Microsoft is enabling a Windows 11 security feature that can hurt gaming performance

Microsoft has announced plans to roll out an automated update next month that will enable a crucial security feature called memory integrity on a broader selection of Windows 11 devices.

Operating at the kernel level, this protective measure is designed to block malicious software and untrusted hardware drivers from executing on a user's computer. The change is part of a broader initiative by the company to enforce stronger default security configurations across its operating system ecosystem, which also includes deploying Virtualization-based Security on compatible hardware. However, this increased protection comes with a known trade-off regarding system efficiency.\n\nThe primary drawback of this security configuration is its documented impact on personal computer gaming performance, which can manifest as noticeable frame rate drops, particularly on machines equipped with older central processing units. For users who have already proactively turned off this feature to optimize their gaming experience, Microsoft has confirmed that the upcoming update will not override their settings. Gamers who wish to manage this balance between security and frame rates can access the Core Isolation menu within the Windows Security settings to manually toggle the function. Microsoft suggests a compromise where players temporarily disable the security feature while gaming and reactivate it once their session concludes.