How AMD and Microsoft’s Partnership Could Strengthen Team Red’s Competitiveness Against Nvidia

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So, Microsoft just went ahead and extended its partnership with AMD. You know, the folks who craft those zippy chips for Xbox? Yep, they’re at it again for the next-gen consoles. Honestly, it feels like a no-brainer, yet it’s a major score for AMD and could be a nice bonus for gamers too.

Why’s that? Well, AMD’s poised to rake in countless chip orders over the console’s lifespan. And then there’s Microsoft’s chatter about portable gaming — it’s like, “Hello, more chips, please!” Meanwhile, gamers have often felt neglected by Nvidia — it’s all about AI with them now — so AMD sticking around is like a promise to keep gaming close to its heart. Microsoft’s Xbox is all about power users, unlike Nintendo, who’s just chillin’ with its laid-back tech vibe.

Speaking of power, the next-gen Xbox has to pack a punch. AMD must keep up with both jaw-dropping graphics and efficiency.

Now, what’s this mean for Xbox? Well, the signs were all there. Microsoft and AMD are like PB&J at this point. Past Xbox consoles ran on AMD — starting way back with the Xbox One. Pairing AMD CPUs with GPUs made a killer combo, though Nvidia still rules the PC GPU realm. So yeah, sticking with AMD makes life easier for Microsoft and game developers. Plus, it could smooth out backward compatibility. Like, who doesn’t want a massive game library right off the bat? Sticking to familiar hardware means less work for devs too. The Xbox Series X/S is using a custom Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU, so it makes sense the next Xbox will just crank those up a notch.

Now, as for the new hardware, we’re kinda just guesstimating. But knowing AMD’s rhythm, we might see the “Next Xbox” running something like Zen 6 CPUs and RDNA 5 graphics. Or maybe even a fresh UDNA architecture they hinted at?

The Xbox One rocked a custom AMD APU with Jaguar modules in 2013. Fast forward, the Xbox Series X brought the Zen 2 and RDNA 2 right before its 2020 launch. Rumor has it, another console may hit late 2026 or early 2027. Timing’s perfect for the newest AMD kit.

Oh, and handheld systems? That’s a bit of a question mark. But hey, AMD’s Z-series mobile APUs are all the rage, like with the Asus Xbox Ally X. Could we see a Zen 6 APU? Maybe.

And the software? Folks are buzzing if the next-gen Xbox will run Windows. The newer Xbox Series X/S runs on a Windows 11 core. Could Microsoft be mashing Windows and Xbox together? Imagine an Xbox with a Windows soul — it’d be weirdly poetic.

Linux gaming’s gaining ground, with devices like the Steam Deck and gaming on Linux PCs. But Microsoft might have an ace, rallying its Xbox and Windows together against Linux vibes.

Anyway, how big is this for AMD? It’s huge. With gaming revenue slipping in early 2025, this partnership is a gold mine, potentially securing AMD’s future chip payday.

AMD’s got reason to keep up its game against Nvidia. Nvidia’s ruled ray tracing and AI since 2018. But hey, AMD’s catching up. Nvidia faces chip shortages and is all about enterprise now, giving AMD room to step in.

Nvidia’s gaming scene is shrinking to less than 10% of revenue. For AMD, leading with Xbox (and maybe Sony too) keeps them relevant, gets more folks tight-knit with AMD tech, and boosts its fan base.

Not saying AMD will skyrocket to trillion-dollar status overnight with this news. But it’s a giant leap in the race for GPU supremacy.

So, if you’re as curious as I am about this gaming rollercoaster ride, keep an eye on Tom’s Hardware for the latest lowdowns.

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