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New Variants of PS5 & Xbox Series Consoles Potentially Under Development?

Don Carlo

Member
Copied from Source: https://tech4gamers.com/playstation-5-xbox-series-slim-pro-consoles/

AMD has been behind much of the hardware in gaming consoles over the last few years. PlayStation and Xbox have decided to return to AMD APUs for their current generation consoles after a successful run of the last generation, and the decision seems to have paid off.

Currently, both consoles are rapidly approaching their third year of lifespan. Traditionally, gaming consoles have seen hardware revisions a few years after the initial launch. These revisions have mostly been limited to slimmer and more powerful variants, like in the last generation we saw PlayStation 4 Slim | Pro & Xbox One S | X.

Now it seems like both Microsoft and Sony could soon be releasing new revisions for their current generation consoles. A new job listing for a Pre-Silicon Verification Engineer from AMD hints at the future of current gaming consoles.

A pre-silicon verification engineer is required explicitly for AMD’s semi-custom business unit focusing on custom SoC designs for gaming consoles. It states;

OUR BUSINESS UNIT FEATURES A STRONG TEAM OF ENGINEERS WHO HAVE DESIGN WINS IN ALL MAJOR GAMING CONSOLES.
THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL SPECIALISTS IN GRAPHICS AND COMPUTE PROCESSING. THE PLAYSTATION 4 (PS4) FROM SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC. (SCEI), THE XBOX ONE FROM MICROSOFT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF AMD’S SEMI-CUSTOM SOLUTIONS.
AMD Job Listing

AMD Job Listing for Pre Silicon Verification Engineer, Massachusetts, US
Source: AMD


This is interesting as AMD usually works across various computers and is not usually limited to just consoles. The fact that AMD mentions PS4 and Xbox One as specific examples could hint at work related to gaming consoles. Furthermore, one of the requirements for the listing states;

“WORK ON APU BASED SOC LEVEL VERIFICATION”
AMD Job Listing

Source: AMD

This would mean that AMD is preparing APUs for future consoles. With a second anniversary right around the corner, it would make sense for Sony and Microsoft to begin work on slimmer and perhaps even stronger revisions of their consoles. The PlayStation 5, in particular, has been criticized for its large size. Maybe Sony is looking to address this criticism finally.

Moreover, a slimmer console is also much more efficient than previous iterations. A process node shrink has traditionally been observed in console iterations. Sony and Microsoft could be looking at utilizing a redesigned AMD SoC based on 5nm or APU with boosted clock rate coupled with Higher memory bandwidth.

A potential Pro model is also somewhat possible. Both consoles currently struggle to achieve 60 fps targets at native 4K. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have to rely on dynamic resolutions on the majority of titles to hit the 60 fps goal, and this is something that could be fixed through much more powerful hardware.

PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series X


All of this sounds exciting for the future of console gaming. Current generation consoles have been a considerable step up over the last few generations, and it seems like Microsoft and Sony are keen on improving the hardware.

Both consoles have an extensive list of exclusive titles for 2023, and it would not be too far-fetched to imagine new console designs being released alongside the upcoming titles. A new revised SoC could help eventually open the platform to an even larger audience.
 
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Kind of hard to look towards the future when a lot of customers can’t even get their hands on the current iterations. But maybe just maybe 2023 will be the year it all turns around 🤷🏻‍♂️
 

ToTTenTranz

Banned
Was there any console released in the last 20 years that didn't have a hardware revision?

Perhaps the Wii U because it was DOA, but even that console probably had some team working on a revision at some point.
 

Rykan

Member
I expect a slim version of both consoles. I don't expect a pro model for either of them, however. The Xbox series already has two different models available and having a third one would just add to consumer confusion. There's no real marketing hook to sell these a "Pro" model on. The PS4 Pro and Xbox one X were supposed to be 4k variations of the base consoles Both PS5 and XSX are advertised as 4K consoles, so what is the marketing hook going to be? More 4k ish?

I don't think it will happen.
 

Elios83

Member
It's obvious that behind the scenes all the possibilities are being explored but right now everyone's top priority is to fix the shortages situation.
There's no point in playing the mid gen refresh card anytime soon. It could make sense in late 2024.
We're still in the cross gen phase, 2023 seems to be the turning point with publishers leaving old systems behind and widely adopting next gen engines as UE5 for their new projects.
It would be a bit a sad if the current systems only served the purpose of cross gen 4K60fps machines before new systems are released.
 
