AMD Requires Windows 11 for Full Performance of New RX 9070 GPUs

AMD's latest RX 9070 GPUs promise enhanced performance, but users must upgrade to Windows 11 to fully unlock their potential.

After much anticipation, AMD has officially unveiled its RX 9070 series as a strategic response to NVIDIA, seeking to gain ground in the GPU market. The company is optimistic that the somewhat hesitant launch of NVIDIA's RTX 50 line will work to its advantage. However, one of the recent announcements from AMD has sparked concern among millions of users. The catch? As confirmed by the brand, anyone looking to fully unlock the capabilities of the new RX 9070 GPUs will need to upgrade to Windows 11.

According to reports from JeuxVideo, users who stick with Windows 10 will not be able to fully exploit the performance of these graphics cards, compelling them to transition to the new operating system. Not only will the RX 9070 require Windows 11, but AMD plans to extend this requirement to all future graphics card releases. This strategic move is intended to ensure that upcoming products are designed specifically to optimize their performance for Windows 11 using the RDNA architecture.

Windows 11 offers notable advantages, including support for an advanced scheduler and the DirectStorage feature, which significantly reduces loading times in games while optimizing overall performance. By focusing on Windows 11, AMD aims to streamline the development of its graphics drivers, ensuring greater stability and efficiency. Furthermore, with Microsoft planning to cease free support for Windows 10 in October 2025, this shift aligns perfectly with AMD's vision for the future of its brand.

By concentrating on a single operating system, the company can enhance its products without being tied down by the need to maintain compatibility with older systems. Therefore, gamers eager to get their hands on the RX 9070 will have no choice but to upgrade to Windows 11, as they will not achieve the same level of performance with Windows 10. AMD has made it clear that there will be no exceptions or partial compatibility, making Windows 11 a mandatory requirement for its latest graphics cards.