to WinCentral for all latest news about Windows 11 update related news and keep reading our full coverage here.
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