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HTK

Banned
Mid-gen refresh will happen even if you happened to not land a PS5 at the moment. In fact you should be cheering it because you can get a more powerful console for the same price probably if the supply is there. But I feel like supply is slowly getting better, I know there was a report for this holiday season for them to have a good amount of systems out there.

Additionally we're at the cusp of leaving crossgen behind so a Pro model makes all the sense in 2023 Q4 or 2024 Q1.
 
My guess is we will get new more powerful models of Series S and X in 2023 or 24. Whether they will keep selling the current versions or phase them out remains to be seen.

PS5 will get a Slim in 2023 and a Pro in 2024.
 

intbal

Member
Was there any console released in the last 20 years that didn't have a hardware revision?

Perhaps the Wii U because it was DOA, but even that console probably had some team working on a revision at some point.

The Original Xbox never had a hardware revision because Microsoft was buying completed chips from Intel and Nvidia.
However, that was 21 years ago, so it falls outside the window of your question.

add: No, I don't consider altering the video encoder chips to be significant enough to qualify as a "hardware revision".
 
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Don Carlo

Member
Kind of hard to look towards the future when a lot of customers can’t even get their hands on the current iterations. But maybe just maybe 2023 will be the year it all turns around 🤷🏻‍♂️
I mean things are settling down, I can now find RTX GPU at MSRP.
Was there any console released in the last 20 years that didn't have a hardware revision?

Perhaps the Wii U because it was DOA, but even that console probably had some team working on a revision at some point.
Exactly, it's bound to happen, also PS5's big shape is convenient in my eyes. MS released the Series S as a substitute for that.
I expect a slim version of both consoles. I don't expect a pro model for either of them, however. The Xbox series already has two different models available and having a third one would just add to consumer confusion. There's no real marketing hook to sell these a "Pro" model on. The PS4 Pro and Xbox one X were supposed to be 4k variations of the base consoles Both PS5 and XSX are advertised as 4K consoles, so what is the marketing hook going to be? More 4k ish?

I don't think it will happen.
I don't think Xbox needs another console, a slim version? nahh
 

Trogdor1123

Member
obviously this will come with a die shink as well to increase numbers. Are we going to just see slims or full blown pros is the question. I think slims with more storage myself.
 

01011001

Banned
a new version or successor to any given console is always in development... this shit takes years... didn't the One X start development before the One Fat was on the market?
 

kraspkibble

Permabanned.
im not buying a PS5 until they make a slim version. i dont want to have to look at that monstrosity they need to put it on a diet and get rid of those ridiculous curves

if we get a slim series x i hope they do a digital version.
 
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Polygonal_Sprite

Gold Member
This will be the longest generation since the PS360 one but I think it will be Autumn 2024 for the Pro and Slim models. Basically twice the GPU performance and a small bump to RAM and RAM bandwidth for the same price they’re manufacturing them for now. Pro $500 / Slim $350.
 

assurdum

Banned
im not buying a PS5 until they make a slim version. i dont want to have to look at that monstrosity they need to put it on a diet and get rid of those ridiculous curves

if we get a slim series x i hope they do a digital version.
Who give a fuck how look Lol.
 
None of the (circumstantial) evidence presented in the OP supports the conclusion in the thread title.

We're entering PS5/XSX's third year next year. So this can be staffing up in advance for early PS6 silicon, or even just a PS5/XSX revision on a more advanced process node (i.e. die shrink).

This is not clear evidence of Pro-variant consoles. Not at all.
 

NickFire

Member
I'm not seeing a business reason for anything beyond cheaper products (so doubtful there will be pro models). TV tech is not racing past 4k at the moment. Demand for existing still exceeds supply by a healthy margin. And the competition for manufacturing focus must already be severe.
 
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Copied from Source: AMD has been behind much of the hardware in gaming consoles over the last few years. PlayStation and Xbox have decided to return to AMD APUs for their current generation consoles after a successful run of the last generation, and the decision seems to have paid off.

Currently, both consoles are rapidly approaching their third year of lifespan. Traditionally, gaming consoles have seen hardware revisions a few years after the initial launch. These revisions have mostly been limited to slimmer and more powerful variants, like in the last generation we saw PlayStation 4 Slim | Pro & Xbox One S | X.

