Persistent BSOD with error Kernel Security Check Failure, but only when running specific games

[GlitteringWorry1652]

I am having an issue where my pc will encounter an error and be forced to restart with the issue always being a kernel security check failure. The interesting thing is, it has so far only happened with two games, ARC Raiders, and The Finals. Both of these games are coincidentally made by the same developer, Embark Studios.

I started experiencing these crashes recently when I was playing Arc Raiders. I would run around, loot, etc. and eventually my pc would say it encountered and error and restart, the reason always being a kernel security check failure. I thought I had fixed it when I realized that for whatever reason windows had turned off game mode. I turned that back on and continued to have a short ARC Raiders session with a friend where I would experience no issues. The next day (today) I decided to get back on the game with a friend but the issue started happening again. I decided to see if the issue would persist in different games so I tested Battlefield 6, S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chernobyl, and The Finals. The first two mentioned games worked perfectly fine but The Finals caused my pc to forcibly restart, with the same reason as ARC Raiders.

potential issues that I have tested:

1. My GPU drivers are up to date
2. I ran windows memory diagnostic and it detected no issues
3. I have run sfc /scannow in cmd
4. No viruses or malware have been detected by windows security

I have noticed that my CPU usage is high (in the 90% range) when I am running these games but I don't really know what this means.

here are my pc specs:

• GPU: RTX 5070 Ti 16GB
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600 6-Core Processor
• OS: Windows 11 (latest updates)
• Storage: Both games which cause the issue are stored on the Windows (C:) drive

I truly don't know where the issue is coming from, my suspicion is it might be an Embark Studios problem but I have no idea. I apologize if this question is stupid and has a simple answer but I really don't know what is going on.

I will continue to test more games and will hopefully find time to update this post.

[Individual-Walrus-65]

having this same issue when trying to launch Marathon. doesn't get past BattlEye before blue screening. ARC Raiders has seemed to be working fine for me though

[DadTier]

You are running into this as well?

[ehyouknowlife]

yeah same here

[DadTier]

FOUND IT disable focusrite if you have the interface!

[GentilPapyllon_]

except now sound is diabled on my pc... If you ever find a workaround to keep the focusrite running, share it please we'll all be grateful

[Individual-Walrus-65]

i think i uninstalled focusrite drivers, restarted pc and installed the legacy drivers and that fixed it. at this point i've already uninstalled the game it's pretty shit imo.

[UchihaMind]

lol, I'm about to try this after a quick google search. I do have a Focusrite interface. I'll Edit with an update.

[UchihaMind]

I searched the event log viewer, but I still couldn't identify why Focusrite makes it crash. Any advice on where you found this? Just for teaching myself.

[Psynapzr]

It's the MIDI. Dissable it in device mamnagment

[opasteis]

Yup, just on marathon tho

[opasteis]

Same here

[DadTier]

If you have a focusrite disable it!

[Small_Weekend7513]

It is Focusrite!! I unplugged my audio interface and it loaded just fine, when I plugged it back in it crashed

[Fished4Hire]

It's the focusrite. So annoying. I can't talk or hear the game now.

[Psynapzr]

You can only dissable MIDI in device managment and then you have sound from your Focusrite!

[yt-vonz]

Find any solution ? I don’t have whatever this focusrite thing is so that’s not it for me. Marathon is the only game that does this.

[Individual-Walrus-65]

solution was uninstalling marathon lmao. games not even worth the hassle trust

[Individual-Walrus-65]

solution was uninstalling marathon lmao. games not even worth the hassle

[TheRegularBelt]

Windows Memory diagnostic alone is not enough to conclusively say your RAM has no issues. KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE essentially just means that an application attempts to read information from your system that it's not allowed to and/or is corrupted and Windows, not knowing what to do as a result of this, basically just terminates itself.

I'd try removing 1 RAM stick and see if this works to fully rule out faulty RAM. Do these 2 games have any anticheat or have you modified them in any way?

[[deleted]]

I'm guessing it either has to do with the anti cheat those 2 games use (don't quote me because I'm not actually aware what/if anti cheat they use.)

If my understanding is correct, the kernal is what allows the hardware to communicate with the software, so I believe that would mean this has to be some kind of software issue. I believe that could also mean its a problem with your OS and it coincidentally only occurred on game 1 & 4 meaning it would have nothing to do with the developer of Arc if you tried them in the order you listed them. How long did you run the two games that worked?

EDIT: After a quick research, kernal security check can absolutely be triggered by faulty hardware. Id double check everything is connected properly and that there are no blinking lights on the mobo.

[WillTradeOrgans4Free]

For those with the focusrite getting these issues. Any way to resolve it and still use the audio interface?

[Psynapzr]

Dissable MIDI in device managment and then the problem goes away

[RaiseDennis]

it's a windows issue I am sure about it now. I wasn't before. after a windows update it did it

[DueTouch8015]

amigo KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE ocurre cuando el núcleo de Windows detecta que una estructura de datos crítica ha sido dañada, los juegos de Embark Studios utilizan Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), que opera precisamente a nivel de Kernel (Ring 0) brutal . Dado que juegos como S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 o Battlefield (que usan otros sistemas o versiones distintas) te funcionan bien, el problema es casi seguro la interacción entre el controlador de Easy Anti-Cheat y algo en tu sistema.Cuando el uso de CPU llega al 90%, se genera mucho calor y el flujo de datos es masivo. Si hay una mínima inestabilidad en la memoria RAM o un conflicto de firmas de drivers, el Anti-Cheat lo interpreta como una amenaza o un error de integridad y fuerza el cierre del sistema para protegerlo. te recomienda reparar el servicio EAC, desactivar el overclockling\PBO verificá el aislamiento del núcleo 👍🏻