Thursday, August 20th 2026

Windows 11 August Update is Breaking Games, Microsoft Investigates

According to an updated Microsoft support document, the Windows 11 August update is causing problems with games, and the company has officially confirmed that an investigation is underway. The document states that games like ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals are experiencing forced crashes, random freezing, errors, and unexpected device restarts due to the update. After receiving complaints from internal testing and gamers, gaming studios have started to acknowledge the issue and report that the Windows 11 August update is causing applications to crash. Microsoft has confirmed the problem and is actively investigating its cause.
MicrosoftFollowing the release of Windows updates on August 11, 2026 (KB5121003) and later, Microsoft received reports of issues involving inability to run games as expected. This issue has been reported for a limited number of games, including ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals... If you are experiencing this issue, or a similar issue, please use Feedback Hub to file a report
Official symptoms include:
  • the game application becomes unresponsive
  • the game application closes without notice
  • the error "EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION" is displayed
  • the device restarting without warning
Sources: Microsoft, via Windows Latest
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69 Comments on Windows 11 August Update is Breaking Games, Microsoft Investigates

#1
Dobermann
Microslop is in top form, as always! :D
Posted on Reply
#2
ThomasK
Microslop is beyond help. Earning so much money from AI that it doesn't even bother with proper QA validation anymore.

Posted on Reply
#3
_JP_
This is one of those things that cannot be aimed at Microsoft alone, for a security patch.
It can be from the DRM, or the fact that these three titles used UE5 in a way that does not play nice with the security changes Microsoft made.
Posted on Reply
#4
Let3r
This happens with every update. That is why I used CTT debloater to force nuke all updates.
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#5
Darmok N Jalad
For some perspective, I remember back in Windows 7 days, if I played TF2 long enough, the game would crash. Also, it’s not all roses using Proton either—any game using the EA launcher or Denuvo is a crapshoot. Everyone is always updating things. It can feel like a small miracle that things work as much as they do.
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#6
AGlezB
I've concluded that MS breaking something with an update is not news and is not worth talking about in the same way the soles of your footwear getting dirty is not worth talking about: it happened yesterday, it will happen again tomorrow and expecting anything else is pointless. So move along. Nothing new to see here. :D
Posted on Reply
#7
Bones
AGlezBI've concluded that MS breaking something with an update is not news and is not worth talking about in the same way the soles of your footwear getting dirty is not worth talking about: it happened yesterday, it will happen again tomorrow and expecting anything else is pointless. So move along. Nothing new to see here. :D
Agreed - Your regularly scheduled ritual of "Getting microshafted by Microshaft" should be old hack for many by now.
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#8
matar
i have said it over and over windows 10 in every way is better faster less ram hungry and true desktop features
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#9
FR3D1
Ninja Cat
AleksandarKMicrosoft has confirmed the problem and is actively investigating its cause.
Correction;
Microsoft has confirmed the issue and is having the cause investigated using AI.
matarin every way is better faster less ram hungry
This story is entirely fictional.
Yours, Jonathan Frakes.

Regards,
Fred.
Posted on Reply
#10
Hecate91
Microslop breaking games again in W11, they should scrap 11 at this point, it's been out for nearly 5 years and they still can't provide stable updates.
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#11
_roman_
My explorer crashes on my refuribsh notebook on wednesday this week when i updated with windows update. this is my test device for w11 pro with the least modifications.
Not all files were moved to my android tablet although the file copy dialog showed it completed for at least 5 minutes.
i do expect such basic stuff to work and complete.

6 minutes and various reboots for a windows update is unacceptable on a powerful machine with a samsung nvme. Why do i need to wait for a warm boot? there is no technical need for that.

My statement: This update will not see my gaming box with w11 pro. It is unstable and rubbish.
Posted on Reply
#12
mikeymike
AGlezBI've concluded that MS breaking something with an update is not news and is not worth talking about in the same way the soles of your footwear getting dirty is not worth talking about: it happened yesterday, it will happen again tomorrow and expecting anything else is pointless. So move along. Nothing new to see here. :D
I disagree. Not reporting it means that for all the users that did not personally experience it, it basically didn't happen. Then when they get hit with an update-related problem, they're thinking it's a one-off.

