Microsoft next-gen Xbox, codenamed “Project Scarlett” powered by a custom AMD CPU

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 06/10/2019 05:15 AM | source: | 65 comment(s)

During their press conference from E3 today, Microsoft announced that its next-gen Xbox, codenamed “Project Scarlett” is powered by a custom-designed AMD processor based on cutting-edge AMD Ryzen “Zen 2” CPU technology and a “Navi” Next Gen Radeon™ RDNA Graphics Architecture including hardware accelerated raytracing.

AMD and Microsoft have co-designed and co-engineered a custom, high performance AMD SoC to power Project Scarlett to deliver an incredible gaming experience, including the next-generation of performance, graphics, lighting, visuals, and audio immersion. This processor builds upon the significant innovation of the AMD Ryzen™ "Zen 2" CPU core and a "Navi" GPU based on next-generation Radeon™ RDNA gaming architecture including hardware-accelerated raytracing.

Microsoft Executive Vice President of Gaming Phil Spencer revealed new details about Project Scarlett, which is expected to deliver the most powerful and immersive Xbox experience ever. Project Scarlett is a significant step forward in gaming and will provide developers with the power they require to bring their future creative visions to life with up to 120 frames per second, variable refresh rate, support for up to 8K visuals, and almost non-existent load times. Project Scarlett will also be backwards compatible with all Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox games available on Xbox One today – all of which will play better than ever before.

- Microsoft -

Today, Xbox showcased a blockbuster lineup of 60 anticipated games for both console and PC in its Xbox E3 Briefing and shared a glimpse of the future with Project Scarlett, which launches alongside Halo Infinite in 2020. Headlined by the biggest game of 2019, Gears 5, along with over 30 games premiering with Xbox Game Pass, the Xbox E3 Briefing delivered 11 world premieres and a record 14 games from Xbox Game Studios, which will soon include legendary game development studio Double Fine Productions.

The Best Way to Discover Great Games on Console And PC

PC gamers around the world can now join the Xbox Game Pass for PC beta through the new Xbox app, which is available today on Windows 10. Xbox Game Pass for PC is designed specifically for PC gamers with a curated library of over 100 high-quality PC games from over 75 developers and publishers including fan-favorite PC titles like Football Manager 2019, Imperator: Rome, and Metro Exodus.

Xbox also announced the launch of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a new plan combining the curated games library for console and PC with Xbox Live Gold.

In addition, Xbox announced a variety of new blockbuster games that are available with Xbox Game Pass for Console starting today, including Metro Exodus, Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, and Batman: Arkham Knight.

The Xbox E3 Briefing also showcased new Xbox Game Studios titles that will premiere in Xbox Game Pass, including Gears 5, Battletoads, Bleeding Edge, The Outer Worlds, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, and 25 games from the ID@Xbox program.

Welcoming Double Fine Productions to Xbox Game Studios

Xbox announced today the intent to acquire legendary game development studio Double Fine Productions, which will bring the total number of development studios under Xbox Game Studios to 15. Led by industry veteran Tim Schafer, the addition of this boundlessly creative studio will reinforce the Xbox team’s commitment to developing original content with memorable characters and unexpected stories. Double Fine showcased the long-awaited Psychonauts 2 today on the Xbox E3 stage:

Psychonauts 2 (Xbox One and Windows 10 PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4)
Razputin Aquato, trained acrobat and powerful young psychic, has realized his lifelong dream of joining the international psychic espionage organization known as the Psychonauts! But these psychic super spies are in trouble. Their leader hasn’t been the same since he was kidnapped, and what’s worse, there’s a mole hiding in their headquarters. Raz must use his powers to stop the mole before they execute their secret plan—to bring the murderous psychic villain, Maligula, back from the dead! Psychonauts 2 launches worldwide in 2020.

The Future of Console Gaming

During its briefing, Xbox demonstrated its commitment to console gaming as a critical choice for players who want a device designed, built and optimized for gaming.

