640°

Could Sony secure PS5 exclusivity for an AMD Navi APU?

AMD CEO, Dr. Lisa Su, has once more been talking about the work its semi-custom division has been doing with Sony to get the Zen 2 processors, and the upcoming AMD Navi silicon, working for the needs of the PS5.

But just how much influence has Sony had on AMD’s next-gen graphics architecture? And if the answer is ‘a lot’ does that mean it has any call on hardware exclusivity, potentially shutting Microsoft out of a Navi-based APU?

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cl19831817d ago
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UltraNova1819d ago (Edited 1819d ago )

The answer is no. Only custom design choices build around Navi will be console "exclusive", the GPU architecture wont and both will come equipped with a Navi/ Ryzen SoC.

1819d ago
Zeke681818d ago

I don't know anything like the rest here on N4G but as 99% off this article is now proven a fact by Mark Cerny and the latest reports from AMD:
https://www.google.com/amp/...

What say the statement "Which brings us to, in my eyes, the more interesting revelation. According to my sources, Navi isn’t just inside the Sony PS5; it was created for Sony" isn't true? I just want to throw that into the discussion.
So your firm no might be wrong, I think it could very well be a Sony console exclusive and "normal" Navi for PC.
I base that on that rumour about 1-2 years ago that Sony pushed in 6-800 millions of dollars into the Navi development. Could just be their "special sauce" but it seems unlikely.
Exciting times anyway. I guess we have to keep on guessing for a little while longer.

sprinterboy1818d ago

The custom navi chipset was designed for Sony not navi, just like Microsoft will have a custom built navi chipset from AMD

Zeke681818d ago

Could very well be true, but even if so, it will be interesting to see the difference and if Phil spencer gonna have to eat crow on his promise "always have the best hardware from now on".
For me personally nothing of that really matters. I have already pre-ordered a PS5 that will ship on the EU release day. I know Sony delivers, they have made me a happy customer since my first PS1 back at 1996.

UltraNova1818d ago

You did not realize that you basically agreed with me. What's stopping MS from equipping their next xbox with an off the shelf but custom "Normal PC" Navi GPU?

bouzebbal1818d ago

Don't care, as long as I get console exclusive games

OB1Biker1818d ago (Edited 1818d ago )

That old rumour was misleading though. First thing I thought at the time is the guy is talking about playstation because thats the info he knows about. There was nothing saying Ms wasnt doing something similar with a custom chip based on Navi too.

Tigerblud1818d ago

How do you already have the PS5 pre ordered?

nismo3701817d ago (Edited 1817d ago )

"I have already pre-ordered a PS5 "
😂😂😂

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Ju1818d ago

It amazes me that despite 0 news on what MS does, the peoples of the internet know exactly what MS will be doing. Obviously the "Me too" rumors after every Sony "news" must carry more wait then the rumors itself.

First, MS did a full custom design "inhouse" with the XBOX, their chip has some severe extensions on the CPU side of things. But the GPU is off the shelve. To suggest MS going with a Navi/Zen APU is just speculation.

Second, the PS5 chip might not be a pure APU. By the looks of it, it won't. It will most likely have a 16GB DDR + 8GB HBM in what I'd call a hybrid configuration (under one memory controller). Same what the Pro already does with an added 1GB DDR. While not much talked about, this is the most feasible explanation how Sony gets to 24GB of memory and how they address bandwidth limitations in there current APU design. That might well be that "special sauce" if anything at all.

It is very interesting, that Navi has not been mentioned outside of Sony's endeavor. Even Google's stadia is using a stock 13Tf Vegas GPU. MS might not show anything at this E3, what then? They won't release anything before end of 2020, and might as well hold that big announcement back for next year. And who knows, might skip Navi, use some Vega cores or even go to the next iteration. First they have to sell XBOXs to at least recover some cost on that one. You can spin everything into any direction based on non-facts we have today.

NarutoFox1817d ago Show
cd11817d ago

I cant see PS5 having 24GB of RAM or using HBM2 - 16GB of GDDR6 sound more likely to me.

Shikoku1817d ago (Edited 1817d ago )

Or all of you and everyone on the internet is taking a phase used by AMD's CEO putting it n a context it was never meant and "special sauce" just means their games and how they produce awesome content.

Shane Kim1817d ago

No problem, just let me know if I can be of more service.

Profchaos1818d ago

Highly unlikely given how much money they would lose by not selling to both

Zeke681818d ago

Couldn't they just make another chip for M$?

blacktiger1818d ago

cause everything is cheap right :p, this is a billions of dollar research

GameBoyColor1818d ago

No there gpu division doesn't make much and they keep flopping on gpu releases. Making a whole new chip is out of the question, but if you are talking about modifying the current one that is exactly what they will be doing for both companies.

PhoenixUp1818d ago

What doesn’t AMD have to gain by going exclusive?

