Intel has in its 11th and 12th generation chips removed support for SGX, a DRM-related security technology required to play UHD Blu-ray Discs.

UHD Blu-ray on PCs
Intel's 11th Gen Rocket Lake (Core i-11000) and 12th Gen Alder Lake (Core i-12000) list SGX (Software Guard Extensions) as "no longer supported", reports Heise.de.

Together with HDCP 2.2 and AACS 2.0, SGX is required for playback of UHD Blu-ray on PCs. It means that users will not be able to use the latest Intel-based PCs as UHD Blu-ray players for 4K HDR movies.

CyberLink, the developer of the PowerDVD application for PCs, says that the removal of SGX means that it can no longer support UHD Blu-ray playback in its software.

Intel 7000, 8000, 9000 and 10000 series still support SGX but CyberLink warns that it could be removed in new versions of Intel drivers.

- "The Intel SGX feature has been removed from Intel 11th generation (or newer) CPUs, and support for SGX may be removed at some point on the new versions of Intel drivers or utility programs (e.g., the Intel SGX and Intel Management Engine driver and firmware). These changes could make these platforms lose support for Ultra HD Blu-ray movie disc playback," CyberLink wrote in a FAQ.

- "The removal of the SGX feature, and its compatibility with the latest Windows OS and drivers, has caused a substantial challenge for CyberLink to continue supporting Ultra HD Blu-ray movie playback in our player software. So much so, that it has been determined that it is no longer feasible for CyberLink to support the Ultra HD Blu-ray playback on newer CPUs and the latest Windows platforms."

Intel has supported SGX since Skylake (Core i-6000) but security researchers have found several vulnerabilities in the system, which is the likely reason for Intel to abandon it.

AMD processors do not support SGX so it would seem that support for UHD Blu-ray movies on PCs ends here.


 Intel's Alder Lake specifications sheet

- Source: Heise, CyberLink