AMD engineer confirms new Xbox hardware in development, but may not be Series X console successor
A recent report about a potentially cancelled next-gen Xbox console prompted Microsoft to respond. The company insisted it remains committed to future first-party consoles built by Xbox. A new leak from an AMD engineer about Magnus APU development making progress may reassure gamers. Still, it remains uncertain whether any device utilizing the chip will resemble a traditional console.
The fresh update comes from a Moore's Law is Dead video, which includes comments from an AMD source. The engineer claims the company is continuing its work with Microsoft on hardware based on the Magnus APU. There has been speculation that, due to agreements with AMD, it may be too costly to abandon a new Xbox console at this point.
What's more hazy is what Xbox-branded devices with the chip will look like. According to the AMD employee, the hardware was originally called an "Xbox project”. However, it could take the form of a PC-console hybrid, running on Windows 11, or an updated OS. Like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally handheld, it would be compatible with Game Pass and an endless selection of titles.
The Magnus may be more than a one-device chip
The Magnus APU combines Zen 6 CPU cores and RDNA 5 GPU architecture. With a modular design, a wide range of manufacturers and form factors may employ the versatile chip. Microsoft could also opt to manufacture a product that's as much like a PC as a Series X or S.
Despite improved gaming performance, the console market may not be thrilled with the creation. Microsoft hopes its revamped full-screen UI will make Windows devices easier to navigate for gaming. Even so, the experience may not be as cohesive as with the Xbox Series X menus. Also, without exclusive games, the next-gen Xbox would provide less incentive not to purchase a PlayStation 6.
It seems evident that Microsoft has not given up on its plans to develop gaming machines in some form. Nevertheless, Moore's Law is Dead speculates that it may not manufacture one single system in massive quantities.
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