Are your PC games crashing after the latest Windows 11 update? Microsoft is investigating whether a nasty new bug is the cause — but there are workarounds

image via TechRadar

August 21, 2026, 11:45 AM

• •Microsoft posted on the Windows release health dashboard that certain games may become unresponsive after the latest Windows 11 patch.
• •Symptoms described include freezes, crashes with an 'Exception Access Violation' error, and occasional spontaneous reboots after a game crash.
• •Microsoft says the issue appears related to peripherals or internal components with RGB lighting features and drivers resembling inpoutx64.
• •Games named in the report include Arc Raiders, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals.
• •Suggested workarounds are uninstalling Windows 11 update KB5121003 or removing the inpoutx64 driver file from affected systems.

Microsoft says it is investigating reports that some PC games freeze, crash to desktop, or even trigger reboots after the latest Windows 11 monthly update. Reported affected titles include Arc Raiders, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals, with Microsoft pointing to RGB-related peripherals or internal components using drivers with names similar to inpoutx64. The article says some users suspect a new security-related kernel validation change is exposing driver problems that anti-cheat systems then react to. Workarounds include uninstalling update KB5121003 or deleting the inpoutx64 driver file, though both approaches carry tradeoffs or risk.

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