Did the update ruin your game? Find out!

It's almost a rule: whenever we get a Windows update alert, instead of thinking "wow, that's great, more security, more guarantees that everything will work correctly," we think the exact opposite, we postpone the update, and we even see news about how an update corrupts data, doesn't finish the process, or makes everything stop working.

And is it different with games? It should be. Updates should come to fix problems, bugs, and issues, but not always. And when that happens, what can we do? How do we know if an update has ruined our game? We'll explain how to run tests and determine if an update has harmed your game and how to fix it, and if you have any questions, just leave a comment.

Any performance check after any update – be it a GPU driver, console firmware, or changes to TVs and monitors – always needs to start with the most basic things: comparisons between the before and after the update. Test the exact same settings with tools that record what's happening with the game in numbers to find out if there was a real drop in performance, an increase in stuttering, a worsening of input lag, a change in loading times, or even problems with VRR (unstable refresh rate) and screen tearing.

The most reliable way is to repeat the same section of the game, either using a built-in benchmark or simply retracing an identical path. On a PC, this is made easy with software that monitors and records average FPS, 1% lows, frame time, GPU/CPU usage, and even temperature.

On consoles, since there isn't as much freedom, the analysis relies much more on perceived fluidity, video recordings, and, when possible, the use of monitors that display the screen's actual refresh rate. On TVs and monitors, it's worth enabling and disabling modes like Game Mode, ALLM (low latency mode), VRR (variable refresh rate), and HDR (high dynamic range) to compare whether the update has altered something it shouldn't have.

On a PC, there are well-known tools that accurately record data. MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner is the most widely used combination because it displays real-time metrics and keeps complete logs that help analyze frame-by-frame performance drops.

The Windows Game Bar also displays FPS and hardware usage, while manufacturer overlays (GeForce Experience for NVIDIA, Radeon Overlay for AMD, and Arc Control for Intel) allow you to view information directly from the driver.

Other methods include integrated FPS counters, such as Steam's, and specialized programs like NVIDIA FrameView, designed to measure performance and power consumption.

For input lag, there's professional measurement with a photodiode, used by sites like RTINGS, as well as the NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer available on compatible monitors. For us, average gamers, we can use slow-motion recordings above 240 FPS to identify delays between commands and visual response, which usually reveals differences between driver versions.

Beyond FPS, certain metrics help detect problems that go unnoticed at first glance. Screen tearing is one of them: if the tearing was subtle and increased after the update, there’s a chance of a bug in the driver or firmware of the TV. Blur Buster tests (like the well-known TestUFO) help to clearly observe this.

VRR typically doesn't increase input lag on modern monitors and operates within a range that matches the GPU, but bugs do happen. Drivers or firmware can cause stutters periodically, something that has even been documented on consoles. When VRR seems unstable, it's worth temporarily disabling it to compare frame-time consistency.

HDR can also be affected. On PCs, Windows can desaturate SDR content when HDR is active, so adjusting HDR/SDR brightness may be necessary. On TVs, there’ve been cases of updates that left HDR modes "muted," darker than they should be, or with altered brightness curves. That's why it's essential to test with and without HDR right after any update.

Input lag depends on the entire pipeline, from the controller, GPU, and display. Modes like Game Mode and ALLM need to be enabled, as disabling them increases the noticeable lag. An update can affect these modes (or reactivate processes that were disabled), creating extra lag even without affecting the games themselves.

Consoles typically don't have benchmark tools like PCs, but they do have ways to view important information. You can check the exact firmware version in the system menu, and manufacturers usually publish update notes on their official websites. These notes sometimes include stability improvements, game compatibility updates, and specific bug fixes.

If an update corrupts the system, consoles like the PS5 allow you to reinstall the firmware through Safe Mode. But this doesn't mean a downgrade, it just always reinstalls the latest officially released version. Xbox and Switch also don't offer a return to previous versions.

Consoles don't have their own FPS counter, but modern TVs help a lot. Some Samsung models, for example, display FPS, active VRR, and game mode directly on the screen, functioning as auxiliary tools to measure fluidity and sudden drops.

