Microsoft’s next big move might just blur the line between console and PC forever. According to recent reports, the company’s next-gen Xbox, planned to be released in 2027, is shaping up to be a monster. The star of the show? The AMD Magnus APU, a massive, next-level chip that could signal Microsoft’s boldest hardware play yet.
Forget the idea of a simple console. Microsoft is aiming for a true PC-console hybrid, and if the leaks are true, this thing could even run a full version of Windows!
The specs of a giant: What exactly is the AMD Magnus APU?
The name “Magnus” literally means great, and it’s no exaggeration here. This chip is rumored to be the largest APU ever used in a gaming console, easily surpassing what Sony’s cooking up with the Sony PlayStation 6 (PS6).
We are talking about a chip designed to deliver desktop-level performance, but inside a gaming console. It is big, it is bold, and it is built for power.
| Component | Magnus Specification / Detail | Simple Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Total Die Size | ≈408 mm2 | This thing is huge! It’s 13% larger than the Xbox Series X chip and a whopping 46% larger than the PS6’s main chip. It’s almost PC “mega-APU” territory. |
| Structure | Two Chiplets (SOC Die + GPU Die) | It’s not one big chip, but two connected “mini-chips.” This is more complex (and expensive!) than the monolithic design of the PS6, but offers PC-like flexibility. |
| Manufacturing | TSMC N3P/N3C (3nm Tech) | It’s built on cutting-edge 3-nanometer technology. Think “ultra-microscopic,” meaning more power packed into less space. |
| CPU Cores | 3x Zen 6 (Performance) + 8x Zen 6C (Efficiency) | An odd-but-powerful total of up to 11 cores (or potentially 9 if some are disabled). It’s like having a team of three sprinters and eight marathon runners. The “sprinters” (AMD Zen 6) are faster than those in the PS6. |
| GPU (RDNA 5) | 68 Compute Units (CUs), from a max of 70 CUs. | 68 processing blocks for graphics. This is a massive jump, and this part of the chip is shared with desktop Radeon products. Microsoft is basically letting PC gamers help foot the bill! |
| Memory | Up to 48 GB of GDDR7 on a 192-bit bus. | Super-fast memory with a potential maximum that’s huge for a console. The final RAM could be 24 GB or 36 GB, but 48 GB would be a serious PC-challenging number. |
| GPU Cache | At least 24 MB of L2 Cache (No Infinity Cache) | This is the tiny, ultra-fast memory right next to the GPU. It’s nearly five times what the Xbox Series X had! No slower “Infinity Cache” is a design choice that cuts some cost but relies on that fat L2. |
| NPU (AI Engine) | XDNA3 with 110 TOPS (6W mode) or 46 TOPS (1.2W mode) | A dedicated “brain” for Artificial Intelligence tasks like upscaling graphics or running Microsoft’s Copilot AI. It has two modes: full power (110 “Trillion Operations Per Second” – TOPS) or a low-power “I’m just chilling” mode. |
| TDP (Power) | Target is 250W to 350W | That’s the power the chip can draw. It’s 20% to 70% more than the PS6, which means this console will need some serious cooling, and maybe a dedicated circuit breaker! |
The grand strategy: Why go this big?
The AMD Magnus APU is not just about flexing specs. It is about changing the game entirely.
Microsoft’s vision goes beyond the traditional “closed-box” console model. The idea is to deliver a device powerful enough to justify a higher price tag by offering PC-like value and versatility.
That means support for Windows apps, PC game launchers like Steam, Epic Games, and potentially full desktop functionality. Essentially, you would get the performance of a gaming PC and the simplicity of a console, all in one device.
Performance expectations: Aiming for the Sony PS6
While we do not have confirmed clock speeds yet, early projections suggest the AMD Magnus APU could be up to 30% faster than the Sony PS6’s chip.
For gamers on monitors, that extra horsepower could be a game-changer. If Sony hits 4K at 120Hz, Microsoft Xbox is rumored to push 4K at 144Hz, which is around a 20% frame rate bump, and competitive gamers will definitely notice.
In terms of GPU performance, AMD Magnus is expected to sit around RTX 5080 levels, with ray tracing performance potentially reaching the levels of NVIDIA RTX 5090. For an all-in-one console chip, that is nuts!
Price vs. value: The joke’s on pre-built PCs
The rumored price range is between $800 and $1,200, which sounds a lot for a gaming console, sure. But here is the kicker: if this thing can genuinely replace a high-end gaming PC, it could undercut pre-built PC companies in terms of performance per dollar. Of course, you can build a fine gaming PC with ~$1,000, but you need at least $1,500 for a high-end one. And this is assuming current GPU prices remain unchanged. Who knows how much companies like NVIDIA and AMD will ask in the future?
Microsoft could effectively target two markets simultaneously, console players and PC gamers, while pressuring traditional PC builders to reconsider their pricing.
Economy of scale: AMD and Microsoft’s smart partnership
The Magnus APU reportedly shares its GPU chiplet design with AMD’s upcoming desktop Radeon lineup, which is a huge win for both companies.
- For Microsoft, it makes the large, expensive chip cheaper to manufacture and scale, even if the Microsoft Xbox sales do not match Sony PS6 numbers.
- For AMD, it spreads out the cost of developing the new RDNA 5 GPUs across two massive product lines (PC and console).
This shared design also makes it easier for developers to optimize their games across PC and Xbox platforms. It’s a rare win-win situation that benefits everyone in the ecosystem.
The strategic stakes: Microsoft’s big gamble
Despite earlier rumors of cancellation, multiple sources now confirm that AMD Magnus is real and nearing finalization. But the stakes are high.
Microsoft has long been criticized for being less efficient with hardware than Sony and less inventive than Nintendo. If this “PC-console hybrid” concept doesn’t land, especially at a higher price point, it could be a major blow to the Xbox brand.
Some industry insiders are calling this Microsoft’s “make-or-break moment” for Xbox. After the previous issues, like the DRM controversies, increased pricing, and confusing messaging, this could be their opportunity to make the XBOX shine!
Final thoughts: Power, risk, and the future of gaming
The AMD Magnus APU isn’t just another console chip. It is a statement, and a bold one. It’s Microsoft’s way of saying, “We are done playing it safe.”
Whether this becomes the ultimate living room gaming machine or an overpriced heat generator, we will find out soon enough. But one thing’s for sure: the AMD Magnus-powered Xbox could mark the beginning of a new era where consoles and PCs finally merge into one.
2027 can not come soon enough. We can’t wait!
