Nvidia and AMD next-gen roadmap rumors: prices, FSR4 on older GPUs, and a possible Valve console
A fresh round of industry chatter paints a busy picture for PC and console gaming over the next two years, touching on pricing trends, GPU launch timelines, and some intriguing hardware experiments.
On pricing, expect relief soon. According to Tom, devices in this category should drop into the $1,000–$1,500 range in the near future. The recent slowdown in discounts isn’t due to lack of demand—it’s the opposite. Strix Halo-powered machines, including premium models like the Asus ROG Flow, are selling out as soon as they’re restocked, keeping average prices artificially high. As supply normalizes, broader price cuts should follow.
There’s also encouraging news on the software side. While AMD initially indicated that FSR4 wouldn’t support RDNA2 GPUs, leaked code suggests it can run with some success. Tom believes a performance-only FSR4 mode is realistic. If that happens, it could breathe new life into a massive installed base: Steam Deck owners, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series console players, could see longer viability and better frame rates without a full hardware upgrade. Even if image quality enhancements are limited, a performance-focused path would be a big win for mainstream users.
Tom also weighed in on Valve’s hardware ambitions. Rather than chasing a direct rival to the next PlayStation or Xbox, he speculates Valve might lean into what it already does best: compact, efficient gaming systems. The concept he describes is a small console built around a Steam Deck-like APU, overclocked to target 1440p at 60 FPS. Priced somewhere in the $400–$600 range, such a device could carve out a gap in the console market, between handhelds and flagship living room systems.
On the PC component side, suppliers appear to be recalibrating their priorities. Tom notes that motherboard makers, including MSI, are shifting more support toward AMD after years of favoring Intel. At the same time, he suggests Microsoft’s work with Asus on the ROG Ally X handheld is less about that single product and more about using it as a beta testbed for Windows Game Mode optimization ahead of the next Xbox generation. If true, expect future Windows builds to better cater to handhelds and compact gaming PCs.
For those tracking Nvidia’s naming and timelines, Tom cleared up one confusion: the recently spotted “Reuben CPX” is not the RTX 6090. Based on what he’s heard, the RTX 6000 series is penciled in for early 2027. His projected roadmap lays out a straightforward cadence: RTX 5000 in 2025, an RTX 50 Super refresh in early 2026, and RTX 6000 in early 2027. On the AMD side, an RDNA 4 refresh is expected to serve as a bridge before RDNA 5 lands around the same time frame as Nvidia’s next major release. More solid RTX 6000 leaks should surface by mid-2026—unless an unexpected breach accelerates the drip of details.
Taken together, this outlook suggests a few key themes for gamers and PC builders:
– Short-term device prices should trend down as supply catches up to demand, particularly for Strix Halo-powered laptops and compact systems that keep selling out.
– FSR4 potentially reaching RDNA2 via a performance-only mode could extend the useful life of mainstream hardware, including the Steam Deck and current-gen consoles.
– Valve may aim for a sweet spot console that emphasizes efficient 1440p performance instead of chasing AAA 4K ambitions.
– Motherboard vendor support appears to be tilting more toward AMD, while Microsoft fine-tunes Windows for handheld and next-gen console scenarios.
– Nvidia’s GPU cadence looks set: RTX 5000 in 2025, RTX 50 Super in early 2026, and RTX 6000 in early 2027, with AMD countering via an interim RDNA 4 refresh before RDNA 5.
If you’re planning an upgrade, 2025 and early 2026 shape up to be particularly important windows. Keep an eye on inventory for Strix Halo-based systems if you’re hunting deals, and watch for official word on FSR4 compatibility, which could dramatically change the value equation for older GPUs and portable systems. Tom discusses even more details in his latest podcast episode, and we’ll continue tracking updates as they emerge.
