An insider has given more evidence to suggest the next Xbox console is on the way in 2027, but it’s bad news for PC gamers.
Microsoft and Sony haven’t revealed their next generation consoles yet, but all the signs suggest they’re on track to launch in 2027 – which means they could start talking about them this year.
Countless rumours have pointed to a 2027 launch, despite the memory crisis. On Sony’s side, the announcement that it will cease production of PlayStation discs after 2027 only reinforced the idea that it will be a transitional year of some kind.
But if you weren’t already sold on 2027’s chances, leaker Kepler_L2 has made new claims concerning the launch of AMD’s next GPU.
According to Kepler_L2, via ResetEra, the ‘AT2 is the only GPU getting released next year’ from AMD, while other more powerful graphics cards, from both AMD and Nvidia, will be released in 2028.
If you’re wondering what that has to do with anything, the AT2 is a die rumoured to be in Xbox’s next gen console, codenamed Project Helix. The AT2 is apparently part of AMD’s next generation RDNA 5 GPUs, which don’t yet have an official release date but are expected to launch next year.
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As such, based on Kepler’s claim, it suggests Project Helix will launch in 2027 as well, as it is using the same technology. Sony’s PlayStation 6 will be powered by a custom AMD chip too, but it’s unclear if it’s using the same AT2 die.
Even so, if Microsoft launches a new console next year, it’s likely Sony will want to launch its console around the same timeframe. The only time they didn’t was the Xbox 360 era, which is also the only time Xbox came close to rivalling PlayStation’s success.
According to leaks, manufacturing for the PlayStation 6 is set to begin ‘in middle or even early 2027’, so it sounds like it’s on track for next year too.
As of right now, we know Microsoft’s Project Helix will run both Xbox and PC games. Sony, however, have strongly hinted at some kind of handheld component for the PlayStation 6, but nothing has been officially announced.
While this AT2 rumour might be good news (or bad, depending on who you ask) for console players, it means PC gamers looking to purchase a major upgrade will have to wait until 2028.
If either new console is to be announced this year the only obvious venue is The Game Awards in December, where Microsoft unveiled the Xbox Series X in 2019.
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