Project Scarlett will set a new bar for console power, speed and performance, arriving Holiday 2020 alongside Halo Infinite. Powered by a custom-designed processor, leveraging the latest Zen 2 and Radeon RDNA architecture from our partners at AMD, Project Scarlett will deliver a new level of immersion. Paired with high bandwidth GDDR6 memory, and a next generation solid state drive (SSD), Project Scarlett will provide developers the power they require to bring their creative visions to life. Featuring hardware accelerated raytracing, variable refresh rate, 8K capability and ultra-low latency input, Project Scarlett will deliver a new level of fidelity, precision and accuracy never before seen in console gaming.

With Project Scarlett, we continue our commitment to compatibility by ensuring your gaming accessories and Xbox career will also move forward with you, along with thousands of games across four console generations which will look and play best on Project Scarlett.

For more information on how Project Scarlett will usher in the future of gaming, watch our reveal video here.

Bringing Xbox to the Cloud

In addition to delivering players the games they want, with the people they want, across console and PC, Xbox is also empowering people to play wherever they want by bringing Xbox to the cloud.

First, Xbox announced the ability to stream games from your Xbox One console, starting in preview this October. With console streaming, gamers will have access to their Xbox One game library and Xbox Game Pass titles on the go, streamed directly from an Xbox One console to a mobile device.

The Xbox E3 Briefing also marked a new milestone for Project xCloud, with E3 2019 attendees being among the first in the world to play Xbox One games like Halo 5: Guardians and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice streaming on smartphones and tablets. With Project xCloud, Xbox is investing to ensure players have the choice and freedom to play the games they want, with the friends they want, how and where they want.

The World’s Most Advanced Controller

In addition, Xbox unveiled the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. Inspired by fan feedback, the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is the world’s most advanced controller, designed with the most passionate gamers in mind.

The Elite Series 2 is the second iteration of the fan-favorite Xbox Elite Wireless Controller and is re-engineered for ultimate performance, customization, and durability, and includes 30 new and improved features such as adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wraparound rubberized grip, shorter hair-trigger locks, and up to 40 hours of rechargeable battery life.

The Elite Series 2 will launch in 24 markets on November 4 for $179.99 USD/£159.99 GPB/€179.99 EUR and is available for preorder now.

The Single Largest Showcase of Games on Stage This Year

Xbox includes every player in its vision for gaming, which starts with unmissable content made for players wherever they are. With thousands of Xbox games in development, Xbox offered glimpses at 60 different games from all over the globe, including blockbusters like Cyberpunk 2077, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Elden Ring. Xbox fans were also invited to venture into the action-fueled world of CrossfireX, coming first to console on Xbox One in 2020 with special content for Xbox Game Pass members, and into the blocky depths of Minecraft Dungeons, coming to Xbox One and Windows 10 PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4.

The Xbox E3 Briefing also marked a celebration of over 30 PC games, including Microsoft Flight Simulator and Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, premiering with Xbox Game Pass for PC. Fans also took their first steps into the next worlds being created by Xbox Game Studios, such as Gears 5 and Wasteland 3, and discovered the unexpected with 25 new and wild ID@Xbox titles.

All forthcoming titles from Xbox Game Studios will premiere with Xbox Game Pass.

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ladcrooks
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#5678580 Posted on: 06/10/2019 06:58 AM

AMD = Forest Gump - keep going, just love the last few years of AMD

funkydmunky
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#5678590 Posted on: 06/10/2019 07:45 AM

ttnuagmada
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#5678593 Posted on: 06/10/2019 08:14 AM

Great, so another console with a GPU that will be a budget model by the time the console launches.

FrostNixon
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#5678599 Posted on: 06/10/2019 08:27 AM

Great, so another console with a GPU that will be a budget model by the time the console launches.

I mean there has never been another way. The console must be within $400-500 range with ram, cpu, gpu, mobo, storage and a controller and for that much money you can't even get a 2070 if it was camp green, so it was always going to be a budget solution.

