diff --git a/src/Common/precompiled.h b/src/Common/precompiled.h
index 9e5c60f5..1185a34b 100644
--- a/src/Common/precompiled.h
+++ b/src/Common/precompiled.h
@@ -385,8 +385,6 @@ template <typename T1, typename T2>
 constexpr bool HAS_FLAG(T1 flags, T2 test_flag) { return (flags & (T1)test_flag) == (T1)test_flag; }
 template <typename T1, typename T2>
 constexpr bool HAS_BIT(T1 value, T2 index) { return (value & ((T1)1 << index)) != 0; }
-template <typename T>
-constexpr void SAFE_RELEASE(T& p) { if (p) { p->Release(); p = nullptr; } }
 
 template <typename T>
 constexpr uint32_t ppcsizeof() { return (uint32_t) sizeof(T); }
diff --git a/src/audio/DirectSoundAPI.cpp b/src/audio/DirectSoundAPI.cpp
index eabd3a7e..64042515 100644
--- a/src/audio/DirectSoundAPI.cpp
+++ b/src/audio/DirectSoundAPI.cpp
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 #include "DirectSoundAPI.h"
 
-#include "gui/wxgui.h"
-
 #include "util/helpers/helpers.h"
 #include "gui/guiWrapper.h"
+#include <wrl/client.h>
 
 #pragma comment(lib, "Dsound.lib")
 
@@ -15,12 +14,9 @@ std::wstring DirectSoundAPI::DirectSoundDeviceDescription::GetIdentifier() const
 DirectSoundAPI::DirectSoundAPI(GUID* guid, sint32 samplerate, sint32 channels, sint32 samples_per_block, sint32 bits_per_sample)
 	: IAudioAPI(samplerate, channels, samples_per_block, bits_per_sample)
 {
-	LPDIRECTSOUND8 direct_sound;
-	if (DirectSoundCreate8(guid, &direct_sound, nullptr) != DS_OK)
+	if (DirectSoundCreate8(guid, &m_direct_sound, nullptr) != DS_OK)
 		throw std::runtime_error("can't create directsound device");
 
-	m_direct_sound = decltype(m_direct_sound)(direct_sound);
-
 	if (FAILED(m_direct_sound->SetCooperativeLevel(gui_getWindowInfo().window_main.hwnd, DSSCL_PRIORITY)))
 		throw std::runtime_error("can't set directsound priority");
 
@@ -30,7 +26,7 @@ DirectSoundAPI::DirectSoundAPI(GUID* guid, sint32 samplerate, sint32 channels, s
 	bd.dwBufferBytes = kBufferCount * m_bytesPerBlock; // kBlockCount * (samples_per_block * channels * (bits_per_sample / 8));
 	bd.lpwfxFormat = (LPWAVEFORMATEX)&m_wfx;
 
-	LPDIRECTSOUNDBUFFER sound_buffer;
+	Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDirectSoundBuffer> sound_buffer;
 	if (FAILED(m_direct_sound->CreateSoundBuffer(&bd, &sound_buffer, nullptr)))
 		throw std::runtime_error("can't create directsound soundbuffer");
 
@@ -41,27 +37,17 @@ DirectSoundAPI::DirectSoundAPI(GUID* guid, sint32 samplerate, sint32 channels, s
 
 	m_sound_buffer_size = caps.dwBufferBytes;
 
-	LPDIRECTSOUNDBUFFER8 sound_buffer8;
-	LPDIRECTSOUNDNOTIFY8 notify8;
-	sound_buffer->QueryInterface(IID_IDirectSoundBuffer8, (void**)&sound_buffer8);
+	Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDirectSoundNotify8> notify8;
 
-	if (!sound_buffer8)
+	if (FAILED(sound_buffer->QueryInterface(IID_IDirectSoundBuffer8, &m_sound_buffer)))
 	{
-		sound_buffer->Release();
 		throw std::runtime_error("can't get directsound buffer interface");
 	}
 
-	m_sound_buffer = decltype(m_sound_buffer)(sound_buffer8);
-
-	sound_buffer->QueryInterface(IID_IDirectSoundNotify8, (void**)&notify8);
-	if (!notify8)
+	if (FAILED(sound_buffer->QueryInterface(IID_IDirectSoundNotify8, &m_notify)))
 	{
-		sound_buffer->Release();
 		throw std::runtime_error("can't get directsound notify interface");
 	}
-	m_notify = decltype(m_notify)(notify8);
-
-	sound_buffer->Release();
 
 	{ // initialize sound buffer
 		void *ptr1, *ptr2;
@@ -155,10 +141,6 @@ DirectSoundAPI::~DirectSoundAPI()
 	if(m_thread.joinable())
 		m_thread.join();
 
