AMD has released Adrenalin Edition 26.8.1, a WHQL driver update that brings official support for the Radeon RX 9050 4GB along with fixes for multi-adapter launch crashes in Marvel Rivals and Subnautica 2. The update also adds three new AI PRO workstation SKUs and certified game profiles for STAR WARS Zero Company and the CoD MW4 Open Beta, though RX 9050 owners are advised to keep graphics-heavy settings disabled due to the 4GB VRAM cap. However, Starfield is crashing on RX 9000 series GPUs, leading AMD to recommend a rollback to Adrenalin Edition 26.7.1 using the Cleanup Utility until a patch arrives. Windows 10 users should also watch for SAM disabling post-install and ensure an audio device is selected for recording on RX 9000 cards.

AMD Adrenalin Edition 26.8.1 drops: RX 9050 support lands, Starfield warns of crashes on RX 9000 series

AMD has released Adrenalin Edition 26.8.1, its latest WHQL-certified driver package for Radeon GPUs. The headline addition is official support for the Radeon RX 9050 4GB. If you grabbed one of these budget RDNA 4 cards, your wait for a certified driver is over.

The RX 9050 4GB joins the RX 9070 and RX 9060, positioning as AMD's entry-level RDNA 4 option. AMD is already setting boundaries for the new card. The driver notes that Cyberpunk 2077 requires 6GB of VRAM, which means RX 9050 owners will need to keep demanding features disabled. It's a hardware constraint. The card simply doesn't have the buffer for high-end settings.

A significant chunk of this release targets multi-adapter setups. Hybrid configurations are getting better support. Marvel Rivals and Subnautica 2 were failing to launch on RX 7000 series and newer cards in combined graphics mode. This update resolves that. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III had a related crash at startup on RX 9000 series cards, and that's also locked.

Here's where things get tricky. Starfield is crashing on RX 9000 series GPUs. AMD is recommending a downgrade. Drop to Adrenalin Edition 26.7.1 if you play Starfield. AMD suggests using the Cleanup Utility before rolling back. It's a rare move for a new release, which suggests a serious regression rather than a minor glitch.

Windows 10 users should watch for SAM disabling after install. Re-enable it in BIOS or via AMD Software. CoD: Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta shows FSR as inactive on RX 9000 cards, though that's a third-party beta issue. Recording on RX 9000 with Windows 10 needs an audio output device selected or captures won't save.

Three new AI PRO cards get support: R9700, R9700S, and R9600D. These target ISV-certified workloads. The AI Bundle install may fail in regions with restricted access to HuggingFace and GitHub. It's a connectivity gate, not a code bug.

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, STAR WARS Zero Company, and CoD MW4 Open Beta Early Access round out the new game list.

The driver is version 26.10.41.01. You can grab the WHQL installer from the release notes page.