Radeon RX 5700 cards can stream Netflix in 4k after DRM update in driver

AMD has released new Radeon drivers that add Microsoft PlayReady 3.0 support for the RX 5700 and RX 5700XT. This makes it possible to watch videos from the streaming service in 4k resolution via the Edge browser or the Netflix app.

The update is included in Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition 19.8.1, the most recent driver update for Radeon graphics cards. AMD mentions in the release notes that support for Microsoft PlayReady 3.0 has been added. That is the DRM technique that is used by Netflix, among others, for the display of 4k videos in Windows. It was already possible to watch Netflix videos in 4k with the Radeon RX 470, 480, 570 and 580, but this has not been possible with the new Navi cards until now.

Incidentally, more conditions must be met to be able to watch Netflix in 4k on a Windows PC. For example, a screen with hdcp 2.2 support is needed and a browser that can handle the PlayReady 3.0 drm must be used. Currently, that’s only Edge. Also, 4k playback requires the most expensive Netflix subscription.