Applies to: Sophos Home for Windows
Some games behave in ways that might trigger antivirus protections, which will block them from running. For Sophos Home, this is typically related to our Exploit module. Most game incompatibilities can be addressed by Adding local exclusions/Allowing Installations and/or applications to run
The following games have been identified as being incompatible with Sophos Home. The recommended workarounds are listed in each scenario.
Microsoft Xbox Game Pass for PC - Bluescreen/Stop Error-BSOD
Symptoms: When attempting to launch some Microsoft Xbox Gamepass games, you may receive a Bluescreen/Stop error causing the machine to reboot.
Workaround
Add a Scan Exception for the installation directory of the game:
1. Locate the installation path of the game. For Example C:\XboxGames\Total War- Warhammer III\ or C:\XboxGames\Microsoft Flight Simulator\
2. Log in to your Sophos Home Dashboard and navigate to the "Protections" tab,> "General".
4. Enter the path of the installation directory of the game as a "Scan Exception".
Note: Scan exception for folders MUST end with a trailing slash (\). Example: C:\XboxGames\Total War- Warhammer III\
5. Wait about 5 minutes for the software to synchronize the settings. For more information on setting scan exceptions, see: Setting Scan Exceptions
Call of Duty games
Call of Duty Warzone and COD Modern Warfare
Symptoms: When attempting to launch Warzone it will not respond
Follow these steps to add a local exclusion:
1. Open Sophos Home application system tray
2. Click on "Help" on the left side
3. Select "Troubleshooting"
4. Click on "Add local exclusion"
5. Copy the game executable path (if you are using a drive other than C:, the exclusion will not appear, but it WILL work)
Path examples
C:\Program Files (x86)\Call of Duty Modern Warfare\ModernWarfare.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Activision\Call of Duty Modern Warfare\ModernWarfare.exe
6. Paste it under "Add local exclusion" > Select open
7. You may need to restart your computer for it to take the changes
Call Of Duty: Vanguard
If you experience issues with this game, try these steps:
1. Open Sophos Home application system tray
2. Click on "Help" on the left side
3. Select "Troubleshooting"
4. Click on "Add local exclusion"
5. Copy the game executable path (if you are using a drive other than C:, the exclusion will not appear, but it WILL work)
Path example
C:\Program Files (x86)\Call of Duty Vanguard\Vanguard.exe
6. Paste it under "Add local exclusion" > Select open
7. You may need to restart your computer for it to take the changes
Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
If you experience issues with this game, try these steps:
1. Open Sophos Home application system tray
2. Click on "Help" on the left side
3. Select "Troubleshooting"
4. Click on "Add local exclusion"
5. Copy the game executable path (if you are using a drive other than C:, the exclusion will not appear, but it WILL work)
Path example
C:\Program Files (x86)\Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War\BlackOpsColdWar.exe
6. Paste it under "Add local exclusion" > Select open
7. You may need to restart your computer for it to take the changes
Diablo II Resurrected
Symptoms: During gameplay, you may get a Dynamic Shell Code detection for Diablo II Resurrected
Solution: Adding a local exclusion for the game executable (D2R.exe) path will resolve this issue.
Diablo 3
Symptoms:
On Windows 7 6.1.7601 SP1 build 7601 Diablo 3 will crash on launch if Sophos Home's Exploit Mitigation is active. This is due to a conflict between these applications in this environment.
Solution:
This can be resolved by adding a local exclusion for the path of the game executable (Diablo III64.exe).
This issue is not present on Windows 10.
Fallout 76
Symptoms:
Launching Fallout 76 will be blocked by Sophos Home if Exploit Mitigation protection is active.
Solution:
Adding a local exclusion for the game executable (Project76_GamePass.exe) path will resolve this issue. NOTE: You may not able to add a local exclusion directly by selecting the game executable (Project76_GamePass.exe) path because of a file permission issue.
Workaround steps:
1. Open Sophos Home application system tray
2. Click on "Help" on the left side
3. Select "Troubleshooting"
4. Click on "Add local exclusion"
5. Copy the game executable path:
(For example, copy- C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Mutable\BethesdaSoftworks.Fallout76-PC_1.0.30.0_x64__3275kfvn8vcwc\Project76_GamePass.exe)
6. Paste it under "Add local exclusion" > Select open
7. Above steps will add the local exclusion for Project76_GamePass.exe
FiveM mod for GTA 5
Symptoms:
This mod will be prevented from running by Sophos Home's Exploit mitigation feature.
Solution:
This can be resolved by adding a local exclusion for the path of the FiveM executable (typically C:\Users\{{UserName}}\AppData\Local\FiveM\FiveM.app\cache\subprocess\FiveM_GTAProcess.exe
Forza Horizon games
Symptoms:
You are unable to launch Forza Horizon games due to Sophos Home blocking it, or nothing happening. For example: Launching Forza Horizon 4 will be blocked by Sophos Home if Risk Reduction protection is active.
Additionally, Forza Horizon 5 will require a second set of exclusions to Real time Protection, please refer to the examples below.
Solution:
Adding a local exclusion for the game executable (for example: ForzaHorizon4.exe) path will resolve this issue.
