AMD is already hiring for PlayStation 6, next-gen console chip development

[Shawn Knight]

Forward-looking: Current-gen game consoles from Microsoft and Sony have technically been available for a year and a half. Finding one at retail is still a challenge due to a variety of factors, but none of them are stopping chipmaker AMD from turning its attention to what's next.

AMD recently posted a job listing for a system-on-chip verification engineer. The person they are seeking will work with the team behind the chip that powers the PlayStation and Xbox at AMD's Markham location to help develop its next-gen SoC design.

The successful candidate will be responsible for working closely with front-end and physical designers on multiple verification efforts. They'll also need to interact with internal and external design verification dev teams and communicate directly with tool vendors and silicon IP holders.

Strong knowledge of object-oriented programming languages is preferred, as is a solid understanding of digital logic, circuits and Verilog.

It may seem premature to start developing hardware for next-gen systems when current consoles remain scarce, but it is par for the course.

Projects of this size take many years to cultivate and there are several factors that must be taken into consideration including industry health, increased competition and the speed at which tech is evolving. At this point, it would be more surprising if Microsoft, Sony and hardware vendors weren't considering what is next.

Image credit: Fidel Fernando, Billy Freeman

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/94549-amd-already-hiring-next-gen-console-chip-development.html

 

[passwordistaco]

Infinity Fabric connecting an 8 core (+SMT) Zen4 chiplet to an RDNA4 IGP and 32GB HBM.

There, how much does AMD owe me?

 

[hahahanoobs]

This is very encouraging.
AMD needs more of this.

 

[Dimitriid]

It's actually not weird at all: Remember these are for sure will be iterations on the same basic x86_64 architecture: the days of running other stuff are mostly over, hopefully anyway. So it really wouldn't matter much because for developers you can basically just use the same basic code from the xbox one, through the series S and X (And also PS4, PS5 and PS6) and whatever comes next and you just need to preconfigure settings so the newer version of other tech are off, textures and resolution are lowered, etc.

 

[kiwigraeme]

Maybe some of us will bypass PS5 altogether

Good thing for Sony, M/S games that play on PS5 will play on PS6 and vice versa - as it's all fairly similar to a PC build .
Only thing I can see extra is all the addons - room sensors, WiFi7, BT7 etc and anything new coming
With the power of these beasties they could really be a smart TV hub . 4 split screen on 85" TV - 4 different inputs - 4 BT headphones .
Someone could take a DVD input an AI upscale in real time - as these consoles will come will latest encoders and CUDA like /Neural/AI processor of some kind .
I mean to differentiate games now PS5 to PS6- we need smart NPCs , smart AI enemies
This AI will also determine how to use resources for shaders, ray tracing , immersive sound

So imagine a lot to work on

 

[punctualturn]

Going by that article title, only console that matters is the playstation?

Its so hard to type Xbox instead of other consoles?

Aren’t writers supposed to be neutral?

 

[Burty117]

Makes you wonder if we'll see a PS5 Pro in 2024 and then a PS6 in 2028 or something.

 

[punctualturn]

Makes you wonder if we'll see a PS5 Pro in 2024 and then a PS6 in 2028 or something.

I think that the "recent" jump in performance on these SOC's means that the refreshes (PS Pro/XBOX X) might not be worth for them and instead expedite the releases of new consoles.

 

[Burty117]

I think that the "recent" jump in performance on these SOC's means that the refreshes (PS Pro/XBOX X) might not be worth for them and instead expedite the releases of new consoles.

Apologies, I might have missed something but what recent jump? Aren't the consoles RDNA2 based already?

 

[punctualturn]

Apologies, I might have missed something but what recent jump? Aren't the consoles RDNA2 based already?

I meant, in general.

But talking about consoles, given that both Sony and MS were burned by Nvidia and AMD has shown to be a great partner to work with, its clear that they will be AMD powered and the jump in performance, both on CPU (Zen) and GPU (RDNA) means that maybe is not worth a refresh and instead a new device, maybe based on Zen4/RDNA3.

 

[Burty117]

I meant, in general.

But talking about consoles, given that both Sony and MS were burned by Nvidia and AMD has shown to be a great partner to work with, its clear that they will be AMD powered and the jump in performance, both on CPU (Zen) and GPU (RDNA) means that maybe is not worth a refresh and instead a new device, maybe based on Zen4/RDNA3.

I'm with you. I don't see a Zen4/RDNA3 console coming out though, that's way to soon when you consider both consoles haven't been out 2 years yet.

The PS4 Pro came out 3 years after the PS4 release, Which is why I could see a PS5 Pro coming out in 2023/2024 but I don't see a PS6 coming out until 2028.

It's always been the case that consoles get left in the dust by PC standards fairly quickly after launch.

Potentially Microsoft's Xbox Series might take this approach though, release newer, higher end models every other year. Since they're already telling developers to cater their games to work on both Series S and X, maybe they could release a Series Y/Z/XXX.

The problem with that strategy (of updating the console so frequently) is that developers don't get a chance to seriously optimise for the hardware. Something that's always been in consoles favour has been the lower level API access and the fact every console is the same spec, allowing developers to really push the hardware as much as possible, you can see that across most console generations towards the end of their life spans when games come out looking incredible still even on ancient hardware spec wise.

