New Xbox hardware is still on the way, and an AMD engineer’s comments are the latest sign of life. After rumors suggested a next-gen Xbox might be scrapped, Microsoft reiterated its commitment to first-party Xbox systems. Now, a fresh leak points to ongoing progress on a new AMD-powered platform codenamed Magnus, offering hope for what’s next in the Xbox ecosystem.
According to remarks shared in a recent industry video, an AMD source says the company is actively collaborating with Microsoft on hardware built around the Magnus APU. Some observers believe existing agreements between the two companies make a complete pivot away from new hardware unlikely at this stage.
What that hardware looks like, however, may challenge the idea of a traditional console. Internally described as an Xbox project, the device could lean toward a PC-console hybrid that runs Windows 11 or a refreshed Windows-based OS. Think of the flexibility you get from modern Windows gaming handhelds—complete with Game Pass access and a vast catalog—expanded into a broader product vision under the Xbox banner.
At the heart of this effort is Magnus, a modular APU rumored to combine Zen 6 CPU cores with RDNA 5 graphics. That architecture could scale across multiple device types and manufacturers, enabling everything from compact living-room boxes to portable gaming systems or mini-PCs. Microsoft’s own device could skew closer to a small form-factor PC while still embracing the Xbox identity.
Even with stronger performance, the strategy isn’t without risk. Microsoft has been refining a full-screen Windows UI to make PC-style devices easier to navigate from the couch, but that experience may not feel as seamless as the dedicated dashboard on current Xbox consoles. And without a pipeline of true exclusives, a next-gen Xbox—hybrid or otherwise—could face a tougher battle convincing players not to wait for a rival’s next system.
What seems clear is that Microsoft hasn’t walked away from gaming hardware. The bigger question is whether it will launch one flagship console or diversify into a family of Xbox-branded devices powered by the Magnus APU. For now, the work appears to be moving forward behind the scenes, and the future of Xbox may look more modular, more flexible, and more PC-like than ever.
