Microsoft has taken a significant step towards resolving compatibility issues that have affected users of certain Ubisoft games following the release of the Windows 24H2 update. The tech giant had previously imposed a hold on upgrades for systems running titles such as Assassin’s Creed, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora due to a series of user-reported problems that included crashes, freezes, and audio glitches.
Addressing User Concerns
This precautionary measure came after a wave of complaints surfaced on platforms like Reddit and the Microsoft Answers forums, where players expressed their frustrations over the erratic performance of these games. Reports indicated that some users experienced immediate crashes upon launching the games, while others faced freezing or black screens shortly after loading their saved progress.
In response to these issues, Microsoft implemented a safeguard hold, identified by the tags 54318776 and 54580160 in Windows Update for Business reports, to prevent further disruptions for its customers. However, the company has now lifted these restrictions for devices running Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, following Ubisoft’s release of temporary hotfixes aimed at mitigating the reported crashes. Users should be aware that some performance issues may still persist despite these fixes.
For those encountering difficulties exiting the games, Ubisoft has suggested utilizing the Task Manager as a temporary workaround. Additionally, Microsoft has advised gamers to refrain from upgrading affected PCs using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or the Media Creation Tool until a complete resolution is achieved.
In an update on the Windows release health dashboard, Microsoft noted, “Once these fixes are applied, it may take up to 48 hours for the Windows 11, version 24H2 update to be offered via Windows Update. Restarting your device might expedite the process.”
New Compatibility Challenges
Over the weekend, Microsoft announced another compatibility hold, this time affecting systems with outdated Google Workspace Sync installations, which have been causing issues with launching Outlook, resulting in “Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook” errors. This follows a series of recent safeguard holds that also targeted devices with incompatible Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) audio drivers, which have been linked to blue screen of death (BSOD) incidents, as well as USB scanners that support the eSCL protocol.
As Microsoft navigates these challenges, the company remains committed to ensuring a smoother experience for its users while collaborating with developers like Ubisoft to address compatibility concerns swiftly.