I kinda hope console manufacturers stick to the strategy of releasing new hardware every 7-8 years or so. There's two ways of looking at it.
The hardware becomes a hinderance and game devs are unable to build bigger worlds or push better graphics or whatever the case maybe.
Or the other way to look at it, with the hardware staying the same, there's real opportunity to optimise code, game engines, tools to really get the absolute most out of the hardware, increasing value.

Something else worth thinking about, the current gen consoles haven't really been pushed yet, We've seen snippets of what they're capable of (Matrix Demo, Ratchet and Clank) but most games have released on last gen consoles as well, meaning the scope of the game and the technical limitations imposed by the old gen of consoles holds back what is achievable.

I'm going to stop rambling now, just food for thought I guess.

 

[punctualturn]

I'm with you. I don't see a Zen4/RDNA3 console coming out though, that's way to soon when you consider both consoles haven't been out 2 years yet.

The PS4 Pro came out 3 years after the PS4 release, Which is why I could see a PS5 Pro coming out in 2023/2024 but I don't see a PS6 coming out until 2028.

It's always been the case that consoles get left in the dust by PC standards fairly quickly after launch.

Potentially Microsoft's Xbox Series might take this approach though, release newer, higher end models every other year. Since they're already telling developers to cater their games to work on both Series S and X, maybe they could release a Series Y/Z/XXX.

The problem with that strategy (of updating the console so frequently) is that developers don't get a chance to seriously optimise for the hardware. Something that's always been in consoles favour has been the lower level API access and the fact every console is the same spec, allowing developers to really push the hardware as much as possible, you can see that across most console generations towards the end of their life spans when games come out looking incredible still even on ancient hardware spec wise.

I kinda hope console manufacturers stick to the strategy of releasing new hardware every 7-8 years or so. There's two ways of looking at it.
The hardware becomes a hinderance and game devs are unable to build bigger worlds or push better graphics or whatever the case maybe.
Or the other way to look at it, with the hardware staying the same, there's real opportunity to optimise code, game engines, tools to really get the absolute most out of the hardware, increasing value.

Something else worth thinking about, the current gen consoles haven't really been pushed yet, We've seen snippets of what they're capable of (Matrix Demo, Ratchet and Clank) but most games have released on last gen consoles as well, meaning the scope of the game and the technical limitations imposed by the old gen of consoles holds back what is achievable.

I'm going to stop rambling now, just food for thought I guess.

Hence why I said "recent jumps in performance".
This time around, even though the current consoles are very good, the RT monkey wrench its a possible problem and some games already seem to be reaching some limits (like making huge bases in Subnautica).

Also, I have a weird feeling that sooner rather than later, we might move to high powered gaming PC and Cloud Gaming.

So who knows what the future hold, but meanwhile, I am ready for a Series X hmm X? MS stupid naming convention... LOL

 

[Skjorn]

Infinity Fabric connecting an 8 core (+SMT) Zen4 chiplet to an RDNA4 IGP and 32GB HBM.

There, how much does AMD owe me?

Nothing since that will be ancient tech by the time it's released. You're actually fired.

 

[bviktor]

It's actually not weird at all: Remember these are for sure will be iterations on the same basic x86_64 architecture: the days of running other stuff are mostly over, hopefully anyway. So it really wouldn't matter much because for developers you can basically just use the same basic code from the xbox one, through the series S and X (And also PS4, PS5 and PS6) and whatever comes next and you just need to preconfigure settings so the newer version of other tech are off, textures and resolution are lowered, etc.

The problem is, by the time the PS6 is due, they'll redo the whole thing a couple of time due to tech changes.

 

[Shadowboxer]

Does AMD have a deal with Sony for the PS6? Id be weary, where I live you still cant buy a PS5 at any retailer and Xbox Series X are the same, maybe slightly less scarce. The headlines all point to the component shortages at AMD and if I were Sony or MS id be considering alternatives who can supply their needs for the next gen. They must have lost so much money over these shortages at this point. I mean I probably would have bought a PS5 by now if I could just rock up to a store and grab one.

 

[HardReset]

Does AMD have a deal with Sony for the PS6? Id be weary, where I live you still cant buy a PS5 at any retailer and Xbox Series X are the same, maybe slightly less scarce. The headlines all point to the component shortages at AMD and if I were Sony or MS id be considering alternatives who can supply their needs for the next gen. They must have lost so much money over these shortages at this point. I mean I probably would have bought a PS5 by now if I could just rock up to a store and grab one.

AMD is not responsible for PS or Xbox shortages. AMD makes chip design and manufactures it where Sony/MS wants it to be manufactured. However manufacturing is basically Sony/MS problem since chips are not actually AMD's products. Shortage is because Sony and MS, not at all AMD's fault.

 

[Dd663]

Consoles are boring now. They're just desktop computers with locked-down OSes. I recognize the benefits of a unified architecture, of course (ignoring the Switch on ARM), but it's hard to get excited about what's essentially a locked-down pre-built PC. The new Xboxes don't even have a different UI.