As much as I slate Windows, I'm personally not seeing it go wrong with every other update, nor are my customers regularly needing to get bailed out for update related problems, but the reporting of such problems should be generally observed as becoming more commonplace, so when they come knocking on a particular user's door, the user should be less surprised.

Things are going to continue getting worse with Windows with Microsoft's YOLO strategy with regard to quality control, until Microsoft realises that they're in danger of losing all the marbles because of their arrogance. And before anyone chimes in with Windows not being Microsoft's most profitable product: It's the linchpin to virtually their entire product line, the reason why 99% of computer users on this planet know that they exist; if the avalanche of users fleeing Windows starts, Microsoft will fade into obscurity.

I'm personally in two minds about Microsoft dying: On one hand I think arrogance needs to be punished, on the other hand I prefer a market with more choices in rather than fewer. On the other other hand, Microsoft seems intent on pulling an Apple and removing user choice wherever they can. Hmm, tricky.
Posted on Reply
#13
AGlezB
mikeymikeI disagree. Not reporting it means that for all the users that did not personally experience it, it basically didn't happen. Then when they get hit with an update-related problem, they're thinking it's a one-off.
What is important as information and what is news is not necessarily the same. Knowing MS dropped the ball is news when it happens once a year, as it used to be the case with the OOB updates. When they're forced to release more OOB updates in the past year that in the previous 5 years combined it ceases to be news and becomes the norm, and the norm isn't newsworthy. Think of it as a unread message notification in your phone: good to know but not news, just more information of the same kind you've already repeteadly received.
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#14
maxli86
Hey Microslop, if that's the case.
Can you please don't pull the plug on Windows 10?
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#15
mechtech
I thought they said they were making W11 better?!?!

Is this one of those cases where it's going to get worse before it gets better?? ;)
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#16
Parn
This kind of problematic updates are getting more frequent lately since MS admitted they'd been using AI to code these patches. 🤔
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#17
TheEndIsNear
Isn't this old news. It's expected an update is going to screw up something else. Layer upon layer of old crap is making it horrible.
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#18
Bigshrimp
Microslop breaking things is like a normal day these days. Their operating system is their sidepiece now. They couldn't care less when AI is basically a money funnel. I bet they will use AI to try to fix the issue and break something else in the process, rofl.
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#19
lexluthermiester
matari have said it over and over windows 10 in every way is better faster less ram hungry and true desktop features
That is pure daffy nonsense. Kinda proves you haven't taken a good look at Windows 11. Because, news flash, Win10 was just riddled with update glitches and nonsense. What you thought these update problems were new to 11? Dream on.. It would make much more sense if you were a Windows 7 diehard because THAT was the best version of Windows ever made.
Posted on Reply
#20
Ihnako
I wonder what would happen if Linux or any other OS had a similar marketshare?
Posted on Reply
#21
FR3D1
Ninja Cat
@AleksandarK
Microsoft has released initial information regarding this issue.
"Ongoing investigations indicate that this issue is related to peripherals or internal device components featuring RGB lighting capabilities. Such devices may install drivers or code components with filenames resembling 'inpoutx64'. On systems where these drivers are present, the issue is triggered by launching certain games."
Regards,
Fred.
Posted on Reply
#22
boomheadshot8
matari have said it over and over windows 10 in every way is better faster less ram hungry and true desktop features
I'm on win 10 no updates bug :)
working fine
so ms has scared everyone with secuirity updates , now they do shitty updates on most used os :shadedshu:
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#24
Doctor Who
Hence why I have this under Software for my System Specs:
Windows 10 Pro - 64-Bit Edition (Back to Win 10 because 11 is garbage.)
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#25
shorovei
It also breaks the sound with my Creative Soundblaster AE-5 Plus ... it's all just rubbish
Posted on Reply
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