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[Ashamam]

Well, if they're planning to launch this thing before the PS6, then Sony can just make a more powerful APU when they launch a year later. It sounded like Microsoft was looking to get their thing out to market next holiday. PS6 was sounding like 2028 (obviously we don't know for sure).

No, the PS6 specs will largely be set by now. I'd imagine the best they can do is tinker around the edges, clocks and matched cooling and the like. Same with the Xbox APU, also would need to be locked in. Which if it shares the the same architecture (be crazy not to) then whatever the release date is, the two platforms won't be too far apart in date terms. The idea that Xbox releases in 2026 and PS6 in 2028 yet basically the same tech platform, albeit arranged uniquely, makes zero sense to me. Personally I'd split the difference and say both in 2027, but maybe with a six month difference. One thing about OEM's is they can move quick when they want to, so maybe Xbox gets a 12 month advantage and do hit 2026 (assuming AMD is ready which frankly I doubt) but then Sony would have to ensure a 2027 launch.

 

[Topher]

So custom chip and custom OS while OEMs handle the rest. Pretty much what HeisenbergFX4 has been saying a while now.

 

[Buggy Loop]

Consoles are not just pcs. People keep repeating that but it's not true. Maybe if you are a bad dev and don't use anything console allows for. The architecture is completely different

It's the same fucking thing, X86 and AMD even made desktop kits



The OS is the closed garden. Time to drop the act that they're special plastic boxes. This gen more than ever before this is no longer true.

 

[Proelite]

The ONLY way that works is if somehow it outperforms a gaming PC for less. That's just not going to happen.

It can perform 75% of a gaming PC for 40% less. Ballpark figures.

 

[Topher]

Is going to outperform PC that cost the same… Thats the whole point of a console.

The point of the console is easy gaming at a low cost thanks to subsidies. This is not subsidized so how much these things costs, and how it performs, remains to be seen.

 

[th4tguy]

What is funny is even if this was successful, gamers who purchase this are just going to be inclined to go the route of steam. Not Xbox.
I really don't see how they think this will increase game pass subscribers

 

[Topher]

It can perform 75% of a gaming PC for 40% less. Ballpark figures.

Of what gaming PC though

 

[LordOcidax]

What is funny is even if this was successful, gamers who purchase this are just going to be inclined to go the route of steam. Not Xbox.

That's irrelevant. Also GP is going to be Xbox only… Is a Win win situation.

 

[Proelite]

So what's the generation, the chip generation? Or like every 5-6 years generation?

Every 2-3 years.

 

[Topher]

That's irrelevant. Also GP is going to be Xbox only… Is a Win win situation.

What do you mean GP is "Xbox only"?

 

[OverHeat]

No way I'm putting a slow ass APU in my main PC…but for the living room pc maybe.

 

[SomeNorseGuy]

The most crazy (and fun) scenario would be if Valve was one of those lined up to use this APU.

Steam Xbox Deck² w/SteamOS & XboxOS. God it would be glorious.

 

[Topher]

No way I'm putting a slow ass APU in my main PC…but for the living room pc maybe.

Think that is the whole point

 

[Proelite]

No way I'm putting a slow ass APU in my main PC…but for the living room pc maybe.

You're not going to get these APUs at stores lol.

 

[onQ123]

Xbox "consoles" will be Xbox designed APUs for both handhelds and consoles that can run Xbox BC due to silicon support. The OS itself, which is already mostly Windows, can run Windows games with the right packages / extensions loaded, or runs Xbox title VM in an enlightened hypervisor. I'm not sure which approach it is yet, but the main point is that Xbox One, and series games need to run natively without a translation/emulation layer for legal reasons.

These APUs will be sold to OEMs, without a profit, for them to use in place of the discontinued AMD gaming APU roadmap. Not profit is important to avoid potential vertical anti-trust issues.

OEMs will add their own custom software, and also increase clocks, unlock disabled compute units, use more / faster memory, more and faster SSD, better cooling, and in the case of mobile devices, bigger battery, better displays (OLED). This so they can sell at a higher premium.

It was interesting to read some of the OEM takes and abandoning HW takes.

It only took them 11 years

Say OEM! ( They changed my title to include PlayStation by the way)

I took this screenshot yesterday by the way ( kinda knew it was going to come in handy)

 

[LordOcidax]

What do you mean GP is "Xbox only"?

Xbox digital platform in the console… You are going to have the option of buy the steam version or buy the optimized version in the Xbox Store, that's going to be available in GP day 1. Talking about Microsoft games.

 

[Proelite]

The most crazy (and fun) scenario would be if Valve was one of those lined up to use this APU.

Steam Xbox Deck² w/SteamOS & XboxOS. God it would be glorious.

Unless Xbox adds driver support in Linux for running Xbox games in BC on the APUs, it'll just be a Steam Deck / Box. The Steam deck didn't use the vision related silicon on the Aerith.

 

[Clear]

Basically. Xbox is now a TPM module.

As expected.

 

[Ashamam]

It's the same fucking thing, X86 and AMD even made desktop kits



The OS is the closed garden. Time to drop the act that they're special plastic boxes. This gen more than ever before this is no longer true.

