Microsoft has issued a temporary workaround for a gaming issue that's been affecting some Windows 11 systems since the August 2026 Patch Tuesday update cycle. Users on affected PCs have reported a range of problems: games crashing or failing to launch, system freezes, "EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION" errors, and unexpected restarts.
Who's Affected, and Since When
The issue impacts systems running Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. According to Microsoft, reports started coming in after the release of the KB5121003 update on August 11, 2026, and have continued through subsequent updates. Games confirmed to be affected include ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals.
What's Actually Causing the Crashes
Microsoft initially said it was investigating the problem, and later traced a likely connection to drivers or software components installed by RGB-enabled peripherals and internal hardware, the kind of lighting accessories common in gaming setups. Specifically, some RGB devices install drivers or components with file names similar to inpoutx64, and on systems where these are present, launching certain games can trigger crashes and stability issues.
Swedish game developer Embark Studios, which developed both The Finals and ARC Raiders, confirmed the connection independently, tracing it to inpoutx64.sys and changes involving the Windows kernel driver. Microsoft said it's continuing to investigate the exact relationship between the affected games and RGB-related components, with more information expected as the investigation progresses.
The Temporary Fix: A Registry Workaround
Until a permanent solution is ready, Microsoft is recommending users disable the inpoutx64 driver through the Windows Registry. Before making any changes, Microsoft has advised backing up the Registry, since this setting will likely need to be restored once the underlying issue is properly fixed.
For anyone experiencing the problem, the steps are:
- Open the Start menu, type regedit, and launch Registry Editor.
- Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\inpoutx64
- Locate the Start value on the right side of Registry Editor.
- Double-click it and change the Value data to 4.
- Close Registry Editor and restart the computer.
As with any Registry edit, this should be done carefully, incorrect changes can cause broader Windows configuration or stability problems, which is exactly why the backup step matters.
A Trade-Off Worth Knowing About
Microsoft has flagged that disabling this driver isn't without side effects. Users may notice RGB lighting on compatible peripherals or internal components stop working properly, and software used to control that lighting could also malfunction. If that happens and users want to restore RGB functionality, they can simply re-enable the driver by reverting the Registry value to its previous setting.
Microsoft is also asking affected gamers to submit reports through the Feedback Hub app, data that could help the company pin down the precise relationship between these games, RGB components, and the driver causing the crashes.
Not the First Time This Has Happened
This isn't Microsoft's first run-in with gaming compatibility issues tied to Windows updates. The company has previously had to remove upgrade blocks that prevented players of games like Asphalt 8: Airborne, Star Wars Outlaws, Assassin's Creed, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora from updating their systems. More recently, it lifted a separate compatibility hold after resolving an Auto HDR-related issue that was causing problems for certain games on Windows 11 24H2.
Cases like this one are a reminder of how much can go wrong when a system-level Windows update interacts unpredictably with third-party hardware drivers, something that's hard to fully test for across the enormous variety of peripherals gamers actually use. For now, Microsoft's Registry workaround offers affected gamers a way to get back into their games, but it's worth keeping that Registry backup handy and being ready to reverse the change once an official, permanent fix arrives.
FAQs
Q1. Which Windows 11 versions are affected by this crashing issue?
Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, following the KB5121003 update released on August 11, 2026, and subsequent updates.
Q2. What's causing the crashes?
A likely connection to drivers or components installed by RGB-enabled peripherals, specifically ones with file names similar to inpoutx64, which can trigger crashes in certain games.
Q3. What's the temporary fix Microsoft has provided?
Disabling the inpoutx64 driver through a Windows Registry edit, changing its Start value to 4, until a permanent fix is released.
Q4. Are there any downsides to applying this workaround?
Yes. Disabling the driver may cause RGB lighting on peripherals or internal components to stop working, along with any associated RGB control software.