Users running **Windows 11, version 25H2**, and **Windows 11, version 24H2**, have reported a range of stability issues following the August 11, 2026, Patch Tuesday updates. Games such as **ARC Raiders**, **MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls**, and **The Finals** are among those cited as becoming unresponsive or crashing. Reported symptoms include: * Games freezing unexpectedly * Unannounced game closures * "EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION" errors * Unexpected system restarts **Microsoft** confirmed these reports in a Windows release health dashboard update, stating, "We are presently investigating to determine if this is an issue caused by **Microsoft**. We will provide an update when more information is available."  The **KB5121003** update, released last week, was intended to deliver Secure Boot updates and improvements to File Explorer and Windows Search. **Microsoft** has urged affected gamers to submit reports via the Feedback Hub app to assist in their investigation. ## Unofficial Workaround Emerges **Embark Studios**, the developer behind the first-person shooter **The Finals**, has attributed the issues to changes within the `inpoutx64.sys` Windows kernel driver. "We're aware of a crash that has been impacting some players since the most recent Windows update (**KB5121003**). This is a crash related to the file inpoutx64.sys, which changed with the Windows update," **Embark Studios** stated. The studio is actively working on a permanent fix. In the interim, **Embark Studios** has provided a multi-step unofficial workaround. This involves stopping and deleting the related service and removing the `inpoutx64` file from the `C:\Windows\System32\drivers\` folder. ## A Recurring Challenge for Gamers This isn't the first instance of **Windows** updates negatively impacting gaming performance and stability. In October 2024, **Microsoft** temporarily blocked **Windows 24H2** upgrades on some systems due to known issues causing **Easy Anti-Cheat** blue screens and crashes in **Asphalt 8**. Last year, a compatibility hold was lifted after **Microsoft** confirmed that the **Auto HDR** feature in **Windows 11 24H2** was breaking certain games. More recently, several upgrade blocks were removed that had prevented players of titles like **Asphalt 8: Airborne**, **Assassin's Creed**, **Star Wars Outlaws**, and **Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora** from upgrading to the latest **Windows** versions.