Nvidia attributes Windows 11 KB5066835 performance issues to Microsoft, releases hotfix driver

Nvidia attributes Windows 11 KB5066835 performance issues to Microsoft, releases hotfix driver

Latest Driver Updates from Nvidia and AMD for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

This month, both Nvidia and AMD have rolled out driver updates specifically designed to enhance performance for the newly launched Call of Duty game, Black Ops 7. Nvidia’s latest driver is version 581.80 for GeForce users, while AMD introduces version 25.11.1 for Radeon users. Notably, AMD’s driver update highlights the debut of its innovative FSR Ray Regeneration technology, dubbed “Redstone”, which significantly improves graphical fidelity. Stay tuned for our detailed analysis on this feature.

Nvidia Releases a Critical Hotfix

In addition to the GeForce driver update, Nvidia has also launched a critical hotfix driver, version 581.94, following performance complaints across various games. The company attributes these issues to the recent October 2025 Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 (KB5066835), which appears to have adversely affected gaming performance.

The Company’s Official Statement

According to Nvidia:

“GeForce Hotfix Display Driver version 581.94 is based on our latest Game Ready Driver 581.80. This Hotfix addresses the following:

  • Lower performance may be observed in some games after updating to Windows 11 October 2025 KB5066835.”

Impact on Gaming Experience

Though Nvidia hasn’t specified the exact games affected, users speculate that titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Battlefield 6 are likely included among the impacted games. We have also consulted Microsoft’s known issues section on the Health Dashboard, but there are currently no mentions of these performance problems.

User Feedback and Observations

Feedback from the gaming community is starting to emerge. One user reported: “Tested on Blops7, BF6, and Arc Raiders tonight. Seems a lot smoother.” Others are sharing concerns about additional titles experiencing similar issues, but detailed information is still forthcoming.

How to Download the Hotfix Driver

If you’re looking to download the hotfix driver version 581.94, you can find it on Nvidia’s official website. It is important to note that this is a beta release, classified as an emergency patch. If you’re not experiencing any gaming-related performance issues, it may be prudent to hold off until the WHQL driver version is made available.

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