Windows 11 update crashes games — Microsoft says RGB devices are to blame

One of the latest Windows 11 updates has triggered game freezes and even crashes. Now Microsoft has identified the unexpected source of these issues: RGB lighting peripherals and components.

The issue affects systems running Windows 11 with the August cumulative update KB5121003. Microsoft says the problem is not caused by the RGB hardware or lighting itself, but by drivers and other software components installed by these devices. Some of them use file names similar to inpoutx64, and launching certain games can trigger the conflict.

Ongoing investigation indicates that this issue is related to peripherals or internal device components which have RGB lighting features - Microsoft.

So far, Microsoft has identified three affected games: ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls and THE FINALS. Depending on the system, a game may freeze, become unresponsive, close unexpectedly, display an EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error or even cause Windows to reboot without warning.

The problem appears to be related to the inpoutx64.sys driver, a low-level component that can be installed by various hardware utilities and RGB-control software. Embark Studios, the developer of ARC Raiders and THE FINALS, previously confirmed that changes to this file after the Windows update were behind the crashes.

Microsoft has not released a fix yet and says it is still investigating the connection between RGB hardware and the affected games. For now, Microsoft recommends that affected users report the problem through the Feedback Hub while it works on a permanent solution. Embark, meanwhile, has provided players with a temporary workaround that removes the problematic driver, allowing the games to run normally again.