XP-200
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#5678604 Posted on: 06/10/2019 08:40 AM

Looking forward to seeing it, better than the X so win win right there, and they keep BC and all the stuff they are doing now, plus i am sorted for Gold and GP until the end of 2021......sorted.

ttnuagmada
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#5678605 Posted on: 06/10/2019 08:41 AM

chrislondon
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#5678609 Posted on: 06/10/2019 09:11 AM

If it is true what they say in the video and the new Xbox will be 4 times more powerful than the 1X (i.e. 24Tflops) next gen NAVI will be a beast and we will all buy AMD GPUs next year. Or consoles

funkydmunky
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#5678611 Posted on: 06/10/2019 09:21 AM

Great, so another console with a GPU that will be a budget model by the time the console launches.

ttnuagmada
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Joined: 2015-05-18

#5678615 Posted on: 06/10/2019 09:44 AM

Like others have said.
The consoles drive the industry and push innovation. Consoles, from the very first have always amazed on what they are ultimately capable of. Don't worry about the hardware spec as we always see a giant leap for every profitable console from beginning to end.
The last (current) gen with lowly Jaguar 8 core CPU and 7850 GPU level hardware has produced some magic. Hell it even birthed the highly supported VR!
Bare metal programing and a fixed hardware spec have and will, always give a lowly console an advantage. Not an immediate one. But long term they are great examples of tech.

You're exaggerating a bit. This was more the case back when the hardware was proprietary, but the PS4 and XB1 have always looked/run about ballpark for what their hardware is capable of.

If it is true what they say in the video and the new Xbox will be 4 times more powerful than the 1X (i.e. 24Tflops) next gen NAVI will be a beast and we will all buy AMD GPUs next year. Or consoles

They would have to be talking about CPU performance for a "4x" statement to make any sense. AMD's most powerful GPU is only about 14 TFLOPS.

slyphnier
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#5678629 Posted on: 06/10/2019 10:28 AM

I hope this comes to a "VHS" type situation so we can all move on and buy a console then pick the games to support MS or Sony camp. They are both using the same hardware FFS.
Anyways AMD is the clear winner here. Despite Nvidia's lead in RT, it appears more and more it will be whatever the frack AMD choose, and implement will be the industry standard. Sounds weird to say, but AMD is just too powerful at the moment. With consoles approaching PC, the game is really over now.

there wont be ever VHS type situation
its not like VHS alliance, that VHS-player maker to support "VHS"
console-maker -> fighting over platform shares (PSN/Xboxlive/Steam)
u cant buy a game on playstation then all of sudden it also supporting microsoft-xbox

spajdrik
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#5678634 Posted on: 06/10/2019 10:41 AM

I'm not worried about GPU/CPU performance this time, but let's hope that this time MS has more game exclusives.

Aura89
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#5678640 Posted on: 06/10/2019 11:01 AM

Prior to the Xb1 and PS4, Sony/MS would take a loss on the consoles and put out high-end hardware. IE the Xbox 360 had the worlds first unified shader architecture that was in the same ballpark performance wise as AMD's top GPU at the time. PS3 wasn't too much worse, it had a 7800 GTX GPU which was the top Nvidia GPU available just weeks before the PS3 launched (8800 launched around the same time).

So "there has never been another way" ignores pretty much the entirety of console history.

PS3 didn't have a 7800 GTX, it had a GPU based off of it. What that means for cost, who knows. That being said, the PS3 came out around 1.5 years after the 7800 GTX was released, and you're complaining that the new xbox has an unreleased GPU in it? Interesting.

But, here's some info for you:

PS3 GPU (based on 7800 GTX, not a 7800 GTX) was on 90nm and ran at 500mhz and only had 256mb of ram (252mb useable) with a memory bandwidth maxing out at 22.4 GB/s and a 128 bit bus

7800 GTX was 110nm and ran at 550mhz with 512mb of ram and 430mhz with 256mb of ram with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s (256 MB) and 54.4 GB/s (512 MB) and a 256 bit bus no matter which configuration of ram.

By the time the PS3 had been released, you talk only about the 8000 series, which released pretty much at the same time as the PS3, but regardless of that, there was also the 7900 series that had been released already, including the 7900 GTX, GS, GT, GTO, most of which matched or had stolen the crown of the 7800 GTX already.