-	m_notify.reset();
-	m_sound_buffer.reset();
-	m_direct_sound.reset();
-
 	for(auto entry : m_notify_event)
 	{
 		if (entry)
@@ -186,7 +168,7 @@ bool DirectSoundAPI::Stop()
 
 bool DirectSoundAPI::FeedBlock(sint16* data)
 {
-	std::unique_lock lock(m_mutex);
+	std::lock_guard lock(m_mutex);
 	if (m_buffer.size() > kBlockCount)
 	{
 		cemuLog_logDebug(LogType::Force, "dropped direct sound block since too many buffers are queued");
diff --git a/src/audio/DirectSoundAPI.h b/src/audio/DirectSoundAPI.h
index c5ad0d6f..52817fbe 100644
--- a/src/audio/DirectSoundAPI.h
+++ b/src/audio/DirectSoundAPI.h
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 #define DIRECTSOUND_VERSION 0x0800
 #include <mmsystem.h>
-//#include <mmreg.h>
 #include <dsound.h>
+#include <wrl/client.h>
 
 #include "IAudioAPI.h"
 
@@ -41,15 +41,10 @@ public:
 	static std::vector<DeviceDescriptionPtr> GetInputDevices();
 
 private:
-	struct DirectSoundDeleter
-	{
-		void operator()(IUnknown* ptr) const { if (ptr) ptr->Release(); }
-	};
-
-	std::unique_ptr<IDirectSound8, DirectSoundDeleter> m_direct_sound;
-	//std::unique_ptr<IDirectSoundCapture8, DirectSoundDeleter> m_direct_sound_capture;
-	std::unique_ptr<IDirectSoundBuffer8, DirectSoundDeleter> m_sound_buffer;
-	std::unique_ptr<IDirectSoundNotify8, DirectSoundDeleter> m_notify;
+	Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDirectSound8> m_direct_sound;
+	//Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDirectSoundCapture8> m_direct_sound_capture;
+	Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDirectSoundBuffer8> m_sound_buffer;
+	Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDirectSoundNotify8> m_notify;
 
 	DWORD m_sound_buffer_size = 0;
 	uint32_t m_offset = 0;
diff --git a/src/audio/XAudio2API.cpp b/src/audio/XAudio2API.cpp
index c92fd451..6b25baed 100644
--- a/src/audio/XAudio2API.cpp
+++ b/src/audio/XAudio2API.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 //#if (_WIN32_WINNT >= 0x0602 /*_WIN32_WINNT_WIN8*/)
 
+#include <wrl/client.h>
 #include <xaudio2.h>
 
 #ifndef XAUDIO2_DLL
@@ -33,17 +34,15 @@ XAudio2API::XAudio2API(std::wstring device_id, uint32 samplerate, uint32 channel
 		throw std::runtime_error("can't find XAudio2Create import");
 
 	HRESULT hres;
-	IXAudio2* xaudio;
-	if (FAILED((hres = _XAudio2Create(&xaudio, 0, XAUDIO2_DEFAULT_PROCESSOR))))
+	if (FAILED((hres = _XAudio2Create(&m_xaudio, 0, XAUDIO2_DEFAULT_PROCESSOR))))
 		throw std::runtime_error(fmt::format("can't create xaudio device (hres: {:#x})", hres));
 
-	m_xaudio = decltype(m_xaudio)(xaudio);
 
 	IXAudio2MasteringVoice* mastering_voice;
 	if (FAILED((hres = m_xaudio->CreateMasteringVoice(&mastering_voice, channels, samplerate, 0, m_device_id.empty() ? nullptr : m_device_id.c_str()))))
 		throw std::runtime_error(fmt::format("can't create xaudio mastering voice (hres: {:#x})", hres));
 
-	m_mastering_voice = decltype(m_mastering_voice)(mastering_voice);
+	m_mastering_voice.reset(mastering_voice);
 
 	m_wfx.Format.wFormatTag = WAVE_FORMAT_EXTENSIBLE;
 	m_wfx.Format.nChannels = channels;
@@ -88,12 +87,6 @@ XAudio2API::XAudio2API(std::wstring device_id, uint32 samplerate, uint32 channel
 	m_xaudio->StartEngine();
 }
 
-void XAudio2API::XAudioDeleter::operator()(IXAudio2* ptr) const
-{
-	if (ptr)
-		ptr->Release();
-}
-
 void XAudio2API::VoiceDeleter::operator()(IXAudio2Voice* ptr) const
 {
 	if (ptr)
@@ -106,10 +99,6 @@ XAudio2API::~XAudio2API()
 		m_xaudio->StopEngine();
 
