The promise of lasting support is a cornerstone of any significant tech purchase, especially for components like graphics cards that demand ongoing optimization. Recent news from AMD has shattered that expectation for a large segment of its user base, leaving many feeling abandoned by a company they trusted.
The latest AMD Adrenalin release details a stark division in support tiers. While the Radeon RX 7000 and 9000 series will receive “New Game Support,” the Radeon RX 6000 and 5000 series – cards released as recently as two to three years ago – are relegated to “maintenance mode.” This abrupt shift, signaled by the conspicuous omission of older cards in the release notes, has sparked widespread concern.
Maintenance mode isn’t a complete shutdown, but it’s a slow fade into obsolescence. RDNA 1 and RDNA 2 hardware will now only receive critical security and bug fixes, effectively halting the performance optimizations needed to keep pace with evolving game technology. This impacts not just desktop GPUs, but also integrated graphics found in numerous laptops and handheld devices.
The Steam Deck, powered by a RDNA 2 APU, initially appeared particularly vulnerable given its massive user base. However, the Steam Deck’s reliance on Linux’s open-source RADV drivers offers a surprising shield against this change. Windows-based Steam Decks and newer handhelds like the ROG Ally, however, are directly in the path of this support cut.
The implications are significant. While older cards won’t suddenly stop functioning, they’ll increasingly struggle with new titles. Without dedicated driver updates, performance will degrade, and developers will be left to troubleshoot issues without AMD’s assistance. The latest driver tweaks for upcoming games like *Battlefield 6* and *Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2* will simply bypass these older systems.
The reaction from PC gamers has been overwhelmingly negative. This decision feels particularly jarring at a time when AMD is losing ground to Nvidia in the graphics card market. Abandoning customers with relatively recent hardware is a risky strategy, potentially eroding brand loyalty despite advancements in newer RDNA 3 and 4 technologies.
Speculation is mounting that AMD is strategically reallocating resources, prioritizing its more successful CPU division or its growing presence in the industrial AI sector. Whatever the reason, the message is clear: the lifespan of AMD graphics hardware may be shorter than many users anticipated.
