A new Linux kernel patch for the NVGrace-GPU VFIO driver has revealed references to Nvidia's upcoming “Blackwell-Next” graphics architecture.

Spotted by Phoronix (via VideoCardz), this change adds a readiness check for the supposed new architecture via CXL (Compute Express Link) DVSEC-based (Designated Vendor Specific Extended Capability). Submitted as part of the VFIO subsystem work for the Linux 7.2 cycle, the update modifies how the driver determines if GPU memory is ready after a probe or reset.

The code links directly to the NVGrace-GPU driver, meaning these adjustments don't confirm a new consumer GPU generation. Rather, they seem to target enterprise hardware.

Nvidia officially announced Rubin as the successor of Blackwell back in 2025, which includes the Vera CPU and Rubin GPU. However, the company also announced Blackwell Ultra, leaving us uncertain about what Blackwell-Next actually refers to. In any case, it seems we won't have to wait much longer to clarify what's really coming after Blackwell.

KitGuru says: Do you think we will see Blackwell Next come to the consumer segment?

The Linux 7.2 Kernel Patches have seen the addition of a next-gen NVIDIA GPU architecture, cleverly listed as "Blackwell-Next". NVIDIA Ramps Up Support For Next-Gen GPU Architectures, Including Blackwell-Next, For Linux 7.2 NVIDIA's GPU architectures are not a mystery since the company has been outlining them in roadmaps for years now. We knew that Rubin was going to replace Blackwell years before its launch, and now we know that Feynman will replace Rubin. NVIDIA has only started volume production of Rubin, but internally, the company is prepping some big support for its next-generation architectures before they even ship. Phoronix spotted […]

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