In recent weeks, gamers on Windows 11 have noticed sudden drops in performance. Frame rates plummet, gameplay stutters, and micro-lags appear—even on high-end PCs. After a surge of reports on Reddit and gaming forums, Nvidia has confirmed that a Windows 11 update is the culprit, prompting an urgent hotfix from the graphics giant.
The Culprit: A Windows Update That Hits Gaming Performance
The performance issues began after the rollout of Windows 11 update KB5066835 in October 2025 for versions 24H2 and 25H2. Users reported significant FPS drops in popular titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Battlefield 6, and Arc Raiders. Discussions on Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Nvidia forums highlighted inconsistent performance and frame rate stuttering.
While not all systems or games are affected, the issue is widespread enough that Nvidia acknowledged the bug publicly, attributing it directly to the recent Windows update.
Nvidia’s Hotfix Driver 581.94
To mitigate the performance drop, Nvidia released GeForce Hotfix 581.94, derived from the Game Ready 581.80 driver. This hotfix specifically targets FPS loss issues caused by KB5066835.
Key points about the hotfix:
- Not available via Windows Update; manual download required.
- No WHQL certification yet, meaning it’s still in a testing phase.
- Recommended only for users experiencing game slowdowns. Systems running smoothly should wait for the next official driver.
You can download the hotfix here:
👉 Download Nvidia GeForce 581.94 Hotfix
Microsoft’s Silence on the Issue
Despite Nvidia’s confirmation and numerous user reports, Microsoft has not issued an official statement. The company’s Windows 11 Health Dashboard lists no known issues related to this bug, neither for the October update (KB5066835) nor for the November release (KB5068861).
This silence frustrates gamers, especially following recent Windows 11 glitches such as:
- Keyboard and mouse unrecognized in WinRE
- Unexpected BitLocker prompts
- Disabled preview pane in File Explorer
Now, gaming performance is also affected, leaving Nvidia to provide temporary relief while the underlying OS issue remains unresolved.
What Gamers Should Know
- If you experience FPS drops or stuttering after KB5066835, the Nvidia 581.94 hotfix may help.
- Ensure your system meets the driver requirements and back up your current driver before installation.
- Keep monitoring Windows 11 updates and forums for official Microsoft guidance.
For unaffected users, it’s best to wait for the next stable Game Ready driver or Microsoft fix, as hotfix drivers are intended as a temporary workaround.
Conclusion
The recent Windows 11 update KB5066835 has inadvertently affected gaming performance on some PCs, forcing Nvidia to step in with a hotfix driver. While this patch temporarily alleviates FPS drops, the root cause remains with the OS, and Microsoft’s continued silence leaves gamers reliant on Nvidia for immediate solutions. Staying informed, monitoring updates, and applying hotfixes only when necessary is the safest approach.
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