For the Xbox, not for the PS5. Go read the Chips n Cheese article and you'll see that console is very much an optimised gaming platform, crippled outside of that specific use case. The Series console otoh is fairly stock, albeit with a few features brought forward that are now standard in PC. (SRS/VRS). Likely part of the reason MS was bleeding cash subsidising the consoles, whereas Sony had a cut down chip with smaller die size (before the shrink) but near identical real world performance.

I'd imagine that the next generation will be similar, where you will choose between an ever more general purpose box (with store choice) and a built for purpose cheaper more efficient option with zero use flexibility. Kind of a tough choice actually.

 

[playbignbox]

To me it sounds better than a traditional console.

 

[kruis]

So custom chip and custom OS while OEMs handle the rest. Pretty much what HeisenbergFX4 has been saying a while now.

Well, I thought Xbox PC was going to be just a PC in console trappings, but these new AMD APUs have built-in compatibility with Xbox One and Series S/X. That's new.

I expect that there's no reason anymore for AMD and MS to stick to the idea of generations anymore. They can release new APUs every year. That's what thrid party HW manufacturers expect. That's going to make it impossible for Sony to retain the performance crown even if the PS6 is an absolute monster.

And GTA 6 will probably not run best on Playstation (or rather PS5 Pro) when it finally comes out but on one of these next gen Xbox PCs.

Very interesting development.

Oh, yeah, and let's not forget about the irony that since Xbox PC is a PC every Playstation exclusive game Sony releases for PC is going to be available on Xbox.

 

[Radical_3d]

Makes Sonys approach seem a bit antiquated.

BRUH.

 

[bitbydeath]

What is funny is even if this was successful, gamers who purchase this are just going to be inclined to go the route of steam. Not Xbox.
I really don't see how they think this will increase game pass subscribers

Xbox (console) store won't exist in this brave new future.

 

[Astray]

This doesn't sound like it will have any of the hardware benefits of PC - namely being able to swap out GPU and CPU/mobo/RAM to brute force performance. If it's just an APU that runs Windows, that sounds just like a console but with a different underlying OS.

Also, these APUs are developed for lower power devices. I'm struggling to imagine an APU that could run modern games at 4k and 60fps...

So basically what I predicted before.. The worst aspects of consoles (lack of hardware flexibility) and the worst aspects of PCs (lack of specific optimization leading to poor price to performance).. All melded into one.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I think MS new strategy will be jacking up the price of all their games and pointing people to gamepass as the alternative. Nintendo really opened a can of worms with $80 games and who knows what GTA will cost. I could also see them using this new APU to damage SteamOS viability. Idk how anyone trusts them at this point. They are CONSTANTLY saying one thing then doing another almost immediately.

 

[Kacho]

To me it sounds better than a traditional console.

Depends on a lot of things, but yeah this sounds good so far. Especially if you have a large Xbox library.

 

[Buggy Loop]

For the Xbox, not for the PS5.

Same fucking thing, AMD could make it run PC in the blink of an eye.

Go read the Chips n Cheese article and you'll see that console is very much an optimised gaming platform, crippled outside of that specific use case.

I have already a long time ago. Its the same basic. It was gimped in bus width because again, this is not meant to be an "XBOX SERIES X" on PC, they just reused the APU.

The Series console otoh is fairly stock, albeit with a few features brought forward that are now standard in PC. (SRS/VRS). Likely part of the reason MS was bleeding cash subsidising the consoles, whereas Sony had a cut down chip with smaller die size (before the shrink) but near identical performance.

Its only a matter of CUs vs clocks, no magic here, every damn GPU made by AMD and Nvidia play on that.

There's no secret sauce. They're 100% PC.

 

[sachos]

An "Xbox" console that just plays PC games is kinda lame, if they manage to bring their whole console catalog on top of PC stores and manage to offer many custom spec configs, THAT would be really cool.

 

[adamsapple]

So custom chip and custom OS while OEMs handle the rest. Pretty much what HeisenbergFX4 has been saying a while now.

HeisenbergFX4 watching GAF tear itself apart over things he said in 2023.

 

[Senua]

Everyone became PC gamers in the end huh

 

[Astray]

I think MS new strategy will be jacking up the price of all their games and pointing people to gamepass as the alternative. Nintendo really opened a can of worms with $80 games and who knows what GTA will cost. I could also see them using this new APU to damage SteamOS viability. Idk how anyone trusts them at this point. They are CONSTANTLY saying one thing then doing another almost immediately.

Lots of Xbox owners are trapped with big digital libraries and have no option but to go with whatever Microsoft plans for them.

Don't underestimate audience lock-in, even Steam is largely coasting by on Network effects built during a much more controversial past.

 

[LordOcidax]

To me it sounds better than a traditional console.

This… Is a major step for consoles. And is going to benefit greatly to Microsoft strategy and GP.

 

[Topher]

Xbox digital platform in the console… You are going to have the option of buy the steam version or buy the optimized version in the Xbox Store, that's going to be available in GP day 1. Talking about Microsoft games.

