Wednesday, February 7th 2024
Intel Looking to Grab Microsoft Xbox Semi-custom SoC Business from AMD
Intel is reportedly pitching Microsoft to work on an "all American" semi-custom SoC for Microsoft's next Xbox generation that succeeds the Series X/S. The company's main pitch to Microsoft is the fact that the chip would be made entirely in the US, including its silicon fabrication and packaging. Microsoft currently relies on AMD for its SoC, which combines an AMD "Zen 2" CPU with a powerful RDNA2 iGPU that meets DirectX 12 Ultimate requirements.
Intel's semi-custom chip could be functionally the same, albeit based on its next generation CPU and graphics microarchitectures. Strengthening Intel's case is the fact that it now has a contemporary high performance gaming graphics architecture in Xe "Alchemist," and is on course to launch its successor, the Xe² "Battlemage," later this year. The company also made huge strides with chiplet-based SoCs as demonstrated with "Meteor Lake." Intel's semi-custom SoC for Microsoft could combine any of its upcoming CPU microarchitectures, such as "Lunar Lake," or "Panther Lake," and an iGPU based on "Battlemage" or Xe³ "Celestial." This chip could also integrate a next generation NPU if the platform calls for one. This wouldn't be Intel's first rodeo with powering a console; in fact the very first Microsoft Xbox was powered by a Pentium 3 "Coppermine" CPU, paired with a discrete GeForce 3 GPU supplied by NVIDIA.
Sources:
TweakTown, Moore's Law is Dead (YouTube)
Intel's semi-custom chip could be functionally the same, albeit based on its next generation CPU and graphics microarchitectures. Strengthening Intel's case is the fact that it now has a contemporary high performance gaming graphics architecture in Xe "Alchemist," and is on course to launch its successor, the Xe² "Battlemage," later this year. The company also made huge strides with chiplet-based SoCs as demonstrated with "Meteor Lake." Intel's semi-custom SoC for Microsoft could combine any of its upcoming CPU microarchitectures, such as "Lunar Lake," or "Panther Lake," and an iGPU based on "Battlemage" or Xe³ "Celestial." This chip could also integrate a next generation NPU if the platform calls for one. This wouldn't be Intel's first rodeo with powering a console; in fact the very first Microsoft Xbox was powered by a Pentium 3 "Coppermine" CPU, paired with a discrete GeForce 3 GPU supplied by NVIDIA.
45 Comments on Intel Looking to Grab Microsoft Xbox Semi-custom SoC Business from AMD
*shrug* I am not saying that they will be successful. I have no skin in the game, never was a console gamer and I dislike subscriptions, so for me it’s all the same, really. I am just relaying what their strategy is, probably. I agree that at some point the idea of stringing along the unprofitable XBox division might become too unappealing and they will just throw their hands up and leave. I don’t THINK they will since they also probably see the gaming side as useful on Windows to push OTHER MS products too, but who even knows at this point.Sony has been a one-eyed man in a blind kingdom since PS1. Winning is sorta a foregone conclusion when one of your opponents is content doing its own thing (Nintendo) and the other has been floundering and from the start failed to secure a foothold in an important at the time market (Microsoft). The only time they messed up badly was the first half of the PS3 generation when the outrageous price and hard to develop for architecture really slowed down the consoles adoption.
That's why this model is the holy grail of any company: it provides a reliable, predictable income stream that requires very little additional investment. As long as you don't mess with the fundamentals of that model, you can spend all of your R&D on capturing more of the market. This is where MS succeeds and Sony fails, because MS has the massive value add of being multi-platform.
As for Baldur's Gate 3, sure that was a miss... but do you know what wasn't? Palworld. And while I'm sure you'll turn your nose up at that game because it's for casuals, that's the reason it's successful and the absolute best way for MS to grow subscriptions is to get more casual gamers onto Game Pass - and they are extremely aware of this.
MS has had a lot of misses during its existence, but Game Pass is absolutely not one of them. It may not yet be a roaring success in terms of making money, but given the traditional resistance to games as a service, I'd argue it's doing quite well for itself in terms of attracting and - most importantly - keeping users. And while it's never going to be the next Azure even if it reaches profitability, I would not be at all surprised if it ends up one of the dominant models for games consumption, perhaps even competing with Steam.
In other news: Microsoft will most likely become a 3rd party publisher, making their exclusive titles available on all other platforms.
Would be great if they come together to make a one-for-all console with a custom OS for each party. Straight, simple & cost effective. Since they both switched to the x86 architecture it doesn't make any difference anyways, they are nothing more than a mini PC with a xBox & Playstation sticker. A unified controller & some custom controller for those who want the "legacy" feel. Done. Would also cut down the R&D and production costs.
I’m guessing AMD could get close to All American by using GloFo in New York.
still have to see if MS CEO gives green light once $ estimates provided.
As long as you have your electric car it is :laugh:
This is just what MS needs to raise prices for those voodoo core devises, steam will enjoy it to :cool:
and mlid....