Gamers Report Frame Drops Following Windows 11 Update: Microsoft Silent, Nvidia Offers Solution

Major Issues Arising from Windows 11’s October Update

The recent October 2025 update for Windows 11 has raised alarms among users, notably gamers and enterprises, due to a slew of malfunctions. This update, identified as KB5066835, has resulted in significant problems such as the breakdown of the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), Task Manager glitches, localhost accessibility issues, and even BitLocker activation disruptions. Perhaps most concerning, however, is the substantial decrease in frame rates for many gamers, particularly in popular titles.

Reports indicate that gamers playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows have experienced severe drops in frames per second (FPS).Following the installation of this update, many users have noted their FPS dramatically declining, leading to frustration and diminished gameplay experiences.

2025-10 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 25H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5066835) (26200.6899)

While uninstalling the update may restore normal performance levels, this option is usually only viable within a 7 to 14-day window post-installation. Once that period passes, Windows restricts the uninstallation of older security updates unless users opt for a complete OS reinstallation from previous ISO files.

This predicament leaves affected users with little recourse, relying on hopes for an official Microsoft update to rectify the issues. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Microsoft has yet to issue a public acknowledgment of these problems. In contrast, Nvidia has proactively released a driver update to address reported performance dips, with users confirming recovery of their FPS following installation of the updated driver.

Nvidia’s Hotfix and Gamer Reports

On November 19, Nvidia released driver version v581.94, which specifically aimed to combat the performance deficits experienced in various games due to the October update.

Nvidia addressed this issue in a support document, confirming that the hotfix was implemented to resolve performance lags stemming from the Windows 11 October 2025 update.

Impact of the Update on Gaming Performance

The frustrations began following a late-September update, with many players of Assassin’s Creed Shadows reporting a stark reduction in frame rates. A noticeable decline transformed immersive experiences, with players seeing their FPS drop from an expected range of 120–140 down to a troubling 40–70 FPS, even on capable Nvidia setups.

Key Findings: While Nvidia GPUs were working at a concerning 99% usage rate, their power draw fell significantly, suggesting a malfunction. For context, one user reported Nvidia GPU power consumption decreased by around 100W following the updates.

It’s critical to note that the September 29 release (KB5065789) was optional, while the mandatory nature of the October 14 update (KB5066835) means it is often automatically installed, limiting user control over the installation process.

Particular Systems Affected

Reports of these performance issues have primarily surfaced from users of Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. In contrast, Windows 10 users and those utilizing alternative platforms such as Linux or the Steam Deck did not experience the same frame rate problems. Notably, performance issues were primarily linked to Nvidia hardware, specifically:

RTX 5000 series (5070, 5080, 5090, 5060 Ti)
RTX 4080 and 4090 models.

Interestingly, one user equipped with an RX 7900 XTX reported no performance degradation despite having the same updates installed, indicating that AMD graphics cards seem to be less affected.

While AMD and Intel systems reportedly avoided the frame drop issue, users on non-Nvidia hardware have identified sluggishness in File Explorer, Taskbar, and Start menu performance. This further supports the hypothesis that the October 2025 update harbors substantial problems affecting user experience across various aspects.

The Underlying Causes of Frame Rate Drops

The root causes of these frame rate declines remain unclear. Patterns suggest potential conflicts between the latest Windows 11 updates and Nvidia’s updated drivers, possibly leading to the game engine mismanaging GPU power allocation. Speculatively, Windows might have been limiting GPU power output while maintaining reports of high utilization.

In response to the issues, Nvidia’s special hotfix driver was rolled out on November 19, targeting specifically the performance degradation complaints connected to the recent Windows updates. Many users have communicated that their in-game performance has returned to norm, with some even observing a 5% increase post-update.

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