We don't know how any of this stuff is going to work with stores and such. I mean....your guess is as good as any I suppose

 

[SoraNoKuni]

How do they keep f*cking things up?
If I want Steam games I'll buy a steam os machine and not mess around with MS suboptimal tactics and optimization, if I want a console, I want a console.

Give these guys an eternity and they'll still won't figure out console gamers.

Imagine a salesman trying to pitch this instead of a PS6 in a store in the future, (Its basically Xbox which is like Playstation, but its also a pc if you want and can play pc games if you put steam on it, but out of the box its an xbox, which is a console like experience --and the before mentioned is for Europe where Xbox as a brand is basically nonexistent, not even in stores--). Aaaand you already lost all the console gamer crowd...
People want one damn thing, simple.
I guess its this or nothing, so I'll take this.

Such a shame cause Sony is getting too confident and dormant at this point because Xbox management is constantly shooting themselves on their foot.

Tl;dr meeeeh, I'll wait for steam deck 2.

 

[Kacho]

Everyone became PC gamers in the end huh

Senua:

 

[Senua]

Senua:

Heck yep

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

all these words in this thread and I only see an Incredibly Bright Future

 

[Topher]

It only took them 11 years

Now post the ones where you predicted a big war between Valve and Microsoft...

 

[LordOcidax]

We don't know how any of this stuff is going to work with stores and such. I mean....your guess is as good as any I suppose

Is going to have both stores 100% there's no other way to execute this concept.

 

[Guardian Monkey]

So basically what I predicted before.. The worst aspects of consoles (lack of hardware flexibility) and the worst aspects of PCs (lack of specific optimization leading to poor price to performance).. All melded into one.

What do you think pc games will be optimized to?

 

[Topher]

Is going to have both stores 100% there's no other way to execute this concept.

That it it so going to have multiple stores has been stated many times.

 

[Ashamam]

I have already a long time ago. Its the same basic. It was gimped in bus width because again, this is not meant to be an "XBOX SERIES X" on PC, they just reused the APU.

Come on, it was more than a bus width change. Its the same architecture sure, but its not a PC. Its a built for purpose APU that would perform poorly as a PC.

But I get the feeling you are one of these 'I must win the argument type of people' no nuance required or desired.

 

[bitbydeath]

There's a few interesting unknowns at play.
-Will the online paywall go away
-Will BC be locked behind GamePass Core due to cloud requirements
-Will MS distribute hardware in stores
-Will GamePass completely transform and what will that look like?
-Will devs have more time to make Switch games without the need to work on Xbox games

 

[SomeNorseGuy]

Unless Xbox adds driver support in Linux for running Xbox games in BC on the APUs, it'll just be a Steam Deck / Box. The Steam deck didn't use the vision related silicon on the Aerith.

Was just a fun thought, I seem to remember there was some rumors about Valve and AMD some time last year about some upcoming chips. But seeing as Valve made a statement about not coming with a new Steam Deck for a while, it was debunked.

 

[Radical_3d]

How do they keep f*cking things up?
If I want Steam games I'll buy a steam os machine and not mess around with MS suboptimal tactics and optimization, if I want a console, I want a console.

Give these guys an eternity and they'll still won't figure out console gamers.

Imagine a salesman trying to pitch this instead of a PS6 in a store in the future, (Its basically Xbox which is like Playstation, but its also a pc if you want and can play pc games if you put steam on it, but out of the box its an xbox, which is a console like experience --and the before mentioned is for Europe where Xbox as a brand is basically nonexistent, not even in stores--). Aaaand you already lost all the console gamer crowd...
People want one damn thing, simple.
I guess its this or nothing, so I'll take this.

Such a shame cause Sony is getting too confident and dormant at this point because Xbox management is constantly shooting themselves on their foot.

Tl;dr meeeeh, I'll wait for steam deck 2.

The days of J. Allard seem so distant now… Watching the E3 2005 with Bosman was super nostalgic.

 

[onQ123]

Now post the ones where you predicted a big war between Valve and Microsoft...

And you think this isn't it?

 

[Clear]

Everyone became PC gamers in the end huh

Not really, its going to be the same as it ever was.

Read between the lines: Its basically a DRM solution in hardware so they can take the sting out of killing their console line.

You don't need special hardware to emulate the last gens of Xbox software, and I highly, highly doubt anything will be directly supported outside of the existing Xbox BC program because its always going to based on the x64 ISA.

Also, if you consider all Xbox product going forward is going to end up on PC anyway, so its not really beneficial in any way, shape or form beyond that facility to run basically Xbone software (inc. the bc titles) much of which is on PC anyway.

 

[Topher]

And you think this isn't it?

Valve agreeing to put Steam on Xbox is a war between Valve and Microsoft?

 

[Ashamam]

I also wonder how widely MS would allow the OEM partnership to spread. Are we talking Asus/Lenovo/Dell etc, or wide open to include Minisforum etc.

 

[CLW]

Valve agreeing to put Steam on Xbox is a war between Valve and Microsoft?

Yes it ended quickly for MS