Microsoft has acknowledged an issue stemming from a Windows update released on September 22, which has led to unexpected closures of various games. This concern was officially logged on the Windows release health dashboard on October 2, encompassing Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2, while server editions remain unaffected.
The root of the problem appears to be linked to AC-3 audio decoding. According to Microsoft, “Following installation of Windows updates released September 22, 2026 (KB5124010), and later, some applications which require the decoding of AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio might close unexpectedly.” The update in question is identified as KB5124010, with OS Build 26300.9550 on version 26H2.
Only software leaning on the Windows decoder is hit
The impact on games largely depends on their audio handling capabilities. Microsoft indicates that many contemporary applications do not rely on Windows for this type of audio encoding, thus avoiding the issue. The problematic code is primarily associated with legacy applications that still depend on Windows’ built-in audio decoding. Notably, AC-3 is the Dolby Digital codec frequently found in older PC games’ pre-rendered cutscenes and licensed soundtracks, as well as in media players designed around DVD-era audio. Newer games typically incorporate their own decoders, while older titles that depend on Windows for audio processing are at risk of malfunction.
Unfortunately, Microsoft has not provided a list of affected titles, leaving owners of extensive back catalogs without a clear reference. The described behavior—where a game operates normally until a specific piece of music is played—often leads to misattribution of the fault to the game itself rather than the update.
Microsoft offers no workaround and no date
The status of this issue is marked as “Confirmed,” yet the dashboard currently offers no mitigation strategies. The entry states, “We are working on releasing a resolution for this issue in a future Windows update. We will provide an update when more information is available.” This statement has remained unchanged since it was first posted on October 2, with no further updates provided as of October 7.
In contrast, Microsoft has previously issued workarounds for other known issues. For instance, three other known issues related to version 26H2 have been marked as “Mitigated,” with one concerning a black screen after sign-in on virtual desktop hosts receiving a Known Issue Rollback group policy. However, KB5124010 does not fall under security updates; it is categorized as a non-security preview for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2, which requires users to manually seek it out under optional updates. Furthermore, the dashboard notes that the issues pertain to updates released on September 22 “and later,” indicating that the problem persists regardless of user action. As Windows 11 26H2 gains traction, the audience affected by this issue continues to expand.
