AMD Phases Out Support for First- and Second-Gen RDNA GPUs, Focuses on Latest Architectures
AMD has announced that its first and second-generation RDNA GPU lineups will soon receive only critical updates, effectively ending official optimization and feature support for these older graphics cards. This move affects the Radeon RX 5000 series (RDNA 1), which debuted nearly six years ago, as well as the RX 6000 series (RDNA 2).
### What’s Changing with AMD Driver Support?
In the latest Adrenalin Edition 25.10.2 driver release, which introduced official support for Battlefield 6 and the Ryzen AI 5 3300 APU, AMD limited new driver enhancements such as “Game Support” and “Expanded Vulkan Extensions Support” exclusively to the Radeon RX 7000 and RX 9000 series GPUs. This means that only the RDNA 3 and RDNA 4 architectures will benefit from the newest game optimizations and features.
Notably absent are the RDNA 1 and RDNA 2 families, signaling that AMD is placing these GPUs into maintenance mode. According to statements given to PC Games Hardware, AMD confirmed that while critical security patches and bug fixes will continue for the RX 5000 and RX 6000 series, the company will no longer roll out targeted game optimizations or feature updates for these GPUs.
### What This Means for RX 5000 and RX 6000 Owners
The RX 5000 series originally launched in 2019, with the RX 6000 series following in 2020. Despite the relative recency, AMD’s decision means that these GPUs will no longer receive the latest features or game support going forward. This includes newer variants like the RX 6750 GRE, released as recently as 2023, which will now be excluded from upcoming performance optimizations—a move many consider unexpected and disappointing.
By shifting its focus exclusively to the RX 7000 and RX 9000 series, AMD aims to concentrate resources on developing new and improved technologies for its latest GPU architectures.
### Impact on Consumers and Industry Comparison
This change introduces a degree of uncertainty for consumers who expect extended support for their GPU investments. Concerns are growing that AMD might adopt a similar approach with RDNA 3 and potentially RDNA 4 GPUs once newer generations arrive.
In contrast, NVIDIA has maintained support for older architectures like Maxwell and Pascal for nearly a decade, which has been reassuring for many users who want long-term stability and feature updates for their graphics cards.
### Final Thoughts
While AMD’s decision to limit support for RDNA 1 and RDNA 2 GPUs may be aimed at streamlining its development efforts, it may affect consumer trust and satisfaction. Gamers and professionals using RX 5000 and RX 6000 series GPUs should prepare for a future where their cards receive only essential security patches without ongoing feature enhancements or game-specific optimizations. Meanwhile, AMD is doubling down on innovations within the RX 7000 and RX 9000 series to stay competitive moving forward.
https://wccftech.com/amd-rdna-1-2-gpu-driver-support-moved-to-maintenance-mode-game-optimizations-new-tech-for-rdna-3-4-beyond/