Key Highlights:
- AMD CEO Lisa Su recently teased as next generation Xbox console releasing in 2027.
- This console will be a premium, high end experience powered by Zen 6 and RDNA 5 technologies.
- The console will also ‘dual boot’ between Windows 11 and an Xbox game mode.
The next generation of consoles is almost upon us, with AMD announcing a strategic partnership with Xbox for the next generation of gaming. Interestingly enough, AMD also powers the PlayStation 6 and its companion handheld, so don’t go expecting any major performance gains of one over the other.
The dawn of the next generation might be sooner than you’d initially think of though, with estimates pinning it to sometime in 2027. Here’s what we know.
AMD CEO Lisa Su Hints At Next Gen Xbox Arriving Soon
Speaking out during AMD’s earnings call of Q4 2025, CEO Lisa Su provided some insight on client revenues, with a particular focus on Microsoft. Microsoft and AMD have been partners for quite some time now, with AMD powering their current and last gen efforts.
She also went on to explain that Microsoft’s next generation Xbox would be powered by a semi custom AMD SoC (system on chip), and could launch in 2027. Obviously, we don’t have a proper release date just yet, and we might have to wait for Microsoft to share details to get a full grasp of the picture.
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Interestingly enough, this release is a bit earlier than expected, given that recently unearthed internal documents pinned at a 2028 release instead. If anything though, it could have been even earlier if it wasn’t for the global RAM and storage crisis.
Everything We Know About The Next Gen Xbox
Codenamed Magnus, the next generation Xbox console is a massive shift in direction for the brand, and blurs the line between traditional PCs and consoles. In a nutshell, it is a full blown PC running Windows 11 (for better or worse) with a way to switch over to the Xbox overlay as and when needed.
It’s kind of like a blown up version of the Xbox Fullscreen Experience present in the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, but more optimized for larger displays. How this will translate to a console like experience remains to be seen though.
As far as specifications go, the console is expected to be a premium, high end experience that commands a hefty price tag. It also has the grunt to go with it too, and an AMD Zen 6 APU (CPU + GPU) combo that uses RDNA 5 graphics accelerators. In other words, it is the latest and greatest from AMD, and also comes with 32 GB of unified GDDR7 RAM.
Windows Might Not Be The Best Choice Here
It’s no secret that Windows 11 has turned for the worse in recent years. The operating system is best described as being ‘bloated’, and infested with nagware. Microsoft’s recent attempts at fixing issues has not been fruitful, with many performance regressions in place.
With how unstable Windows 11 is right now, offering a true console like experience might be completely out of the question. While many will appreciate the dual boot nature of the console, the average gamer just wants to pick up the console and play.
If Microsoft cannot guarantee the stability of its platform, they are bound to lose more consumers than they already have, and this might just be the final nail in Xbox’s coffin.
