Next-Gen Xbox: AMD-Powered Console Prototypes Arriving 2027 | Ray Tracing Boost

Microsoft announced it will begin sending prototypes of its next-generation Xbox console to developers starting in 2027. The future model will feature a custom chip designed by AMD, continuing the partnership established with the launch of the Xbox Series X and Series S in 2020. According to Jason Ronald, Vice President of Xbox, the new console is expected to deliver a significant performance boost, particularly in the area of ray tracing – a technology that enhances the realism of lighting and reflections in video games.

The company stated that the platform will integrate more intelligence directly into the graphics and compute pipeline to improve efficiency and visual capabilities. This aims to enable the creation of more immersive and dynamic gaming environments. “Dev kits” of the hardware will be distributed to studios so they can begin adapting and developing games for the new generation.

This announcement comes as Microsoft’s gaming business undergoes a transformation. Phil Spencer, a long-time leader of the Xbox division, is set to retire and will be replaced by Asha Sharma, who comes from the artificial intelligence division. The gaming segment accounts for just over 7% of the group’s quarterly revenue, but Xbox hardware sales have declined by 32% as Microsoft seeks to close the gap with competitors Nintendo and Sony.