Please note that this post is tagged as a rumor.
Xbox Next-Gen rumors point towards “5” everything
The 5th Generation Xbox is said to feature RDNA5 and ZEN5 architectures from AMD.
The 2020 Xbox Series is heading for an update as soon as 2026, claim new rumors from Red Gaming Tech. Microsoft is supposedly speeding up the launch from the originally planned 2028 already to 2026, it is claimed. Microsoft would be responding to the PlayStation 5 Pro launch, which is reportedly scheduled for Q4 next year.
Microsoft and Sony strategies may no longer align with each other. Companies may now prioritize their roadmaps over what is available from silicon and IP suppliers like AMD. The new rumor suggests that the Next-Gen Xbox would employ Zen5 and RDNA5 architectures, and it would launch in 2026 already.
Microsoft themselves have confirmed that Navi 5 (RDNA5) graphics architecture is indeed planned for the next Xbox console; however, this information was part of the leaked presentation during a court case against FTC. This document also mentioned that the company is debating whether to use ARM64 architecture or use AMD x64 Zen6 based core design. There was also a subject whether Microsoft should develop its own silicon or license the full GPU architecture from AMD. The same document outlined Microsoft’s plans for NPU (Neural Processing Unit) integration.
Next-Gen Xbox Slides from FTC vs. Microsoft case, Source: Microsoft
It would therefore appear that the console’s launch push to 2026 would result in Zen5 architecture being used instead of Zen6, but this would allow Microsoft to ship its next-gen product sooner, before PlayStation 6. The rumors about RDNA5 (Navi5) designs are still not mature enough to even be part of the discussion, but it would be reasonable to expect an update to AMD graphics IP around 2026 as well.
| AMD Architectures vs. Consoles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
| CPU | |||||||||
| GPU | |||||||||
| XBOX | |||||||||
| PLAY STATION | |||||||||
The Next-Gen Xbox would indeed arrive sooner than PlayStation 6, which doesn’t even have a rumored release date yet. However, Sony is supposedly working on an updated PS5 Pro console, scheduled for late 2024 unveil. This system would continue to use the Zen2 CPU architecture, but it would also get upgraded RDNA3 graphics.
The Xbox Series X already offers more GPU power than PlayStation 5 and the company execs mentioned that Series X already ships with specs typically expected from a mid-gen refresh. However, this doesn’t mean no update was planned. The new Xbox Series X design codenamed “Uther” is to feature an all-digital design with 2TB storage options. The leaked roadmap specs did not mention any changes to the performance, though.
Next-Gen Xbox Slides from FTC vs. Microsoft case, Source: Microsoft
| Next-Gen Gaming Consoles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VideoCardz.com | Xbox Series Next | Xbox Series X | PlayStation 5 Pro | PlayStation 5 |
| Picture |  |  |  |  |
| SoC | TBC | 7nm Scarlett/Arden | 4nm Viola | 7nm/6nm Oberon (Plus) |
| CPU | AMD Zen5 | AMD Zen2 | AMD Zen2 | AMD Zen2 |
| CPU Config | TBC | |||
| CPU Clock | TBC | |||
| GPU | AMD RDNA5 | AMD RDNA2 | AMD RDNA3 | AMD RDNA2 |
| GPU | TBC | |||
| GPU Clock | TBC | TBC | ||
| GPU Power | TBC | TBC | ||
| Memory Config | TBC | |||
| Memory Speed/Band. | TBC | |||
| Storage | TBC | 1TB | TBC | 825 GB |
| MSRP | TBC | TBC | ||
| Release Date | 2026 | November 2020 | November 2024 | November 2020 |
Source: El Chapuzas Informatico, Red Gaming Tech
