The APU powering the next Xbox could help it compete with pre-built PCs. That’s what the experts at Digital Foundry discuss in the latest episode of their DF Direct Weekly podcast (via Wccftech).
Digital Foundry notes that the leaked “Magnus” APU image that we previously reported on reveals a chip that’s very different from past and current console APUs like the ones powering the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
For instance, the design has separate CPU and GPU dies, which distinguishes it from the typical design. Digital Foundry also says this chip should be extremely powerful and could support an iterative console design.
That last part is important, since right now, consoles don’t evolve much (if at all) during their lifespans. Magnus’ design could allow Microsoft to mix dies whenever the company wants to upgrade the console, potentially resulting in more frequent updates than the typical seven-year console lifecycle. Digital Foundry also said this design could effectively move Xbox away from the standard console “generation” we've known.
If everything Digital Foundry discusses comes true, then the next Xbox would be akin to a pre-built PC, as rumors have recently suggested. Though this system could be more expensive than a home console, it could be more affordable than one of the best gaming PCs. This could potentially give AMD an edge over Nvidia, which has typically dominated the PC market with its line of RTX graphics cards.
Where does that leave the PS6? Sony has already announced that it’s partnering with AMD to help develop the upcoming system, and right now, we have no reason to believe Sony’s next console will have a radically different APU design like the next Xbox apparently will. If Sony delivers a traditional console and Xbox opts for a more PC-like design, then the two rivals would no longer be directly competing, which would certainly be an interesting development, as the console wars would effectively end.
It would be wise to take Digital Foundry’s speculations as just that, especially since Microsoft hasn’t said anything about the next Xbox’s APU design. The console is reportedly launching in 2027, so we’ll likely get more reports in the coming months. As always, we’ll keep you posted on everything we hear about the latest next-gen Xbox.
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