AMD decision to put RDNA 2 GPUs in maintenance mode could spell trouble for handheld gaming systems including ROG Xbox Ally — company backtracks on RX 7900 series USB-C functionality, but not on RDNA 2 support

AMD's decision to move RDNA 1 and RDNA 2 GPUs into "maintenance" mode, receiving fewer game optimization updates, has caused concern in the tech community. This move could impact handheld gaming systems like the ROG Xbox Ally, which rely heavily on driver optimizations for performance. While AMD clarified that RDNA 1 and 2 GPUs will still receive critical bug fixes and security updates, new features will be reserved for the RX 7000 and 9000 series. Additionally, AMD mistakenly disabled charging on the USB-C port for some RX 7900 series cards but has since confirmed that the feature remains operational. This decision contrasts with Nvidia's continued support for its USB-C variant, Virtual Link, showcasing a different approach to legacy GPU support.