The latest AMD Drivers break DX9 games in some circumstances

Muhammad.Abdelhameed · 1 Jan 2018 at 14:54

AMD's latest Adrenalin breaks functionality of several DX9 games, including Witcher 1, C&C3, C&C 4, Red Alert 3, StarCraft 2, Battle of Middle Earth and more. When asked about it AMD official answer was:

"This title is from 2007, so we are unlikely to devote any valuable engineering resources to this issue, which is most likely caused by outdated API modules"

What gives? What about DX8 and DX7 games? Are they gone forever now? I hope Matt can answer these questions. AMD users should push hard to get this fixed asap.

https://www.techpowerup.com/240103/amd-unlikely-to-fix-dx9-games-bugged-by-adrenalin-
driver

EDIT: A senior AMD driver engineer has now promised a fix:

pete910 · 1 Jan 2018 at 15:13

Any different to Nvidia dropping 32bit support ?

End of the day tech companies have to draw the line somewhere I guess

Muhammad.Abdelhameed · 1 Jan 2018 at 15:21

pete910 said:
Any different to Nvidia dropping 32bit support ?

NVIDIA hasn't ended that yet. it's still some time to go. Besides AMD ended support for 32bit Windows so sometime ago as well. They even cut Windows 8 support (both 64 and 32bit) completely from the driver stack.

pete910 said:
End of the day tech companies have to draw the line somewhere I guess

This is literally the line, AMD can't just cut DX9 games and be done with it, that's like 50% of all PC games right now! This will not go well with gamers at all.

pete910 · 1 Jan 2018 at 15:24

Muhammad.Abdelhameed said:
This is literally the line, AMD can't just cut DX9 games and be done with it, that's like 50% of all PC games right now! This will not go well with gamers at all.

Not really end of world is it, If people are that bothered they will stay on their current driver that supports DX whatever.

ubersonic · 1 Jan 2018 at 15:39

Really disappointed in AMD here, they have acknowledged game breaking bugs in their new driver but stated they are just going to leave it as it only affects old games so they don't deem it worth their time/money. Pretty stupid move from a company that depends on people spending their time to earn money to buy their products >.>

Randomface74 · 1 Jan 2018 at 15:42

You don't have to buy AMD.

LoadsaMoney · 1 Jan 2018 at 15:42

pete910 said:
Not really end of world is it, If people are that bothered they will stay on their current driver that supports DX whatever.

They'll have to stay on their current card as well, so not able to upgrade, unless they build another rig to use their old card in, or go Nvidia, as a newer card won't work with older drivers, that were out before it.

shankly1985 · 1 Jan 2018 at 15:46

Muhammad.Abdelhameed said:
NVIDIA hasn't ended that yet. it's still some time to go. Besides AMD ended support for 32bit Windows so sometime ago as well. They even cut Windows 8 support (both 64 and 32bit) completely from the driver stack.

This is literally the line, AMD can't just cut DX9 games and be done with it, that's like 50% of all PC games right now! This will not go well with gamers at all.

Its not all DX9 games! Dont make the issue bigger than it really is. Witcher 1 is a strange one be cause that is a series you would like to keep supporting. C&C games on the other hand are completely dead titles.

pete910 · 1 Jan 2018 at 15:57

LoadsaMoney said:
They'll have to stay on their current card as well, so not able to upgrade, unless they build another rig to use their old card in, or go Nvidia, as a newer card won't work with older drivers, that were out before it.

Again, how different is this to NV dropping 32bit support as their new cards wont work with older titles either.

Lets face it, We are talking old tiltles too. Am not saying it's fair for those that will want/need it but neither is life.

Rroff · 1 Jan 2018 at 16:00

pete910 said:
Again, how different is this to NV dropping 32bit support as their new cards wont work with older titles either.

Lets face it, We are talking old tiltles too. Am not saying it's fair for those that will want/need it but neither is life.

Very few systems today that you can't put a 64bit OS on - sucks for the small number of people who'll be sticking with 32bit due to compatibility, etc. but it isn't really the same.

Woden · 1 Jan 2018 at 16:08

No different from the publishers refusing to patch them really.

pete910 · 1 Jan 2018 at 16:09

Rroff said:
Very few systems today that you can't put a 64bit OS on - sucks for the small number of people who'll be sticking with 32bit due to compatibility, etc. but it isn't really the same.

Why aint it?

