Microsoft chooses AMD as Xbox gaming hardware partner for years to come

The Xbox Games Showcase earlier this month announced a slew of major hardware updates for the next-generation Xbox console, but today, Microsoft officially announced a strategic partnership with AMD to develop the next-generation Xbox console and a number of other products.

 

In a video posted to Xbox's social media channels, Xbox President Sarah Bond announced the partnership with AMD. In fact, the Xbox Series X|S and the previous Xbox One series both used AMD chips inside, so the continued partnership isn't too surprising, but there will be significant upgrades in the future.

Together with AMD, we're advancing the cutting edge of gaming chips to deliver the next generation of graphics innovation, unlocking deeper levels of visual quality and immersive gameplay, and enhancing the player experience with the power of AI – all while ensuring compatibility with your existing Xbox game library.

 

The two Xbox Ally handheld Windows gaming devices announced earlier this month also feature AMD hardware inside, delivering a portable gaming experience with a lightweight, convenient version of Windows 11.

Also interesting is the future direction of the Xbox brand. Microsoft wants to build a gaming platform that is always with gamers, so they can play the games they want on any device, anywhere, giving the Xbox experience that is not limited to a single game store or tied to a single device."

Notably, Microsoft has also officially confirmed that the next generation of Xbox devices will continue to support backward compatibility, allowing players to retain their existing game library when moving to the new generation.

The Xbox team is now working to develop Windows to make it the "number one platform for gaming," perhaps implying a move away from focusing solely on home consoles.