AMD Pulls a Bait-and-Switch on Linux Users with Vivado Licensing Changes

AMD is changing Vivado's licensing model starting with the 2026.1 release, restricting Linux support to paid tiers only. The free Basic tier will be Windows-only, while Linux access requires the 'Core' tier costing $1,200–$1,800 per year. AMD's forum moderator deflected user concerns with PR-speak, suggesting free users stick with the older 2025.2 version, which will lose support once 2026.3 ships. The move has angered students, hobbyists, and academic researchers who relied on free Linux access, and AMD has yet to issue a formal statement.