Microsoft is investigating Windows 11 gaming issues reported after the August 2026 cumulative updates.
The company says a limited number of games may fail to run correctly on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. Reported symptoms include games freezing, suddenly closing, showing an access-violation error or restarting the device without warning.
Microsoft has not confirmed that the updates caused the problem. However, it opened an investigation after receiving reports from affected players.
Windows 11 gaming issues affect a limited number of titles
The reports concern games including ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls and The Finals.
Affected users may find that a game becomes unresponsive shortly after launch. In other cases, the application may close without notice or display an “EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION” error.
Some users have also reported unexpected system restarts. Microsoft lists the issue as affecting client versions of Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. It does not affect Windows Server systems.
The company linked the reports to updates released on August 11, including KB5121003 and later updates.
Microsoft is still investigating the cause
Microsoft added the problem to its Windows release health dashboard on August 19. The company said it is working to determine whether the issue stems from Microsoft software.
At present, Microsoft has not announced a fix, workaround or compatibility hold for affected devices.
Players who encounter these Windows 11 gaming issues can submit a report through the Feedback Hub app. Detailed reports can help Microsoft identify common configurations, affected hardware and game-specific patterns.
Users should include the game title, Windows version and a clear description of the failure when filing feedback. They should also note whether the issue began after installing a recent update.
Gaming problems have affected Windows updates before
Microsoft has previously placed compatibility blocks on some Windows 11 upgrades after identifying problems with certain games.
In late 2024, the company blocked some Windows 11 24H2 upgrades because of Easy Anti-Cheat blue screens and Asphalt 8 crashes. It later removed several safeguards after fixes became available.
Microsoft also lifted a compatibility hold connected to Auto HDR after the feature caused some games to freeze on Windows 11 24H2 systems.
For now, Microsoft has not advised affected users to uninstall KB5121003. The company says it will update its release health dashboard when it has more information about the current Windows 11 gaming issues.
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