MajorLazer1818d ago

They won't gain more money for one

Ju1818d ago

Its all about money. Really depends who contributed to the bottom line the last couple of years...

PhoenixUp1817d ago

I meant to type “does” but spellcheck fucked up

Gridknac1818d ago

Well if Sony worked closely with AMD developing a special Navi variant just for the PS5, then possibly that specific variant would be exclusive. I don't think that it really matters though, as I would think MS will have its own blueprint for a customized version of the chip.

PhoenixUp1818d ago

Just like how Xbox 360’s Xenon had a chipset based on PlayStation 3’s Cell processor

babadivad1818d ago

IBM made the PPEs in the Cell(the main processor) and sold a tri-core variant ti Microsoft for their console.

Ju1818d ago

It was Sony contracting IBM to built that chip. Read this: https://www.amazon.com/Race...
And yet, IBM sold the same design to MS...money rules.

cabbitwithscissors1818d ago (Edited 1818d ago )

It does matter actually. One of the main reasons why IBM lost out for the PS4 architecture was due to the fact that they shared some of the technology derived from the Cell Processor Architecture (which was then used to come up with new technology that GPUs are today based on) to come up with the Xbox 360 Xenon architecture. Sony, Toshiba and IBM spent billions on coming up with that and Microsoft came along and took the results and sped up with the success that Xbox became until Sony took over the market after a number of years.

Rest assured that the new contract with AMD would have clauses protecting against these. No sharing of information and technology derived for the Playstation. Microsoft will have to come up with their own architecture basing on their best guess of what the PS5 would have, and they will have access to AMD's vault of technology, everything except what they are working with, with Sony.

HighPlayer281818d ago

U have any sources to back up that Microsoft took those cell processor results? I believe the engineers at Microsoft are more than capable of creating their own unique architecture with out stealing info from Sony.

Sitdown1818d ago

"Microsoft will have to come up with their own architecture basing on their best guess of what the PS5 would have"

My gosh, I hope you have stock in Sony. So Microsoft is sitting around designing their console based off what they believe the ps5 will be, instead of just making the best console that they want?

cabbitwithscissors1818d ago

@HighPlayer28 and @Sitdown :

Read the following:
https://venturebeat.com/200...

https://www.wsj.com/article...

You might want to get the book too if you're interested.

Ju1818d ago

That book was a actually a great read. We'll see if someone writes one for the next generation.

rainslacker1817d ago

Uhhh...how did you come to that conclusion? The CELL technologies can be licensed for use by any company through IBM. Sony benefits from these licenses because they paid for the investment to research and develop the CELL processor, but Sony doesn't outright own the technology.

Any technology developed specifically for either console maker, payed for by the console makers themselves, may not be allowed to be used in the other's chip, but that isn't related to CELL. There is no sharing of technology but any technology developed by AMD could be used independently if the console maker wants them. For the most part, these companies are both going to be in tune with what might be necessary for the next gen, and they will develop their chips to be pretty close to one another, maybe with focuses on some different available features. It's not guess work, it's research, because we're talking about companies that actually shape what is available for the next gen.

Ju1817d ago

@Rainslacker. Not true. IBM does not own the CELL, it does not own the SPUs. That was in fact brought in externally and there are PPE less SPUs variants available (I wonder if they live in Sony's X1 visual processor - but I don't know). So, no, IBM could not have licensed the CELL. But thety "sold" all the research STI did on the PPE - which was in fact a GHz race, because at that time, IBM did not have a PPU core which could scale to beyond 3GHz. They typically used their older G3 variant (e.g. in the Nintento's console) but this wasn't scalable to were Sony wanted it to be. So, that team developed a core running at 3.2GHz. There comes MS, with a bag of money, and IBM sold that design to MS. Because they did not own the SPUs, they simply made it a triple core PPU version.

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110°

PlayStation x PUMA Collection Releases April 2024

PlayStation x PUMA orders open April 18, 2024, Priced between $100 - $120!

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Community9h ago
Barlos9h ago(Edited 9h ago)

Well, they're ugly aren't they?

Ironmike6h ago

Playstation should have went with nike

Tody_ZA2h ago

It ain't real until LeBron tells us what this shoe means to his career.

290°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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darthv722d ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle2d ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18812d ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio2d ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning771d 22h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga2d ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv721d 16h ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer19921d 11h ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff21832d ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga2d ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan2d ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit1d 16h ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus231d 22h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv721d 22h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier1d 11h ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

itsmebryan1d 2h ago

@chevalier

It looks like made a great purchase. Much better then Sony buying Bungie. 😉
Cheers

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purple1012d ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos2d ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-1d 22h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac2d ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1012d ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic2d ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead1d 22h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

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80°

Razer Kishi Ultra Review - Remote Play and Mobile Gaming Goes XL

PSLS writes: I have traveled across the country using the Razer Kishi Ultra in airports and hotels for both PlayStation Remote Play and mobile gaming in general, and I am thoroughly impressed.

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