Windows 11 August 2026 Update May Cause Games to Freeze or Crash

Microsoft is investigating a potential problem with the August 2026 Windows 11 update that may prevent some games from launching or cause them to crash on affected systems.

The issue was reported by users playing a limited number of titles, including ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. The reported problems affect devices running Windows 11 version 25H2 and Windows 11 version 24H2.

Microsoft has confirmed that it is investigating reports of games becoming unresponsive after installing the August 2026 updates. Users on affected systems may experience the following symptoms:

• Games freeze or become unresponsive
• Games close without warning
• An “EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION” error appears
• The system unexpectedly restarts

“After the August 11, 2026 Windows Update (KB5121003) and later releases, Microsoft has received reports of issues that prevent games from running as expected,” Microsoft said Wednesday in an update to the Windows Release Health Dashboard.

“We are currently investigating whether this is an issue caused by Microsoft. We will provide an update as more information becomes available.”

KB5121003 Windows 11 update linked to gaming issues

Microsoft released KB5121003 last week as part of the August 2026 Patch Tuesday updates. The release includes Secure Boot updates, along with improvements to File Explorer and Windows Search.

Microsoft is asking gamers who experience crashes, freezes, or other problems after installing the update to submit reports through the Feedback Hub app. These reports may help the company identify the cause and determine which games and configurations are affected.

August 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 400 vulnerabilities

Microsoft’s August 2026 Patch Tuesday security release addressed a total of 400 vulnerabilities. One of the vulnerabilities is being actively exploited, while two others were publicly disclosed zero-day flaws.

This is not the first time a Windows update has caused compatibility problems for PC games. In October 2024, Microsoft blocked Windows 11 version 24H2 upgrades on some systems because of a known Easy Anti-Cheat issue that could trigger blue screens and crashes in Asphalt 8.

Microsoft also previously added a compatibility hold after confirming that Windows 11’s automatic HDR feature could cause problems with some games on version 24H2 systems. That upgrade block has since been lifted.

Several other upgrade blocks affecting players of Asphalt 8: Airborne, Assassin’s Creed, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora have also been removed, allowing affected users to upgrade to the latest Windows version.

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