Quick answer: NVIDIA released optional GeForce hotfix driver 621.12 to fix video playback freezes and black screens on some RTX 50 Series GPUs and RTX Spark systems after Game Ready driver 621.01. It also fixes an Unreal Engine 5.8 crash with Hit Lighting.
NVIDIA has a fix out for the video playback bug in GeForce Game Ready driver 621.01. The new GeForce/RTX Spark Hotfix driver 621.12 fixes video playback that may freeze or go to a black screen on some GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and RTX Spark systems after updating to 621.01. VideoCardz notes it arrived six days after 621.01 came out.
We covered the 621.01 video freeze and black screen bug on October 24, when NVIDIA had filed a bug report but hadn't given a fix date. NVIDIA's hotfix notes name only RTX 50 Series GPUs and RTX Spark for this fix.
The hotfix includes three other fixes, according to NVIDIA's release notes:
- Unreal Engine 5.8 may crash when Ray Lighting Mode is set to Hit Lighting. VideoCardz and OC3D note this one isn't limited to RTX 50 Series cards.
- On RTX Spark, an HDMI monitor connected through a StarTech Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI 2.0 adapter may show corruption.
- On the MSI N16 Flip, intermittent flickering may be seen.
Driver 621.12 is based on NVIDIA's latest Game Ready and RTX Spark Game Ready drivers. Like other NVIDIA hotfixes, it's a beta, optional driver that goes through a shorter QA process than a full release. NVIDIA says the safest option is to wait for the next WHQL certified driver, and that these fixes will be in its next official driver, at which point the hotfix will be taken down.
The hotfix is available only from NVIDIA's Customer Care support site, for Windows 10 and Windows 11 (x64), with a separate Windows 11 ARM64 download for RTX Spark.