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Xbox Scarlett Planned for 2020 Release Date, Will Use AMD Zen 2 and Navi Tech: Report

Xbox Scarlett Planned for 2020 Release Date, Will Use AMD Zen 2 and Navi Tech: Report

By Rishi Alwani | Updated: 7 December 2018 13:02 IST

Xbox Scarlett is the codename of the next Xbox, Xbox Two, or whatever Microsoft plans to officially call its Xbox One successor. Since E3 2018 we've seen some details emerge on what to expect from the console giant. Now it appears that Xbox Scarlett will have a lot more in common with the PS5. It will likely use AMD tech. Specifically it will leverage AMD's Zen 2 CPU and Navi architecture to deliver games at 4K resolution with 60 frames per second. What's more is, it's slated for a 2020 release date.

These details come from Microsoft insider Brad Sams via WCCFtech. Furthermore, Microsoft's approach to hardware will differ. There are plans to launch devices that will run games through the cloud in addition to traditional consoles. The company would embrace digital distribution even further, which could be problematic as it assumes every potential Xbox Scarlett owner has a fast and stable Internet connection, leaving no failsafe in the event of a network outage. Also, expect the Xbox App and Windows Store to unify at some point. Backwards compatibility will also be a part of the equation.

Sams made similar statements regarding Microsoft's hardware and games distribution strategy back in July. Though details pertaining to the next Xbox's internals are interesting as it could see the PS5 and Xbox Scarlett be even in terms of performance.

While the Sony PlayStation E3 2018 showcase focussed squarely on the games, it seems that the company is quietly prepping for next-gen. The PS5 is slated for a 2020 release date and it will be using AMD's Navi GPU. Previously it was suggested that the PS5 would also be using AMD's Ryzen CPU tech and it seems that AMD will have a hand in the PS5's GPU as well.

This is according to a report from WCCFtech citing "sources intimately familiar with the entire situation". In addition to letting slip when we could expect the PS5, it delves deeper into the reasoning for AMD not announcing a new GPU at Computex 2018 - it has found the custom-applications space more lucrative. Considering how cash-strapped AMD has been, it makes sense.

"The margins are low, but the volume is high and the net income is consistent. Catering to gamers was not part of the win-condition; making AMD a viable, financially robust company was. Here is a fun fact: Vega was designed primarily for Apple and Navi is being designed for Sony – the PS5 to be precise," the report claims before explaining that AMD's roadmap for Navi is dependent on Sony.

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