Microsoft Teams Up with AMD to Innovate Next-Gen Xbox Chips and Cloud Gaming Experience

Microsoft is collaborating with AMD on the next-generation Xbox console, as revealed by Xbox President Sarah Bond. AMD will also be responsible for developing chips for other Xbox gaming devices. According to Bond, the companies plan to work together on advancing the upcoming iteration of the Xbox Cloud Gaming service.

She assured that Microsoft aims to deliver an «Xbox experience that is not limited to a single storefront or device.»

«This is why we are working closely with the Windows team to ensure that Windows becomes the premier platform for gaming,» Bond stated.

The announcement of this partnership with AMD came just days after Microsoft and Asus unveiled the portable consoles ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, which are powered by AMD Ryzen Z2 and Z2 Extreme chips. Both devices operate on an optimized version of Windows 11 with a full-screen mode. They also feature access to third-party game stores, including Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Earlier, Verge reported that Microsoft had canceled its project for a standalone portable console to focus on a new software platform for Xbox. The corporation is developing the next generation of stationary Xbox consoles and portable gaming devices in collaboration with Asus and other partners.

Bond also highlighted that the next-generation console will support backward compatibility with the existing library of Xbox games. The Xbox Ally consoles will not be able to run Xbox games unless they have been released on PC.

The head of Xbox noted that the partnership with AMD will provide «a deep level of visual quality and an engaging gaming experience enhanced by artificial intelligence.»

In a related development, Sony is also working with AMD on a chip for the PlayStation 6. Insider Kepler reported that the upcoming console is expected to feature a 3nm processor with a power efficiency of 15 watts. The PS6 will utilize AI for scaling, supported by AMD’s RDNA 5 architecture.