The next-gen Xbox won't fight the PS6, instead pre-built PCs with AMD chips are the new Xboxes

The next-generation Xbox won't be a traditional console launch where it competes with the PlayStation 6, instead Microsoft seems to be using AMD's next-gen "Magnus" APU for a series of systems that run Xbox, but they're sold as pre-built gaming PCs.

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We've had recent leaks regarding AMD's new semi-custom Magnus APU which will be for the next-generation Xbox, with a powerful Zen 6 CPU + RDNA 5 GPU inside the APU made for the next-gen Xbox. However, in leaks from Moore's Law is Dead we get a glance into the different dies that AMD is cooking up, with the AT2 and AT0 dies.

AT2 is the die used inside of the upcoming RDNA 5-powered Radeon RX 10000 series -- not confirmed yet, but placeholder names -- with the AT2 die powering the purported Radeon RX 10700 XT, RX 10700 GRE, and RX 10600 XT graphics cards.

• Read more: AMD's rumored Magnus APU to power next-gen Xbox: 11-core Zen 6 CPU, huge GPU

The AT2 die features up to 64 CUs of RDNA 5 GPU power, with up to 18GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit memory bus with up to 864GB/sec of memory bandwidth, with performance falling between the GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 4090 graphics cards from NVIDIA.

AMD's semi-custom Magnus APU for the next-gen Xbox is touted with Zen 6 CPU cores and RDNA 5 GPU cores, with the AT2 die expected to be used. The folks at Digital Foundry dug into this and discussed it in length, where if the Magnus APU does indeed have the 64 CUs of RDNA 5 with GDDR7 on a 192-bit memory bus, it'll be quite powerful as a standalone console.

However, AMD and Microsoft announced a close collaboration on next-gen Xbox designs earlier this year, and with customized versions of AMD semi-custom APUs, Microsoft could expand its reach far outside of the traditional console market, where it would be competing with Sony and its next-generation PlayStation 6 console.

Instead, Microsoft would have AMD's next-gen Magnus APUs -- and other custom APUs -- inside of pre-built gaming PCs at various price points from entry level through to a powerful enough pre-built PC that utterly destroys the next-gen PS6 console.

AMD would sell a boatload more hardware in the process, as the Magnus APU uses x86-based Zen 6 CPU cores and powerful RDNA 5 GPU cores, the next-gen Xboxes (plural) would share hardware specs with high-end desktop gaming PC systems.

This means Microsoft would have Xbox inside dozens and dozens of systems at various price points that would range from ultra-low $199 or so, through to a powerful new -- I guess "proper Xbox console" -- at let's say $699, and then far up and above that into thousands of dollars if you want more power/graphics performance, and closer to PC specs.

Microsoft also doesn't need to worry about keeping up with Sony in the console race, as it would be shifting gears and entire markets with its gaming reach. If there are future systems that run Xbox through Windows, the entire PC gaming community benefits, and with Microsoft owning Windows and Xbox, it just makes sense.

AMD Magnus / Robin / Orion / Canis Console Update (MLID):

1. "Magnus" does not have a 384-bit bus, it has a 192-bit bus.
2. The Magnus GPU die is 3nm RDNA 5 "AT2", and will be shared with desktop GPU.
3. AT2 goes up to 70 CU, but it's expected Magnus will get 68 CU yields.
4. Because Magnus shares AT2 w/ Client Desktop, I am now under the impression that Magnus is either an XBOX Configuration or possibly something for Valve.
5. I am aware of "Robin" and "Robin+" APUs in development at AMD that are in the same family of products as "Oberon" (Launch PS5) and "Oberon+" (PS5 6nm)! Also, Oberon and Robin are both characters in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" ! Because of this I think it's likely Robin is either PS6, or maybe even the actual codename for a PS Handheld.
6. I am also aware of an "Orion" High Performance APU at AMD. Could be PS, XBOX, or Valve.
7. If Magnus is XBOX & Robin is PS6 - Sony seems likely to launch next-gen after Microsoft.
8. "Canis" is another APU codename in development for Microsoft...