Windows 11 update has broken some PC games, and RGB lighting could be the issue

Q: Which games have been reported to crash or trigger restarts after the KB5121003 update?

Users have reported issues with Arc Raiders, The Finals, and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls after the KB5121003 update. Reports include games crashing to the desktop, systems becoming unresponsive, and blue screen "EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION" errors causing restarts.

Q: What evidence links RGB peripherals or internal RGB components to these crashes?

Microsoft says the issue is "most likely related to peripherals or internal device components which have RGB lighting features," and notes that devices with RGB often install drivers or code with names similar to the low-level "inpoutx64" driver that accesses hardware ports. Reported evidence is that disabling or removing the inpoutx64 driver (Microsoft's workaround and Embark Studios' suggested fix) reportedly resolves the crashes, and Microsoft highlights that RGB software and controllers running in kernel space can cause kernel-level faults that lead to BSODs and restarts.

Q: What is the inpoutx64 driver and how is it implicated in the issue?

The inpoutx64 driver is a low-level, kernel-space driver that accesses hardware ports and is often installed by RGB lighting software or controllers. It is implicated because RGB software and controllers using inpoutx64 can cause kernel-level faults after the Windows 11 update, leading to crashes, EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION blue screens, and system restarts. Microsoft and some game developers recommend disabling or removing the inpoutx64 driver as a workaround, though that can break RGB features and third-party lighting control software.

Q: What steps does Microsoft recommend as a workaround for users experiencing crashes?

Microsoft recommends disabling the 'inpoutx64' driver in the Windows registry as a workaround for the crashes caused by the 25H2 (KB5121003) update. Their support page provides step-by-step instructions for how to do this, but they warn it can cause unintended behavior with RGB features and third-party lighting software.

According to Microsoft, 'peripherals or internal device components which have RGB lighting' are causing some PCs to crash after the latest Windows update.

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Kosta Andreadis

Senior Editor

Published Aug 24, 2026 12:34 AM CDT

1-minute read time

TL;DR: A recent Windows 11 update (25H2, KB5121003) is causing some multiplayer games to crash, freeze, or trigger EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION blue screens. Microsoft links the problem to peripherals or internal components with RGB lighting that install drivers like "inpoutx64." Workarounds disable or remove that driver, but may disrupt RGB functionality.

Voice: Kosta AndreadisSpeed

0:00 / 2:35

A recent Windows 11 update (version 25H2, KB5121003) has been causing issues for some PC gamers playing multiplayer titles like Arc Raiders, The Finals, and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. In addition to PCs becoming unresponsive and games crashing to the desktop without warning, some users are also reporting blue screen "EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION" errors causing their systems to restart.

Windows 11 update has broken some PC games, and RGB lighting could be the issue 2

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Microsoft is actively investigating the issue, noting that it's most likely related to "peripherals or internal device components which have RGB lighting features." For a desktop PC gaming build, that covers most rigs, and Microsoft adds that devices with RGB often install drivers or code with file names similar to the low-level "inpoutx64" driver, which accesses hardware ports.

Until a proper fix is available, a workaround that reportedly resolves the issue is disabling the 'inpoutx64' driver in the Windows registry. Microsoft's support page on the issue provides steps for how to do this but notes that it can cause unintended behavior with RGB features on devices, as well as with third-party software used to control and configure lighting.

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Embark Studios, the developer behind The Finals and Arc Raiders, also posted a community note on the issue, with the workaround being to delete the 'inpoutx64' driver. It offers simple steps to "safely remove the file in question and allow you to play the game without issue" here.

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Question #1

Which games have been reported to crash or trigger restarts after the KB5121003 update?

Question #2

What evidence links RGB peripherals or internal RGB components to these crashes?

Question #3

What is the inpoutx64 driver and how is it implicated in the issue?

Question #4

What steps does Microsoft recommend as a workaround for users experiencing crashes?

Have a question about this content not listed here? Ask below and TweakBot will answer it.

Microsoft hasn't specified what is causing the issue or why it's related to RGB components and peripherals. Still, it is working to understand the "relationship between these RGB components and the games which trigger this issue" and provide an update soon. Interestingly, the reason it's leading to the dreaded "blue screen of death" (BSOD) for some users comes down to 'inpoutx64' and RGB software and controllers running in kernel space. This means that when a kernel-level fault occurs, Windows can't recover and forces a restart.