Windows 11 Update Causes Widespread Game Crashes Due to Driver Incompatibility

A recent Windows 11 update has caused widespread crashes and reboots in some games, including ARC Raiders and The Finals. The issue is linked to a driver called inpoutx64.sys, which is often installed by third-party software or peripherals with RGB lighting features.

Microsoft confirmed the problem and stated that it's investigating why existing drivers are causing compatibility issues after recent Windows updates. In the meantime, affected users can remove the inpoutx64.sys file to resolve the issue, but this may stop their peripherals from working properly.

The August 2026 Update, which fixed up to 400 security issues, appears to be the culprit behind the crashes. Interestingly, Windows 10 seems to be largely unaffected by the same drivers, possibly due to its more stable maintenance phase and fewer updates.

Microsoft's Driver Quality Initiative (DQI) aims to rebuild driver architecture, ensure all updates are certified, and improve security. While some OEMs have made progress on DQI, others appear to be lagging behind.