“Lower than expected performance in several games” has been added to the list of Microsoft’s acknowledged problems with Windows 11 version 22H2. In particular, affected games will stutter or have significant framerate dips, and some users have also reported screen tearing. According to Microsoft, “affected games and apps are accidentally activating GPU performance debugging features not intended for general use.”
To elaborate, this is a feature of Windows 11 Version 22H2 that game creators are supposed to utilize to optimize their work, but somehow, games are entering this mode without user input. Windows 11 Version 22H2 is affected, but you shouldn’t rush to roll back the upgrade unless you’re seeing those specific visual defects and have checked out any other possible causes.
Microsoft advises “updating your games and gaming related apps to the newest version available” if you are encountering problems like abrupt frame rate reductions that happen without the presence of intense onscreen action. As an alternative, you can roll back the update by navigating to your system settings, scrolling down to “Recovery,” and choosing that option. This will take you back to the prior version of Windows 11.
This option does disappear once a system updates for a specific period of time; we are not sure exactly how long, but earlier Microsoft rewind options of a similar nature had a 10-day limit. It gets a little trickier if you’ve previously exited the menu-based recovery window. You’ll need to perform a clean installation of Windows or go back to a recovery image.
However, this issue isn’t unusual when it comes to PC games, where you have to be prepared for a certain amount of unplugging and replugging every now and again. Microsoft should have a formal patch soon.
While you wait for a patch, you can learn about how Battlefield 2042 is seeing a resurgence.
