Nvidia launched a hotfix driver lately that fixes efficiency points in video games, on account of a buggy cumulative replace Microsoft launched for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. A number of X posters, together with Sebastian Castellanos, have printed benchmark outcomes exhibiting virtually a 50% efficiency increase in video games from the brand new Nvidia hotfix driver in some titles.
The efficiency points from Microsoft’s newest replace are possible much more egregious than most individuals had been anticipating. Sabastian noticed a whopping 47% enchancment in common FPS in Assassin’s Creed Shadows from Nvidia’s final outgoing steady driver 581.80 in comparison with its newest 581.94 hotfix driver. Similarly, 1% lows had been 46% higher on the hotfix driver as nicely.
Another X poster, Daniel Nowak, additionally shared related efficiency conduct in the identical sport, however his comparability was made with a barely older driver. Daniel noticed a 65% efficiency enchancment going from driver 581.57 to Nvidia’s new hotfix driver. These efficiency regressions are huge, however solely have an effect on sure video games in line with Nvidia, so it won’t be price upgrading to 581.94 in case you are not experiencing any noticeable efficiency drops. The 581.94 hotfix driver is taken into account a “beta” driver, so there could also be extra bugs launched by putting in it.
Performance points began cropping up with Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 October 2025 replace KB5066835, which launched a bug that might cut back FPS in sure circumstances. This bug has but to be mounted by Microsoft which explains why Nvidia is now stepping in to repair the difficulty for themselves, at the least for Nvidia GPU homeowners. Sadly, AMD and Intel GPUs are additionally affected by this bug, however no new drivers have come out but from both vendor to repair the difficulty.
This newest hotfix replace is kind of completely different from what we’re accustomed to seeing Nvidia fixing with these drivers. Earlier this yr, most (if not all) of Nvidia’s hotfix drivers had been devoted to fixing points surrounding RTX 50 collection GPUs, together with crashes, clock speed issues, and display-related problems. With driver 581.94, Nvidia is fixing an issue that was caused by Microsoft, not itself.
Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our newest information, evaluation, & critiques in your feeds.