Microsoft has acknowledged ongoing gaming issues stemming from the Windows 11 updates released during the August 2026 Patch Tuesday. Users have reported a range of problems, including game crashes, failures to launch, freezes, and unexpected system restarts, particularly affecting titles such as ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals on systems operating with Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2.
In a statement confirming their investigation into these issues, Microsoft noted that the problems arose following the release of updates on August 11, 2026 (KB5121003) and subsequent patches. The company has identified a potential link between the gaming disruptions and drivers or components associated with RGB lighting devices installed on affected systems.
According to Microsoft, “Ongoing investigation indicates that this issue is related to peripherals or internal device components which have RGB lighting features. Such devices may install drivers or code components with file names similar to inpoutx64. In systems where these drivers are found, the issue is then triggered by launching certain games.”
Embark Studios, the Swedish developer behind The Finals and ARC Raiders, has corroborated Microsoft’s findings, indicating that the inpoutx64.sys driver is indeed the source of the issues, which are exacerbated by recent changes to the Windows kernel driver.
Official workaround now available
In response to these challenges, Microsoft has provided a temporary workaround for gamers. This involves disabling the inpoutx64 driver through the Windows Registry. Users are advised to back up their registry beforehand, as they may need to revert the changes once Microsoft resolves the underlying issue in a future update.
To disable the driver, users can follow these steps:
- Open the Windows Registry by accessing the Start menu and typing “regedit”. Select the Registry Editor from the search results.
- Navigate to the key HKEYLOCALMACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesinpoutx64. This can be done using the folders on the left side of the window or by entering the path in the address bar at the top.
- On the right side of the window, locate the registry value named Start. Double-click this key and enter the number “4” in the field labeled Value data.
- Close the window and restart your computer.
Microsoft has cautioned that disabling this registry key may lead to unintended consequences, such as issues with RGB features on peripherals or the software controlling them. Should users encounter such problems and wish to restore functionality, they can re-enable the driver by reverting the registry key to its original value.
Additionally, Microsoft encourages gamers experiencing these issues to submit a report via the Feedback Hub app, as the company continues to investigate the relationship between the problematic games and RGB components.
This situation is not unprecedented for Microsoft, which has previously tackled gaming stability and performance issues linked to Windows updates. For example, the company has lifted upgrade blocks for several games, including Asphalt 8: Airborne and Star Wars Outlaws, and recently addressed a bug in the Auto HDR feature that was affecting gameplay on Windows 11 24H2 devices.
