It is a on condition that graphics card distributors will absolutely assist their merchandise lengthy after they disappear from retailer cabinets. However for the way lengthy? Not that lengthy apparently, if you happen to’re utilizing a Polaris or notably Vega-based graphics card or APU based mostly on the Graphics Core Subsequent-series of architectures.
Our sister website Anandtech reported that AMD is decreasing driver assist for pre-RDNA merchandise. New driver releases will embrace issues like safety updates and bug fixes, however massive ticket objects like function additions and efficiency optimizations are far much less probably from this level on.
It’s normal follow for GPU distributors to scale back driver assist over time earlier than they’re relegated to legacy standing and all driver growth stops. AMD is not doing that, fortunately! It plans to launch vital fixes and updates as required, however the concern right here is the timeframe and comparatively excessive market share of GCN 4 and GCN 5 merchandise.
It isn’t all that shocking to see AMD deprioritize GCN 4 merchandise over seven years after they went on sale. However to make use of the RX 580 for example, it stays well-liked and it has a comparatively giant market share—for AMD anyway. In keeping with the most recent Steam {Hardware} Survey, the Polaris based mostly Radeon RX 580 remains to be the best rating AMD discrete GPU. They are going to be discovered inside gaming rigs for years to come back and it is unknown whether or not playing cards from this technology will get optimizations for top-tier video games just like the simply introduced Grand Theft Auto 6.
AMD’s discrete Vega playing cards did not promote too effectively in comparison with their Nvidia opponents, however GCN 5 lived on for years in built-in GPU kind. Merchandise with Vega graphics had been launched till as late as 2021, and a few 5000G-series APUs are nonetheless on sale immediately. These customers can really feel a bit of onerous accomplished by.
It isn’t the tip of the highway for Polaris and Vega players. No matter recreation you’ve got been having fun with will proceed to work because it does now, however with out lively driver growth, it is just about a ‘what you see is what you get’ form of state of affairs. GCN playing cards and APUs already battle with the most recent titles except you flip down picture high quality settings anyway, however if you happen to’re hoping to carry out for any size of time and play new titles coming in 2024 or past, you might have one more reason to start out occupied with an improve.