Image: AMD
Update 3:31 PM PT: AMD’s Adrenalin Edition 25.10.2 release notes have been apparently rewritten to note that they are compatible with the RX9000, RX7000, RX6000, and RX5000 series of graphics cards, and do not make any mention of a “maintenance mode.” The original story continues.
When you buy an expensive piece of technology, you want to know that it’ll have support from the manufacturer for a long time. That goes double for graphics cards and similar tech, where the latest games might need driver tweaks. That’s why the latest AMD Adrenalin release is dismaying for owners of cards and laptops just a few years old: a lot of them just got left in the dust.
New Game Support is spelled out for “Radeon RX 7000 and 9000 series graphics products” in the release notes…leaving Radeon RX 6000 and 5000 cards, the newest of which were released just two to three years ago, with only “maintenance mode” support. This is a line that hasn’t been included in other update text posts, so the conspicuous absence of older cards was immediately jarring to many users. AMD has since confirmed that graphics hardware based on RDNA 1 and RDNA 2 will not get optimization for the latest games, instead being moved to only critical security and bug support.
That means these RDNA 1 and 2 graphics systems, including the integrated graphics on many laptops and handhelds, will start to fall behind the graphical curve a lot faster than they might otherwise. Some of these chips were released as late as 2023, though the majority came out in 2022 or earlier.
The Steam Deck may feel like it stands out as the 800-pound gorilla here — the custom 8-core APU designed for Valve’s handheld gaming PC debuted in February 2022, with RDNA 2 support. With millions of users on the Steam Deck alone and no first-party successor in sight, it seems shocking that AMD would drop support for RDNA 2 in particular. But the Valve actually uses Linux’s open-source RADV drivers for the Steam Deck, so it shouldn’t be affected here. Gamers who install Windows on their Steam Deck, or have a Windows-based handheld with AMD’s RDNA 2 tech inside are seemingly, suddenly staring at a bleak future.
Maintenance-only support doesn’t mean that these graphics cards, laptops, and handhelds will suddenly stop working. They’ll be able to play new games…unless they run into a problem, at which time developers will be on their own when it comes to a fix. Without significant driver updates, AMD’s RDNA 2-based GPUs will begin to be less and less useful for the newest games and other tech. The latest Adrenalin driver package includes New Game Support tweaks for Battlefield 6 and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2…tweaks that won’t benefit owners on this older hardware.
PC gamers are, in a word, pissed. While no hardware stays in full support forever, this decision comes at a time when AMD’s graphics market share is falling further and further behind Nvidia. Trying to lean into newer devices and leaving owners of older hardware out to dry isn’t a great way to create loyalty, no matter how good the latest RDNA 3 and 4 features are. I also can’t help but wonder if AMD is redistributing some resources, trying to prioritize its better-faring CPU and/or industrial AI output.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.
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