Now it seems like both Microsoft and Sony could soon be releasing new revisions for their current generation consoles. A new job listing for a Pre-Silicon Verification Engineer from AMD hints at the future of current gaming consoles.

A pre-silicon verification engineer is required explicitly for AMD’s semi-custom business unit focusing on custom SoC designs for gaming consoles. It states;


AMD Job Listing

AMD Job Listing for Pre Silicon Verification Engineer, Massachusetts, US
Source: AMD


This is interesting as AMD usually works across various computers and is not usually limited to just consoles. The fact that AMD mentions PS4 and Xbox One as specific examples could hint at work related to gaming consoles. Furthermore, one of the requirements for the listing states;


AMD Job Listing

Source: AMD

This would mean that AMD is preparing APUs for future consoles. With a second anniversary right around the corner, it would make sense for Sony and Microsoft to begin work on slimmer and perhaps even stronger revisions of their consoles. The PlayStation 5, in particular, has been criticized for its large size. Maybe Sony is looking to address this criticism finally.

Moreover, a slimmer console is also much more efficient than previous iterations. A process node shrink has traditionally been observed in console iterations. Sony and Microsoft could be looking at utilizing a redesigned AMD SoC based on 5nm or APU with boosted clock rate coupled with Higher memory bandwidth.

A potential Pro model is also somewhat possible. Both consoles currently struggle to achieve 60 fps targets at native 4K. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have to rely on dynamic resolutions on the majority of titles to hit the 60 fps goal, and this is something that could be fixed through much more powerful hardware.

PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series X


All of this sounds exciting for the future of console gaming. Current generation consoles have been a considerable step up over the last few generations, and it seems like Microsoft and Sony are keen on improving the hardware.

Both consoles have an extensive list of exclusive titles for 2023, and it would not be too far-fetched to imagine new console designs being released alongside the upcoming titles. A new revised SoC could help eventually open the platform to an even larger audience.
I really hope it’s 2024 so rdna 4 and zen 5 can be used
 
Mid-gen refresh will happen even if you happened to not land a PS5 at the moment. In fact you should be cheering it because you can get a more powerful console for the same price probably if the supply is there. But I feel like supply is slowly getting better, I know there was a report for this holiday season for them to have a good amount of systems out there.

Additionally we're at the cusp of leaving crossgen behind so a Pro model makes all the sense in 2023 Q4 or 2024 Q1.
Pro model makes more sense for q4 2024 for rdna 4
 
and more available.
MS and their S was very smart. Although it is something between One and proper Series. It's cheap and available, and just good enough for many. But I would assume both want to get to at least 6nm, 5nm, a +half step or whatever is the best return of investment and produce more units per wafer, which make the casing maybe smaller, but probably not cheaper anytime soon. If some new Ryzen, RDNA revision is fully compatible and more effective per Watt and whatnot maybe then I can imagine it being not only the Slim but a slight Pro at the same time. But as huge especially the PS5 is, I have no idea how a noticeable Pro step, at least 16-20TF?, should be possible without adding external water cooling or something weird.
 

MikeM

Member
To me at least they don't need to be more powerful, all I want is for them to be cheaper.
Cheaper? They are already cheap relative to their performance.
I'd be down for a 30 TF pro console. I'll pay up to 800 bucks. Condition: all big games have a mode dedicated to the pro console.
Same. I want a machine where devs need to focus on 60fps+. Death to 30fps!
 

Rossco EZ

Member
could they even make a slimmer series x? even if they made a digital version isn’t the width limited to size of the fan? personally i think the size of it is fine. PS5 could use a height reduction..
 
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BREAKING NEWS

  • Console manufacturers, who make pro versions of consoles every generation, MIGHT BE WORKING ON PRO VERSIONS.
  • We don't have confirmation on it yet, but rumors are heavily indicating that Nintendo has another Mario and Zelda game in development.
  • Also, insiders have indicated to us that Naughty Dog is currently working on a game where a female character self importantly "wants to talk to you" about something.
  • Reliable sources indicate that Ricky Martin is in fact a staunch heterosexual.
 

NeonGhost

uses 'M$' - What year is it? Not 2002.
could they even make a slimmer series x? even if they made a digital version isn’t the width limited to size of the fan? personally i think the size of it is fine. PS5 could use a height reduction..
Smaller chips that Don’t put out as much heat don’t need a big fan and heat sink so yes it can get smaller
 
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