NOTE: You may not able to add a local exclusion directly by selecting the game executable (for example: ForzaHorizon4.exe) path because of a file permission issue.
You'll need to find the game executable file, and add the entire path (which may change from computer from computer) -
Path examples for Forza Horizon games
These paths may slightly change from computer to computer, however, the .exe file will be the same.
Local Exclusions
Forza Horizon 3:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.OpusPG_1.0.125.2_x64_8wekyb3d8bbwe\forza_x64_release_final.exe
Forza Horizon 4:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.SunriseBaseGame_1.474.687.2_x64_8wekyb3d8bbwe\ForzaHorizon4.exe
Forza Horizon 5:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.624F8B84B80_3.410.860.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\ForzaHorizon5.exe
Please note: You may need to replace your local exclusion with a new path when Forza Horizon 5 updates to a new version as the exclusion path have a game version in it.
Real-Time Protection exclusion for Forza Horizon 5 -
This is a very broad exclusion, so we recommend customers use it at their own discretion, and disable it after playing the game
- Sign in to Sophos Home dashboard
- Select the computer where you need to make the exclusion.
- Click on the PROTECTION --> General --> Exceptions
- Copy the below listed to the exceptions box
\media\**\*.zip
Follow these steps to add the Local exclusion:
1. Open Sophos Home application system tray
2. Click on "Help" on the left side
3. Select "Troubleshooting"
4. Click on "Add local exclusion"
5. Copy the game executable path from the C: drive (this will exist regardless of where the actual game installation is located- Refer to Path examples for ideas where to search)
6. Paste it under "Add local exclusion" > Select open
7. You may need to restart your computer for it to take the changes
Forza Horizon 5 will require a second set of exclusions added to Real time Protection, please refer to the examples list.
Halo Infinite
Symptoms: When attempting to launch Halo Infinite, it may not respond/crash
Follow these steps to add a local exclusion for HaloInfinite.exe:
1. Open Sophos Home application system tray
2. Click on "Help" on the left side
3. Select "Troubleshooting"
4. Click on "Add local exclusion"
5. Copy HaloInfinite.exe executable path
Path example
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.254428597CFE2_1.3242.15531.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\HaloInfinite.exe
6. Paste it under "Add local exclusion" and click Open
You may need to restart your computer for it to take the changes
Hitman 3
Symptoms: When attempting to launch Halo Infinite, it may not respond/crash
Follow these steps to add a local exclusion for Hitman3.exe:
1. Open Sophos Home application system tray
2. Click on "Help" on the left side
3. Select "Troubleshooting"
4. Click on "Add local exclusion"
5. Copy Hitman3.exe executable path
Path example
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\IOInteractiveAS.PC-HITMAN3-BaseGame_1.0.16.0_x64__6h0y724g59e1w\Retail\hitman3.exe
6. Paste it under "Add a local exclusion" and click Open
You may need to restart your computer for it to take the changes
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Symptoms:
Launching Mass Effect Legendary Edition will be blocked by Sophos Home if Prevent code cave utilization is active.
Solution:
Adding a local exclusion for the game executable (MassEffectLauncher.exe) path will resolve this issue
(for example C:\OriginGames\Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\Launcher\MassEffectLauncher.exe)
Sea of Thieves
Symptoms:
After launching Sea of Thieves, it immediately closes due to a conflict with Sophos Home's exploit mitigation feature.
Solution:
This can be resolved by adding a local exclusion for the path of the game executable.
Sims 4
Symptoms:
When launching Sims 4 through origin the game crashes.
Solution:
This can be resolved by adding a local exclusion for the path of the game executable (typically c:\program files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 4\Game\Bin\TS4_x64.exe) OR by toggling off 'Prevent code cave utilization' under the advanced settings for exploit mitigation (this last option is the least recommended, as it will leave the computer vulnerable to code cave attacks).
Star Wars - Rogue Squadron on EA Origin
Symptoms:
Updating Star Ware Squadrons in EA Origin will fail with Sophos Home's ransomware protection enabled.
Solution:
The workaround is to temporarily disable this feature. This is done at the user's discretion with the understanding that you may not be protected against Ransomware while this feature is disabled and should be immediately turned back on once the update is completed.
This is done by toggling the Ransomware setting to the left (off) on the Ransomware tab of your Sophos Home Dashboard for the affected device.
World of Warcraft (WoW)
Symptoms:
On Windows 7 6.1.7601 SP1 build 7601 WoW will crash on launch if Sophos Home's Exploit Mitigation is active. This is due to a conflict between these applications in this environment.
Solution:
This can be resolved by adding a local exclusion for the path of the game executable (Wow.exe). This issue is not present on Windows 10.
Diablo 3
Symptoms:
On Windows 7 6.1.7601 SP1 build 7601 Diablo 3 will crash on launch if Sophos Home's Exploit Mitigation is active. This is due to a conflict between these applications in this environment.
Solution:
This can be resolved by adding a local exclusion for the path of the game executable (Diablo III64.exe).
This issue is not present on Windows 10.
Elder Scrolls Online
Symptoms:
After launching Elder Scrolls Online, it immediately closes due to a conflict with Sophos Home's exploit mitigation feature.
Solution:
This can be resolved by adding a local exclusion for the path of the game executable.
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