Key Points:
- AMD CEO Lisa Su mentioned a 2027 target for the next Xbox launch.
- The console will use a new semi-custom AMD system-on-a-chip.
- This timeline moves the release up a year from the previously leaked 2028 date.
- Rumors suggest the device, codenamed “Magnus,” will use Zen 6 architecture.
AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su gave gamers a major clue about the future of Xbox this week. During the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call for 2025, she mentioned that development on a new semi-custom chip for Microsoft is moving along smoothly. The goal is to have the hardware ready to support a console launch in 2027. This is the first time a high-ranking executive involved in the project has publicly attached a specific year to the next generation of hardware.
AMD has powered Microsoft’s gaming machines for a long time, supplying the chips for both the Xbox One and the current Xbox Series X and S. The two companies even collaborated recently on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X handheld. Because of this tight relationship, Su’s comments carry a lot of weight. She specifically noted that the new system-on-a-chip (SoC) is “progressing well.”
The 2027 target comes as a bit of a surprise. During Microsoft’s legal battle with the FTC over the Activision-Blizzard buyout, leaked internal documents suggested the company was aiming for a 2028 release. Those documents described a “hybrid game platform” that would mix traditional hardware power with cloud streaming.
However, tech roadmaps often shift. Recent rumors about a project codenamed “Magnus” suggested the new console would use AMD’s unreleased Zen 6 CPU cores and RDNA 5 graphics technology.
It is important to pay attention to Su’s specific phrasing. She said AMD is ready to “support a launch in 2027.” This implies that the chip manufacturing will be done by then, but it doesn’t force Microsoft to release the console that year. Microsoft could still decide to hold back the release for marketing reasons or to wait for a stronger lineup of launch games.
Still, this update aligns with other recent leaks suggesting that development kits could go out to game studios as early as late 2026. While Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed the date, the hardware engine for their next machine is clearly revving up for a 2027 debut.