 	XAudio2API::Stop();
-
-	m_source_voice.reset();
-	m_mastering_voice.reset();
-	m_xaudio.reset();
 }
 
 void XAudio2API::SetVolume(sint32 volume)
@@ -179,10 +168,10 @@ const std::vector<XAudio2API::DeviceDescriptionPtr>& XAudio2API::RefreshDevices(
 
 	try
 	{
-		struct IWbemLocator *wbem_locator = nullptr;
+		Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IWbemLocator> wbem_locator;
 
-		HRESULT hres = CoCreateInstance(__uuidof(WbemLocator), nullptr, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, __uuidof(IWbemLocator), (LPVOID*)&wbem_locator);
-		if (FAILED(hres) || !wbem_locator)
+		HRESULT hres = CoCreateInstance(__uuidof(WbemLocator), nullptr, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_PPV_ARGS(&wbem_locator));
+		if (FAILED(hres))
 			throw std::system_error(hres, std::system_category());
 
 		std::shared_ptr<OLECHAR> path(SysAllocString(LR"(\\.\root\cimv2)"), SysFreeString);
@@ -191,20 +180,19 @@ const std::vector<XAudio2API::DeviceDescriptionPtr>& XAudio2API::RefreshDevices(
 		std::shared_ptr<OLECHAR> name_row(SysAllocString(L"Name"), SysFreeString);
 		std::shared_ptr<OLECHAR> device_id_row(SysAllocString(L"DeviceID"), SysFreeString);
 
-		IWbemServices *wbem_services = nullptr;
+		Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IWbemServices> wbem_services;
 		hres = wbem_locator->ConnectServer(path.get(), nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, 0, nullptr, nullptr, &wbem_services);
-		wbem_locator->Release(); // Free memory resources.
 
-		if (FAILED(hres) || !wbem_services)
-			throw std::system_error(hres, std::system_category());
-
-		hres = CoSetProxyBlanket(wbem_services, RPC_C_AUTHN_WINNT, RPC_C_AUTHZ_NONE, nullptr, RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CALL, RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE, nullptr, EOAC_NONE);
 		if (FAILED(hres))
 			throw std::system_error(hres, std::system_category());
 
-		IEnumWbemClassObject* wbem_enum = nullptr;
+		hres = CoSetProxyBlanket(wbem_services.Get(), RPC_C_AUTHN_WINNT, RPC_C_AUTHZ_NONE, nullptr, RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CALL, RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE, nullptr, EOAC_NONE);
+		if (FAILED(hres))
+			throw std::system_error(hres, std::system_category());
+
+		Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IEnumWbemClassObject> wbem_enum;
 		hres = wbem_services->ExecQuery(language.get(), query.get(), WBEM_FLAG_RETURN_WBEM_COMPLETE | WBEM_FLAG_FORWARD_ONLY, nullptr, &wbem_enum);
-		if (FAILED(hres) || !wbem_enum)
+		if (FAILED(hres))
 			throw std::system_error(hres, std::system_category());
 
 		ULONG returned;
@@ -250,11 +238,6 @@ const std::vector<XAudio2API::DeviceDescriptionPtr>& XAudio2API::RefreshDevices(
 			auto default_device = std::make_shared<XAudio2DeviceDescription>(L"Primary Sound Driver", L"");
 			s_devices.insert(s_devices.begin(), default_device);
 		}
-		
-		wbem_enum->Release();
-
-		// Clean up
-		wbem_services->Release();
 	}
 	catch (const std::system_error& ex)
 	{
diff --git a/src/audio/XAudio2API.h b/src/audio/XAudio2API.h
index b5bb0296..5bb01b10 100644
--- a/src/audio/XAudio2API.h
+++ b/src/audio/XAudio2API.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <mmsystem.h>
 #include <mmreg.h>
 #include <dsound.h>
+#include <wrl/client.h>
 
 #include "IAudioAPI.h"
 
@@ -50,11 +51,6 @@ private:
 
 	static const std::vector<DeviceDescriptionPtr>& RefreshDevices();
 
-	struct XAudioDeleter
-	{
-		void operator()(IXAudio2* ptr) const;
-	};
-
 	struct VoiceDeleter
 	{
 		void operator()(IXAudio2Voice* ptr) const;
@@ -63,7 +59,7 @@ private:
 	static HMODULE s_xaudio_dll;
 	static std::vector<DeviceDescriptionPtr> s_devices;
 
