NVIDIA reverses course and restores GPU-based PhysX support to the RTX 50 series.

NVIDIA's latest driver update comes with an important correction: GeForce RTX 50 series brings back 32-bit PhysX acceleration via GPU, a feature that had disappeared with the release of the Blackwell architecture and that had generated considerable discomfort among those who continue to enjoy classic games on PC.

After several months of criticism and unfavorable comparisons, the company has launched the driver GeForce Game Ready 591.44 WHQLThis allows advanced physics effects to function as originally designed in a selection of older titles, preventing such striking situations as seeing a veteran GeForce from over a decade ago perform better than a brand new RTX 5090.

Why did GPU PhysX disappear in the RTX 50 series?

With the launch of the GeForce RTX 50 series, NVIDIA decided Remove support for 32-bit CUDA applicationsOn paper, it was a logical step to focus on modern 64-bit software, but it had a delicate side effect: by internally relying on 32-bit CUDA, PhysX could no longer be accelerated by GPU in this new generation.

The change wasn't communicated as a direct removal of PhysX, but in practice Physics acceleration was moved to the CPU in older games that used this technology. This caused an unexpected bottleneck: titles like Mirror's Edge, Borderlands 2, and Batman: Arkham City began to perform far below expectations on systems with top-of-the-range graphics cards, despite having GPUs easily valued at over 1.500 or 2.000 euros.

In some cases, the situation was so extreme that a GeForce from very old generationsA card like the RTX 580 or similar models from over 15 years ago could offer smoother gameplay with PhysX enabled than a modern RTX 5090 without GPU acceleration. This contrast was one of the triggers of controversy in the gaming community and on European hardware forums.

Driver 591.44 restores 32-bit PhysX acceleration to the RTX 50 series.

Nine months after the withdrawal of 32-bit support, NVIDIA publishes the driver Game Ready 591.44 WHQL and confirms that the GeForce RTX 50 GPU-accelerated PhysX is once again available in 32-bit gamesThe company says it has taken into account the feedback from GeForce users when prioritizing this correction.

However, the manufacturer hasn't completely reversed course: 32-bit CUDA still lacks support in the Blackwell architecture. Instead of reactivating the entire ecosystem, NVIDIA has opted for a more focused approach, concentrating on titles that still have a relevant player base.

The chosen method consists of a specific compatibility system for the RTX 50 This allows loading the necessary modules for GPU-based PhysX to function in a specific list of games. This restores the behavior of previous generations, such as the RTX 40 or RTX 30, without reintroducing widespread support for 32-bit CUDA applications.

Classic games that bring back PhysX via GPU

According to NVIDIA's press release, the new driver re-enables the 32-bit PhysX acceleration in several titles very popular among the GeForce community. The current list of compatible games includes:

• Alice: Madness Returns
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Batman: Arkham City
• Batman: Arkham Origins
• Borderlands 2
• Mafia II
• Metro 2033
• Metro: Last Light
• Mirror's Edge

In the case of the superhero saga, NVIDIA also points out that Batman: Arkham Asylum will receive dedicated support in early 2026so that the entire main series with PhysX effects is covered in the RTX 50 series. The company has not specified whether it will expand this catalog to other less played titles, and for now everything points to it focusing solely on the games mentioned.

With the restoration of GPU acceleration, these titles They recover particles, clothing simulations, smoke, and destruction effects. as they were intended. On a modern PC with an RTX 5090 or any model from the RTX 50 series, the performance difference compared to the CPU-only solution should be very noticeable, especially in scenes with heavy effects.

What is PhysX and why did it depend on CUDA?

PhysX is an NVIDIA technology designed for physics simulation in video gamesIt handles calculating the movement of objects, fluids, particles, or fabrics, delegating these calculations to the GPU to relieve the CPU's workload. It was inherited after the acquisition of Ageia and became one of the brand's defining features during the years when the PC was primarily used as a showcase for graphics.

The problem for its continuity has been its strong dependence on CUDANVIDIA's own computing platform. For the effects to work as intended, a graphics card from the company was required, which limited adoption by developers who wanted to release their games on consoles or other GPUs.

As the sector has increasingly opted for solutions multiplatform and less tied to a single manufacturerThe use of PhysX as a flagship technology has been declining. Since the mid-2010s, studios have opted for physics engines integrated into more general-purpose graphics engines or for alternatives that don't rely on CUDA, leaving PhysX relegated mainly to games from previous generations.

Impact of the PhysX removal on RTX 50 users

The removal of 32-bit support for CUDA only affected the GeForce RTX 50Owners of an RTX 40 series or previous generation models They did not lose PhysX supportso they were able to continue enjoying these titles as they were used to.