Firmware updates can drastically alter how a TV or monitor handles games. In many cases, this includes resetting settings like HDR, Game Mode, or VRR. If Game Mode is disabled without warning, input lag immediately increases.

Another critical point is Game Motion Plus, present in Samsung TVs. With it enabled, VRR simply stops working, resulting in tearing or stuttering. Therefore, after updating, always compare with Game Mode enabled and disabled, and test VRR/HDR enabled and disabled.

Advanced gaming monitors usually show if VRR is active, the screen refresh rate, and if low-latency mode is in operation. Consulting professional tests (such as RTINGS) helps identify the expected behavior of the model, useful for detecting if the update deviated from the standard.

VRR typically doesn't create noticeable latency, but bugs can generate rhythmic stuttering. HDR can change brightness and saturation depending on the update. Input lag mainly depends on the game mode and the removal of post-processing. And frame pacing, which is the regularity of frames, is usually the first sign of a problematic driver, as micro-stutters appear even when the average FPS remains the same.

The comparison needs to follow a systematic process. First, record a baseline before the update: FPS, 1% lows, input lag, frametimes, and any available metrics. Then, install the update and repeat the exact same scenes, with the same graphics mode, resolution, synchronization, and identical conditions.

Tools like CapFrameX allow you to generate clear frametime graphs, exposing sudden spikes or drops. Synthetic benchmarks help isolate changes. On consoles, video recording and the use of TVs with Game Bars are functional options.

Programs like CapFrameX (based on PresentMon) accurately record FPS and frametimes, allowing for the analysis of micro-stutters and version comparisons. FRAPS, 3DMark, Unigine, and internal game benchmarks help standardize testing.

Real-time monitoring software displays resource consumption, clock speeds, and memory usage. This reveals bottlenecks and unwanted changes created by drivers. In more serious diagnostics, completely cleaning the driver with DDU before changing versions is practically standard practice.

Official manufacturer release notes are fundamental for understanding changes. NVIDIA and AMD describe all known adjustments and issues in their release notes, including when an update worsens performance and requires a hotfix. There’ve been cases where Windows patches created serious regressions in games, and NVIDIA acknowledged this by releasing a specific hotfix.

Console manufacturers also publish update histories. Sony, for example, lists the PS5 software versions and what each update fixed. Nintendo does the same with the Switch, usually with shorter notes. TVs and monitors also have official documentation with information about firmware changes, ALLM activation, HDR adjustments, or compatibility fixes.

Rollback is possible and functional. Simply use Device Manager or DDU. On PCs, there's a Roll Back Driver option, which restores the previously installed driver. When that doesn't work, the correct method is to completely remove the current driver with DDU and manually install another version. AMD even offers its own cleanup tool for these situations.

Consoles practically never allow downgrades. The most that exists is system reinstallation, always to the latest version. If the problem was caused by the firmware, the real solution is to wait for a new official patch.

On TVs and monitors, downgrades are rarely allowed, and many brands simply don't offer older firmwares. Some models accept reinstalling the same firmware via USB, but don't accept previous versions. The usual course of action in these cases is to report the problem to support and wait for a fix. Some forums mention advanced and unofficial methods, but the vast majority of users can only wait or report to support.

There are several examples showing that updates can actually worsen performance. The PS5's VRR has had serious problems, causing periodic stuttering in games running at 120 Hz, something analyzed by video specialists frame by frame. This problem was only resolved after a new firmware update.

Another situation occurred with LG OLED TVs, when an update made HDR Game much darker, with incorrect contrast. Users reported extensively in forums, and the company acknowledged the damaged behavior.

On PC, Windows patches have caused performance drops, forcing NVIDIA to release a hotfix. Situations such as FPS loss and increased stuttering after updating drivers are recurrent and often resolved by reverting to older versions, as reported by entire gaming communities.

The only reliable way to know if an update has worsened the game is to compare objective data under identical conditions. FPS, frametime, input lag, tearing, VRR behavior, HDR accuracy, stability, and loading times need to be measured before and after.

With the right tools, official documentation, and reproducible tests, it's possible to identify exactly what has changed and, when necessary, resort to rollback, reinstallation, or technical support. The process is laborious, but it's the only way to find out if a driver, firmware, or update truly affects your game.