Nvidia has quietly retired support for its 32-bit PhysX technology on RTX 50 series graphics cards, effectively ending the technology’s usage in games. The move comes as a result of the deprecation of 32-bit CUDA applications support starting with the RTX 50 series.
PhysX, a proprietary physics simulation SDK, was introduced by Nvidia in 2004 and gained popularity for its ability to process complex physics simulations on graphics cards. However, its adoption slowed down significantly in favor of more flexible alternative solutions, including CPU- and GPU-compatible alternatives.
The technology’s end-of-life status is due to its strict requirement for an Nvidia GPU, which prevented it from being used on competing GPUs, consoles, and smartphones. Additionally, Nvidia began dropping support for some PhysX features later in its life cycle, such as particle simulation support.
Although 64-bit games with integrated PhysX technology are non-existent, users can still run PhysX on RTX 40 series or older graphics cards by installing a secondary graphics card and slaving it to PhysX duty in the Nvidia control panel. However, this functionality may be discontinued in the future.
PhysX was used in several notable AAA games, including Batman: Arkham trilogy, Borderlands series, Metro series, Mirror’s Edge, and The Witcher 3. Its implementation varied from game to game, with some using a proprietary GPU-based PhysX technology and others relying on an open-source CPU-based physics engine.
The discontinuation of PhysX support marks the end of an era for Nvidia, which acquired the technology as part of its Ageia purchase in 2008. The news may have significant implications for games that rely on PhysX, potentially leading to a decline in performance or functionality.
Nvidia’s response to the announcement has been met with skepticism, with some expressing disappointment and frustration at the loss of a beloved game engine. As the technology is now officially retired, it remains to be seen which games will adopt alternative solutions or continue to use other physics engines.
Source: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/physx-quietly-retired-on-rtx-50-series-gpus-nvidia-ends-32-bit-cuda-app-support