-	std::unique_ptr<IXAudio2, XAudioDeleter> m_xaudio;
+	Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IXAudio2> m_xaudio;
 	std::wstring m_device_id;
 	std::unique_ptr<IXAudio2MasteringVoice, VoiceDeleter> m_mastering_voice;
 	std::unique_ptr<IXAudio2SourceVoice, VoiceDeleter> m_source_voice;
diff --git a/src/gui/components/wxGameList.cpp b/src/gui/components/wxGameList.cpp
index d70cb376..587374f6 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/wxGameList.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/components/wxGameList.cpp
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 #include <objidl.h>
 #include <shlguid.h>
 #include <shlobj.h>
+#include <wrl/client.h>
 #endif
 
 // public events
@@ -1630,8 +1631,8 @@ void wxGameList::CreateShortcut(GameInfo2& gameInfo)
 		}
 	}
 
-	IShellLinkW* shellLink;
-	HRESULT hres = CoCreateInstance(CLSID_ShellLink, nullptr, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_IShellLink, reinterpret_cast<LPVOID*>(&shellLink));
+	Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IShellLinkW> shellLink;
+	HRESULT hres = CoCreateInstance(__uuidof(ShellLink), nullptr, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_PPV_ARGS(&shellLink));
 	if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
 	{
 		const auto description = wxString::Format("Play %s on Cemu", titleName);
@@ -1647,15 +1648,13 @@ void wxGameList::CreateShortcut(GameInfo2& gameInfo)
 		else
 			shellLink->SetIconLocation(exePath.wstring().c_str(), 0);
 
-		IPersistFile* shellLinkFile;
+		Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IPersistFile> shellLinkFile;
 		// save the shortcut
-		hres = shellLink->QueryInterface(IID_IPersistFile, reinterpret_cast<LPVOID*>(&shellLinkFile));
+		hres = shellLink.As(&shellLinkFile);
 		if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
 		{
 			hres = shellLinkFile->Save(outputPath.wc_str(), TRUE);
-			shellLinkFile->Release();	
 		}
-		shellLink->Release();
 	}
 	if (!SUCCEEDED(hres)) {
 		auto errorMsg = formatWxString(_("Failed to save shortcut to {}"), outputPath);
diff --git a/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputController.cpp b/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputController.cpp
index dbb7c80c..234696b6 100644
--- a/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputController.cpp
+++ b/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputController.cpp
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@ DirectInputController::DirectInputController(const GUID& guid, std::string_view
 
 DirectInputController::~DirectInputController()
 {
-	if (m_effect)
-		m_effect->Release();
-	
 	if (m_device)
 	{
 		m_device->Unacquire();
@@ -39,8 +36,8 @@ DirectInputController::~DirectInputController()
 		if (kGameCubeController == m_product_guid)
 			should_release_device = false;
 
-		if (should_release_device)
-			m_device->Release();
+		if (!should_release_device)
+			m_device.Detach();
 	}
 }
 
@@ -104,7 +101,6 @@ bool DirectInputController::connect()
 	// set data format
 	if (FAILED(m_device->SetDataFormat(m_provider->get_data_format())))
 	{
-		SAFE_RELEASE(m_device);
 		return false;
 	}
 
@@ -115,7 +111,6 @@ bool DirectInputController::connect()
 	{
 		if (FAILED(m_device->SetCooperativeLevel(hwndMainWindow, DISCL_BACKGROUND | DISCL_NONEXCLUSIVE)))
 		{
-			SAFE_RELEASE(m_device);
 			return false;
 		}
 		// rumble can only be used with exclusive access
diff --git a/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputController.h b/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputController.h
index 2ec371a2..d2c3dba2 100644
--- a/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputController.h
+++ b/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputController.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputControllerProvider.h"
 #include "input/api/Controller.h"
+#include <wrl/client.h>
 
 class DirectInputController : public Controller<DirectInputControllerProvider>
 {
@@ -41,9 +42,9 @@ private:
 	GUID m_product_guid{};
 
 	std::shared_mutex m_mutex;
-	LPDIRECTINPUTDEVICE8 m_device = nullptr;
-	LPDIRECTINPUTEFFECT m_effect = nullptr;
+	Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDirectInputDevice8> m_device;
+	Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDirectInputEffect> m_effect;
 
 	std::array<LONG, 6> m_min_axis{};
 	std::array<LONG, 6> m_max_axis{};
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};
diff --git a/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputControllerProvider.cpp b/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputControllerProvider.cpp
index 063cb779..79f31354 100644
--- a/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputControllerProvider.cpp
+++ b/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputControllerProvider.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ DirectInputControllerProvider::DirectInputControllerProvider()
 		
 
 	const auto r = DirectInput8Create(GetModuleHandle(nullptr), DIRECTINPUT_VERSION, IID_IDirectInput8, (void**)&m_dinput8, nullptr);
-	if (FAILED(r) || !m_dinput8)
+	if (FAILED(r))
 	{
 		const auto error = GetLastError();
 		//FreeLibrary(m_module);
@@ -29,9 +29,6 @@ DirectInputControllerProvider::DirectInputControllerProvider()
 