If the driver does not have 32bit support the 32bit app aint going to work is it.

Muhammad.Abdelhameed · 1 Jan 2018 at 16:11

pete910 said:
Why aint it?

If the driver does not have 32bit support the 32bit app aint going to work is it.

NO! 32bit system support is not 32 bit app support. 64bit driver will run 32bit apps just fine.

pete910 said:
Again, how different is this to NV dropping 32bit support as their new cards wont work with older titles either.

Again NOT THE SAME THING. Modern games actually refuse to work on 32bit Windows. So NVIDIA and AMD both are ending support for it. However the user can install a 64bit Windows and run any game he wants. Old or new. You can practically do it for free as well.

Woden · 1 Jan 2018 at 16:13

pete910 said:
Why aint it?

If the driver does not have 32bit support the 32bit app aint going to work is it.

Yes.

Muhammad.Abdelhameed · 1 Jan 2018 at 16:13

shankly1985 said:
Its not all DX9 games! Dont make the issue bigger than it really is. Witcher 1 is a strange one be cause that is a series you would like to keep supporting. C&C games on the other hand are completely dead titles.

Do you even hear yourself? If DX9 games are screwed, then what about DX8 or DX7 or older? And the list is getting bigger now:

The Witcher: Enhanced Edition
Guild Wars 2 (some users)
Command & Conquer 3 (all expansions/versions)
Command & Conquer 4 - Tiberian Twilight
Skyrim
StarCraft 2 (some users)
League of Legends
CS:GO (some users)
Battle for Middle Earth 1 and 2
Tales of Berseria

Rroff · 1 Jan 2018 at 16:13

pete910 said:
Why aint it?

If the driver does not have 32bit support the 32bit app aint going to work is it.

They aren't phasing out 32bit application support - that would stop the bigger number of games from working at all.

pete910 · 1 Jan 2018 at 16:16

Muhammad.Abdelhameed said:
NO! 32bit system support is not 32 bit app support. 64bit driver will run 32bit apps just fine.

Again NOT THE SAME THING. Modern games actually refuse to work on 32bit Windows. So NVIDIA and AMD both are ending support for it. However the user can install a 64bit Windows and run any game he wants. Old or new. You can practically do it for free as well.

Think you are failing to see what I mean, If NV are dropping 32bit driver support means that a 32bit app even on a 64bit OS will not work.

Quote from Ars article

There will be another year of security updates for 32-bit drivers, but all new features, performance enhancements, and support for new hardware will require the use of a 64-bit operating system and 64-bit drivers.

Muhammad.Abdelhameed · 1 Jan 2018 at 16:23

pete910 said:
Think you are failing to see what I mean, If NV are dropping 32bit driver support means that a 32bit app even on a 64bit OS will not work.

NOPE, they are dropping 32bit Windows not 32 bit apps. 90% of games are 32bit actually you think they are dropping that? Even PUBG is a 32bit app. Please educate yourself more before posting utter crap like that.

shankly1985 · 1 Jan 2018 at 16:23

Muhammad.Abdelhameed said:
Do you even hear yourself? If DX9 games are screwed, then what about DX8 or DX7 or older? And the list is getting bigger now:

The Witcher: Enhanced Edition

Guild Wars 2 (some users)

Command & Conquer 3 (all expansions/versions)

Command & Conquer 4 - Tiberian Twilight

Skyrim

StarCraft 2 (some users)

League of Legends

CS:GO (some users)

Battle for Middle Earth 1 and 2

Tales of Berseria

Well out of that list only CSGO I play and I have no issue at all with that title. Why are you always trying so hard to make the issue seem much bigger? Until reports come in off DX7 and 8 titles you just nit picking.

Wouldn't call that list 50% of DX9 games lol

Ray is replying back to one TITLE not "ALL DX9" Read his replay correctly! And wait for a statement from AMD. And for your information I am not defending AMD here!

"title" is from "2007", so we are unlikely to devote any valuable engineering resources to this issue

Rroff · 1 Jan 2018 at 16:24

pete910 said:
Think you are failing to see what I mean, If NV are dropping 32bit driver support means that a 32bit app even on a 64bit OS will not work.

Quote from Ars article

64bit drivers still support 32bit applications (that is handled by the OS). 32bit applications on 64bit OS and 64bit drivers will still work other than a small number that have compatibility issues with a 64bit OS.