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The Finals / The Finals crashing on startup (after Windows update KB5121003)

The Finals crashing on startup (after Windows update KB5121003)

✅ Verified on 2026-11-15 · The Finals version Season 11 (Aug 2026 crash-troubleshooting post) · Platform: PC (Steam)

Quick fix

Open an administrator Command Prompt and run sc stop inpoutx64 then sc delete inpoutx64, then delete inpoutx64.sys from C:\Windows\System32\drivers\ — Embark officially linked the current crash wave to this file.

Symptoms

The game crashes immediately on launch or within moments of reaching the menu on PC, without reaching a match. Since the Windows update KB5121003, the most common cause is a conflict with the inpoutx64.sys driver file, rather than GPU settings.

Fixes that work

Remove the inpoutx64 service and driver file (official Embark workaround)

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run sc stop inpoutx64, then sc delete inpoutx64.
  2. Delete inpoutx64.sys from C:\Windows\System32\drivers\ — if Windows says the file is in use, repeat step 1 first.
  3. Optional: open regedit and delete the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\inpoutx64, then restart your PC.
  4. Embark confirmed the crashes are tied to this file changing with Windows update KB5121003, and a permanent fix is in progress — keep the game updated.

Source: https://www.reachthefinals.com/patchnotes/s11-crash-troubleshooting

Repair Easy Anti-Cheat and verify game files

  1. If crashes happen at the EAC launch step, uninstall Easy Anti-Cheat from the game folder (run EasyAntiCheat_setup.exe and uninstall), then reinstall it the same way.
  2. In Steam, right-click The Finals > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files.
  3. Add the game's install folder to your antivirus exclusions so EAC files are not quarantined.
  4. Stop any GPU/CPU overclocking (XMP/EXPO instability included) before relaunching.

Source: https://www.reachthefinals.com/patchnotes/s11-crash-troubleshooting

Roll back GPU drivers if crashes started after an update

  1. If crashes began right after a GPU driver update — reported especially on recent AMD drivers — roll back to an earlier stable version such as 26.2.
  2. Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) in Safe Mode for a clean removal before installing the older driver.
  3. Make sure Windows itself is fully updated, since the KB5121003 update interacts with the current crash issue; some players have needed to roll back a Windows 11 update until Embark's permanent fix ships.

Source: https://www.reachthefinals.com/patchnotes/s11-crash-troubleshooting

Frequently asked questions

Why is The Finals crashing after the recent Windows update?

Embark officially identified a conflict with the inpoutx64.sys file, which changed with Windows update KB5121003. Stopping and deleting the inpoutx64 service and driver file is the official workaround until a permanent fix ships in a patch.

Is deleting inpoutx64.sys safe?

Yes — it is a third-party driver file used by some utility software (not a core Windows file), and deleting it is Embark's own published workaround. If some hardware utility stops working afterward, reinstalling that utility will restore the file.

The game crashes before Easy Anti-Cheat even loads — what then?

Skip EAC steps and go for drivers: roll back to an earlier GPU driver version if the crashes started after a driver update, verify game files in Steam, and disable overclocks — these cover the most common pre-EAC startup crashes.