In practice, those who had upgraded to the new RTX 50 series encountered paradoxical behavior: Their modern games were running better than ever.Thanks to technologies like DLSS 4 and advanced ray tracing, certain older PhysX-based games performed worse than on previous systems. This feeling of "stepping back" has prompted many complaints from the PC gaming community in Spain and the rest of Europe.

With the release of driver 591.44, The company is correcting a decision that mainly affected the retro catalog. and which penalized those who combined new titles with classics. Although the correction comes somewhat late, it allows these latest-generation GPUs to get the most out of both the newest games and those that are a few years old.

How to re-enable PhysX on an RTX 50

To restore GPU-accelerated PhysX on GeForce RTX 50 series cards, you don't need to change too many settings. The key is... Install the GeForce Game Ready driver version 591.44 or later. on a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 system, and if necessary Activate the graphics card in Windows 11 to ensure GPU acceleration.

Users can update in two main ways: through the NVIDIA Appby accessing the Drivers section and clicking on Update, or by downloading the installer directly from the NVIDIA official pagewhere version 591.44 appears as the most recent in the R590 branch.

For those who prioritize privacy and more granular control over what is installed, there is still the option of using tools such as NVCleanstallwhich allow you to do without added components and focus solely on the graphics driver, avoiding telemetry and other secondary elements.

Optimized for Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

While the big news for fans of classic games is the return of GPU-based PhysX, driver 591.44 also comes with Significant improvements for current releasesespecially in high-volume shooters.

On one hand, the update paves the way for Battlefield 6: Winter OffensiveAn expansion launching on December 9th with a new map, an additional game mode, and a brand-new weapon. NVIDIA has included all the necessary optimizations so that the RTX 50 series can take full advantage of technologies such as DLSS 4 with Multiframe Generation, DLSS Frame Generation, DLSS Super Resolution, DLAA and NVIDIA Reflex, with the goal of maximizing the frame rate and reducing latency.

According to data provided by the company, DLSS 4 with Multiframe Generation and Super Resolution can multiply the FPS rate by almost four (3,8 times on average). in systems with a GeForce RTX 50, allowing it to reach figures close to 460 FPS on desktops and around 310 FPS on laptops equipped with this series.

In the case of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7The new driver focuses on improving the fidelity of the technology. DLSS Ray Reconstructionwhich is responsible for refining the quality of ray tracing. NVIDIA recommends updating to version 591.44 to take advantage of these graphical improvements and maintain stable performance in this title.

Other notable changes and fixes in driver 591.44

In addition to restoring 32-bit PhysX on the RTX 50 series and optimizations for shooters, the driver introduces a wide range of bug fixes that affect both video games and professional applications.

• They are resolved stability issues in Battlefield 6, preventing unexpected shutdowns or freezes in certain configurations.
• They are corrected Text distortions in Counter-Strike 2 when using resolutions lower than the monitor's native resolution.
• The graphic flickering present in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth y Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name after updating the drivers on some computers.
• They are solved performance drops in Black Myth: Wukong detected in more recent drivers of the R570 series.
• The absence of certain particle effects is corrected in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne when playing with GeForce RTX 50.
• They are corrected Progressive brightness loss in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 after long gaming sessions.
• Stability issues are fixed in Madden 26 and some performance issues linked to the Windows 11 KB5066835 update in R580 series drivers.
• The problem is solved Visual corruption on Geralt's sword in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which displayed unwanted graphical artifacts.
• A flaw that caused system crashes is being addressed. when exporting video with hardware encoding in Adobe Premiere Pro.
• One is removed annoying green line when playing video in Chromium-based browsers on computers with RTX 50 GPUs.

In parallel, NVIDIA has confirmed that with the arrival of the R590 branch, ends regular support for the Maxwell and Pascal architecturesThis means that the GeForce GTX 900 and GTX 1000 series, as well as some GTX 700 series like the GTX 750 and 750 Ti, will remain on the R580 branch for future updates, essentially receiving security patches but without new performance optimizations.

There are some exceptions, such as the GeForce MX150, MX230, MX250, MX330 and MX350 mobile GPUsall based on Pascal, which will continue to enjoy extended support as they remain present in many laptops in circulation in Europe and other markets.

With this move, NVIDIA is trying Balancing the commitment to next-generation hardware with the maintenance of legacy systemsThis update restores a feature many took for granted to the RTX 50 series: PhysX acceleration in classic games, while also fine-tuning performance in current titles like Battlefield 6 and Black Ops 7. For those who play both recent releases and iconic games from over a decade ago, version 591.44 is a highly recommended update to get the most out of their graphics card.

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Alberto navarro

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