So no, the 7800 GTX was not "the top Nvidia GPU available just weeks before the PS3 launched", and even if it had been, the GPU in the PS3 is not a 7800 GTX, as it had the memory bandwidth of a 7600 GT, 7800 GTX core configuration was 24:8:24:16, whereas the PS3 was 24:8:24:8. The PS3 GPU was effectively a lower cost 7800 GTX (110nm vs 90nm) with features stripped and memory lowered to 7600 GT levels, and again, was already "old" as you put it, since the 7900 GTX and variants had already been released and the 8000 series was just being released.

That being said, yes, the PS3 did cost more to make then they sold it for, but that didn't do them any favors, as it was their worst release they have had. It also cost a lot for a starting price, $599, which today would be $746

The xbox 360 made similar cost-savings measures on their GPU, which is why the x1900 performed better then the x360. Heck, the Xbox 360 GPU was smaller and less transistors then the x1650 GT.

My point is, you can't exactly go to any GPU during/around a console release and say "that's the GPU that is inside the console, it's high end and we can already see it costs a lot!", because we realistically don't know what the GPU is, what cost-saving alterations they have done, etc. PS3 has a GPU that seems to be similar to both the 7800 GTX, with a smaller node, and also similar to the 7600 GT, so...it's somewhere inbetween? And with that information, we still know squat about the costs to make that GPU compare to the cost to buy a GPU ourselves. Same goes with the xbox 360, somewhere between a x1800 series GPU and x1650 GT, only difference i can find is we know the die size of the xbox 360 GPU, which greatly impacts costs....and it's tiny. It's 182 mm², compared to x1800 xt's 352mm² GPU and x1650 GT's 230mm² GPU.....it's tiny, and its nothing to write home about.

I'm not worried about GPU/CPU performance this time, but let's hope that this time MS has more game exclusives.

Never understood why someone would HOPE a company has exclusives.......

How about, lets how none of them have exclusives and we make our buying decision on the console based off of performance, features and price, and not have to buy a completely different console all because of this nonsense called "exclusives"

Fox2232
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#5678647 Posted on: 06/10/2019 11:20 AM

They would have to be talking about CPU performance for a "4x" statement to make any sense. AMD's most powerful GPU is only about 14 TFLOPS.

That 14TFLOPs on GCN. And that's as far as released GPUs go. Then TFLOPs were never real indication of performance. With GCN mentioned 14TFLOPs (Vega) has similar FP performance as 2080 Ti. But graphical performance is different story.

This comes from design of CU. AMD's new S-SIMD enable rather different performance per CU. Not even TMUs per CU need to be 4 anymore.

Today, we'll see future of AMD's GPUs and where those consoles may or may not go in terms of real performance.

As far as I am concerned, if GPU they shown against 2070 in Strange Brigade (post nVidia performance patch) has really 40CUs with GCN compatibility design => 2560SP, then such GPU is going to sport around 8.5B Transistors while nVidia's 2070 has 10.8B Transistors.
Imagine AMD going from compatibility mode and leverage available transistors saving per CU/TMU pair to throw at us not 160TMUs in RX-5700, but 224TMUs and still fit it under 12B transistors. (Cheaper than Radeon VII to make.)

This would outperform Radeon VII in games, but would deliver quite worse compute performance. (Therefore AMD's statement that Radeon VII is not to be replaced by Navi.)

Then again, you do not get to match 2070 which has 64 ROPs with just 32ROPs. I expect that shown 5700 has 64ROPs too. And if AMD delivers big one. It will likely have 80/96/112/128 ROPs as that's not really bound in linear fashion to CUs.
- - - -
I would advise anyone interested to check Price of RX-580 8G. Take this price point (+25% premium for GDDR6 + 7nm) as baseline which will not go down. And scale performance per $ from that price tag upwards till something like $600.

Loobyluggs
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#5678655 Posted on: 06/10/2019 11:53 AM

Ricepudding
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#5678678 Posted on: 06/10/2019 12:44 PM

So - they have abandoned ALL current Xbox consoles forever...kinda says a LOT about how they feel towards consumers of the Xbox...

Disgusting to think of all the crap they dealt at consumers during this current generation of the console. Just...disgusting.

Huh? how'd you get that?

I mean i don't remember them talking about backwards-compatibility but i assume that they would have it, these new consoles are more like the Xbox1x (an extension of the family)

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