Microsoft Announces Multi-Year Partnership With AMD for Next-Gen Xbox Hardware

Microsoft just revealed a major piece of its next-gen gaming plan, and it’s all about AMD. In a new video, Xbox president Sarah Bond confirmed a multi-year partnership with AMD to build future Xbox hardware.

Honestly, the news isn’t surprising, since AMD already powers the Xbox Series X|S and the new Xbox Ally handhelds. But this time, the focus isn’t just on more power.

Speaking about the Microsoft and AMD partnership, Bond says:

Together with AMD we’re advancing the state of art in gaming silicon to deliver the next generation of graphics innovation to unlock a deeper level of visual quality and immersive gameplay and player experiences enhanced with the power of AI, all while maintaining compatibility with your existing library of Xbox games.

You can check the partnership announcement video below:

Bond says the goal is “graphics innovation,” better AI, and a smoother way to carry your existing Xbox library into the next generation. So, yes, backward compatibility is sticking around.

What really stood out, though, was the shift in tone when announcing the partnership. Bond said that Xbox is building “a platform that’s always with you,” and made it clear the experience won’t be locked to a single device or store.

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That lines up with what we’ve seen lately. Take an example of the Windows-powered Xbox Ally handhelds, which brings lighter, portable setups. Microsoft also says it’s working to make Windows “the number one platform for gaming,” which is more like a hint toward a broader Xbox experience.