 DirectInputControllerProvider::~DirectInputControllerProvider()
 {
-	if (m_dinput8)
-		m_dinput8->Release();
-	
 	/*if (m_module)
 		FreeLibrary(m_module);
 	*/
diff --git a/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputControllerProvider.h b/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputControllerProvider.h
index 5db883c0..de8c3216 100644
--- a/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputControllerProvider.h
+++ b/src/input/api/DirectInput/DirectInputControllerProvider.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #define DIRECTINPUT_VERSION 0x0800
 
 #include <dinput.h>
+#include <wrl/client.h>
 
 #include "input/api/ControllerProvider.h"
 
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ public:
 
 	std::vector<std::shared_ptr<ControllerBase>> get_controllers() override;
 
-	IDirectInput8* get_dinput() const { return m_dinput8; }
+	IDirectInput8* get_dinput() const { return m_dinput8.Get(); }
 	LPCDIDATAFORMAT get_data_format() const;
 
 private:
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ private:
 	decltype(&DirectInput8Create) m_DirectInput8Create;
 	decltype(&GetdfDIJoystick) m_GetdfDIJoystick = nullptr;
 
-	IDirectInput8* m_dinput8 = nullptr;
+	Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDirectInput8> m_dinput8;
 };
 
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif
diff --git a/src/util/DXGIWrapper/DXGIWrapper.h b/src/util/DXGIWrapper/DXGIWrapper.h
index 54f2454d..363733e7 100644
--- a/src/util/DXGIWrapper/DXGIWrapper.h
+++ b/src/util/DXGIWrapper/DXGIWrapper.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <dxgi1_4.h>
-//#include <atlbase.h>
+#include <wrl/client.h>
 
 class DXGIWrapper
 {
@@ -23,34 +23,28 @@ public:
 			throw std::runtime_error("can't find CreateDXGIFactory1 in dxgi module");
 		}
 
-		IDXGIFactory1* dxgiFactory = nullptr;
+		Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDXGIFactory1> dxgiFactory;
 		pCreateDXGIFactory1(IID_PPV_ARGS(&dxgiFactory));
 
-		IDXGIAdapter1* tmpDxgiAdapter = nullptr;
+		Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDXGIAdapter1> dxgiAdapter;
 		UINT adapterIndex = 0;
-		while (dxgiFactory->EnumAdapters1(adapterIndex, &tmpDxgiAdapter) != DXGI_ERROR_NOT_FOUND)
+		while (dxgiFactory->EnumAdapters1(adapterIndex, &dxgiAdapter) != DXGI_ERROR_NOT_FOUND)
 		{
 			DXGI_ADAPTER_DESC1 desc;
-			tmpDxgiAdapter->GetDesc1(&desc);
+			dxgiAdapter->GetDesc1(&desc);
 
 			if (deviceLUID == nullptr || memcmp(&desc.AdapterLuid, deviceLUID, sizeof(LUID)) == 0)
 			{
-				tmpDxgiAdapter->QueryInterface(IID_PPV_ARGS(&m_dxgiAdapter));
-				tmpDxgiAdapter->Release();
+				if (FAILED(dxgiAdapter.As(&m_dxgiAdapter)))
+				{
+					Cleanup();
+					throw std::runtime_error("can't create dxgi adapter");
+				}
 				break;
 			}
 
-			tmpDxgiAdapter->Release();
 			++adapterIndex;
 		}
-
-		dxgiFactory->Release();
-
-		if (!m_dxgiAdapter)
-		{
-			Cleanup();
-			throw std::runtime_error("can't create dxgi adapter");
-		}
 	}
 
 	~DXGIWrapper()
@@ -65,15 +59,11 @@ public:
 
 private:
 	HMODULE m_moduleHandle = nullptr;
-	IDXGIAdapter3* m_dxgiAdapter = nullptr;
+	Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IDXGIAdapter3> m_dxgiAdapter;
 
 	void Cleanup()
 	{
-		if (m_dxgiAdapter)
-		{
-			m_dxgiAdapter->Release();
-			m_dxgiAdapter = nullptr;
-		}
+		m_dxgiAdapter.Reset();
 
 		if (m_moduleHandle)
 		{
@@ -81,4 +71,4 @@ private:
 			m_moduleHandle = nullptr;
 		}
 	}
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};