studios Archives

AppWizard

August 27, 2026

Double Fine Productions Makes Brutal Legend Free for 666 Minutes to Honor Tim Curry

Double Fine Productions has reclaimed the rights to its entire catalog after parting ways with Microsoft. The studio is offering fans the chance to download the game Brutal Legend for free for 666 minutes in tribute to Tim Curry, who voiced a character in the game and passed away at the age of 80. This offer is available until 3:06 AM PT / 6:06 AM ET on August 27. IGN's Daemon Hatfield rated Brutal Legend 9 out of 10, praising its unique blend of humor, music, and gameplay. Double Fine plans to revive its Amnesia Fortnight game jam as it prepares for future projects.

Winsage

August 26, 2026

Microsoft Now Says Your RGB Lighting Is Why Windows Keeps Crashing Your Games, and There Is a Registry Fix

Microsoft has identified RGB peripherals and components as the source of game crashes following the August 11 Patch Tuesday rollup for Windows 11. The issue stems from drivers or code components resembling inpoutx64, which are triggered when certain games are launched. Embark Studios linked the problem to update KB5121003, and Microsoft confirmed the connection to inpoutx64.sys, although the root cause involves changes to the Windows kernel driver. A temporary workaround involves editing the registry to disable the inpoutx64 driver, though this may affect RGB functionality. Affected games include ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, with symptoms like game freezing and unexpected closures. Rolling back the update is not recommended due to security vulnerabilities it addressed. The inpoutx64.sys driver has been included with various RGB and monitoring software, and Microsoft is investigating the issue further, asking users for feedback. No timeline for a permanent fix has been provided.

Winsage

August 25, 2026

Windows 11 KB5121003: Game crashes caused by inpoutx64

Microsoft has acknowledged issues with the August security update KB5121003 for Windows 11, affecting versions 24H2 and 25H2. Users reported problems such as game freezing, unexpected closures, and system restarts after installing the update. The issues are linked to drivers and software for specific RGB-enabled peripherals or components, particularly involving the inpoutx64.sys driver. Games mentioned include ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and THE FINALS. Embark Studios has released a support guide suggesting users stop and remove the inpoutx64.sys service as a temporary workaround. Microsoft is investigating the issue but has not provided a definitive fix or patch timeline.

AppWizard

August 25, 2026

Windows update that breaks some multiplayer games linked to our desire for gaming PCs that light up all the colors of the rainbow

A bug following the Windows update KB5121003 has caused several games, including Arc Raiders, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals, to become unresponsive. Embark Studios suggested that the crashes are linked to the driver inpoutx64.sys and recommended disabling it through the Command Prompt. Microsoft confirmed that the update is the cause of the issues and is investigating a potential connection between RGB lighting components and the affected games. They provided a method to disable the driver via the registry, advising users to back up the registry first. Disabling the driver may affect RGB lighting features. Users can also consider rolling back to a previous Windows update as a temporary solution.

Winsage

August 24, 2026

Microsoft shares temporary fix for Windows 11 gaming issues

Microsoft has acknowledged gaming issues related to Windows 11 updates released on August 11, 2026, affecting games like ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Problems reported include game crashes, failures to launch, freezes, and unexpected system restarts, particularly on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. Microsoft identified a link between these issues and drivers or components associated with RGB lighting devices, specifically the inpoutx64.sys driver. A temporary workaround involves disabling the inpoutx64 driver through the Windows Registry, with caution advised regarding potential unintended consequences. Users are encouraged to report issues via the Feedback Hub app as Microsoft investigates further.

AppWizard

August 24, 2026

Paradox commits a classic blunder and accidentally leaks its own post-apocalyptic grand strategy game

Paradox has inadvertently revealed hints about an unannounced game titled "Afterworld" through its forum filters. A Reddit user discovered the name listed under the Unreleased Game filters, alongside "Prison Architect 2." Further investigation led to a Discord server that described "Afterworld" as a post-apocalyptic survival grand strategy game where players lead a tribe of survivors, manage settlements, and engage in wars of conquest. The gaming community is speculating about the game, with mixed reactions regarding its setting and potential gameplay direction. More details are anticipated to be revealed at Gamescom on August 25th.

Winsage

August 24, 2026

Windows 11 Update Breaks Games: The RGB Fix

The cumulative update for Windows 11, KB5121003, has caused game freezes and crashes for users, attributed to conflicts with third-party software and drivers managing RGB components, particularly related to the inpoutx64.sys file. Affected games include ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and THE FINALS, with symptoms such as unresponsive games, sudden closures with an EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION message, and unexpected system reboots. Microsoft has not provided a permanent fix but suggests users report issues via the Windows 11 Feedback Hub and consider removing or renaming the problematic driver as a temporary measure.

AppWizard

August 24, 2026

Nightdive’s Thief remaster unearths a ‘very very out of date version control repository’ with ‘the wildest things to say about the code’

Nightdive Studios is remastering the stealth game Thief: The Dark Project, enhancing its accessibility for both new players and seasoned fans. The remaster aims to preserve the essence of the original game while eliminating the need for fixpacks or control remapping. It is available on platforms such as Steam, GOG, and Epic.

AppWizard

August 23, 2026

Yes, the GTA 6 leaked footage was probably running on PC, and no, that doesn’t tell us a whole lot about the eventual release

Footage from GTA 6 has been leaked, reportedly captured from an actual build of the game. Industry insiders suggest that the footage is likely from a PC version rather than a console, with two developers from major studios confirming this theory. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick indicated that the initial focus will be on console gamers. The leaked footage shows impressive visuals, raising questions about the hardware needed for optimal performance, with speculation about the necessity of high-end graphics cards. Initial impressions suggest a frame rate closer to 30 fps, and while the visuals look promising, the exact settings are unknown. The gaming community is left to speculate about hardware requirements and the potential for a PC release.

AppWizard

August 23, 2026

If you’re desperate for more Baldur’s Gate 3, here’s a 6-hour mini-campaign all about Astarion with 4 different endings and 6 new companions

Larian Studios has stated they will not expand Baldur's Gate 3 further, but the modding community continues to create new content. A notable mod is a six-hour campaign titled A Dream of Silence ReVamped, inspired by an earlier text-based game by Abigail Corfman, structured into three acts, with the final act recently released. The mod can be downloaded from Nexus Mods. Additionally, Owlcat Games has shown interest in developing Baldur's Gate 4, while Larian is working on their next title in the Divinity series.