Microsoft Fixes Windows 11 Game Crashes Caused by RGB Peripheral Drivers
Microsoft's August 2026 Windows update broke gaming on PCs with RGB peripheral software. The permanent driver-block fix began rolling out August 26.
Microsoft's August 11, 2026 Windows update (KB5121003) introduced a conflict with inpoutx64.sys, a low-level driver installed by some RGB peripheral software. On affected systems, games crashed on launch, generated "EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION" errors, or triggered unexpected restarts. Microsoft confirmed the root cause on August 23 and pushed a permanent fix on August 26 at 6 PM PT, with full propagation to all affected devices expected within 24 hours.
What the fix does
Windows now blocks inpoutx64.sys from loading at startup. A notification window appears on first launch after the block activates, and games run normally afterward. The block can also disable any RGB or hardware utility that depends on that driver, so check for updated software from your peripheral maker before the automatic fix arrives. For systems that do not receive the automatic rollout, the same driver block ships with September 2026 cumulative updates.
What to check if you own RGB gaming gear
No specific brands or software packages have been publicly named by Microsoft. If you use any companion app to control RGB lighting on hardware such as the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 or the Razer Basilisk V3, confirm that software is on its latest version. Systems that experienced no crashes after the August 11 update are not affected and need no action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the August 2026 Windows 11 update affect all RGB peripherals?
No. Microsoft has not named specific brands. The issue involves the inpoutx64.sys driver installed by some RGB peripheral software. If your system was not crashing after the August 11 update (KB5121003), your RGB setup uses different driver code and is not affected.
What should I do if games still crash after the Windows fix?
Check for updated companion software from your peripheral maker and install any available updates. Microsoft's September 2026 cumulative update also includes the same permanent driver block. If problems continue, use the registry workaround Microsoft published to manually disable the inpoutx64.sys driver.
Which games were affected by the Windows 11 RGB crash bug?
Microsoft confirmed issues with ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Other games using the same kernel-level access pattern were also affected, but these three were the ones whose developers publicly investigated and confirmed the crash.