Windows 11 Gaming Crashes Tied to RGB Devices, Microsoft Offers Workaround

Microsoft has taken steps to address gaming crashes in Windows 11 that have been linked to peripherals and internal PC components that handle RGB lighting. The company's official Release Health page now notes a connection between these devices and the cumulative security update 'KB5121003', which was released on August 11 for Windows 11 24H2/25H2 clients.

The investigation, still in its early stages, has identified that drivers or code components with names similar to 'inpoutx64' can cause problems when launching certain games. Microsoft has outlined a temporary registry-based workaround to prevent the driver from loading on the next restart without deleting it.

This move follows an earlier version of the Release Health page that focused mainly on the investigation itself, as well as the affected games and symptoms. The update specifies the investigation's focus more concretely: certain devices and internal components that support RGB lighting, and the 'inpoutx64'-like named components they install.