AMD to Develop Processor for Next-Gen Xbox: Team Red Expands Microsoft Partnership

Oh boy, where do I start? So, here’s this wild twist, right? Microsoft just dropped this bomb about teaming up with AMD again, and it’s not just for their blockbuster Xboxes but also some portable gadgets. We’re talking years of handshakes and high-fives, crafting the future of gaming doodads. A proper long haul.

Sarah Bond, the brains behind Xbox, was bouncing off the walls with excitement, like, “Hey, big news! We’re hooking up with AMD to brew up some silicon magic for our next-gen Xboxes,” and she slipped in, like, gaming-on-the-go tucked in your palm or chilling on your sofa. Not gonna lie, it stuck with me. Who knows why?

First peek at the shiny new Xbox crew in the making. All revving up with AMD’s souped-up chips—think turbocharged engines under the hood compared to the older Scarlett engines in the Xbox Series X. And yeah, they’re hanging onto their Zen CPU cores like a cat clinging to a curtain, thanks to x86 architecture and Radeon GP magic. Nerdy, but true.

Bond’s voice echoing in my head, talking about joining forces with AMD, like they’re the gaming silicon avengers. They’re going all out for jaw-dropping graphics, aiming for the kind of game worlds you lose hours in, all thanks to AI sprinkling its pixie dust. And don’t sweat—your old game library is safe. What a relief. Really.

So, when are these bad boys coming out? Microsoft’s lips are sealed tight. But, sticking to their usual routine—they announced the Scarlett Series X around E3 2019, and bam! It arrived late 2020. Track record suggests an Xbox Next could sneak in by holiday season 2026. We’ll probably see some juicy Zen 6 CPU cores and maybe RDNA 5 GPUs in there. Just me spinning wild yarns here, though.

Now, this caught my eye: Xbox portables?! Yeah, it’s happening. Ever since Steam Deck burst onto the scene in 2022, people have been drooling over handhelds. Microsoft clearly eyes something big in this pocket-size world of gaming. Picture an Xbox console you could pocket. Wishful thinking? Maybe.

Bond threw in a spicy tidbit: “We’re imagining you playing games how you want, with whoever you want, wherever.” Visionary stuff, I suppose. They’re going all in on the next-gen gear—consoles, handhelds, PCs, cloud, you name it. It’s like a buffet of gaming glory. Already dreaming about what’s on the horizon.

And get this—they’re not stopping at regular gear. Microsoft’s itching to spread gaming across multiple platforms. I’m envisioning a seamless love affair between Xbox and Windows PCs. Could be massive, or perhaps just grand talk. Anyway—wait, no, let’s circle back—it’s about making gaming not tied down to one spot. Playing whenever and wherever the whim strikes you. You with me?

So, there you have it. Microsoft’s setting up camp for some serious gaming evolution, with unbreakable ties with AMD steering the ship. Makes you wonder what’s next, right? Go figure. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News if you’re not already.