PS6 and Xbox Helix: finalized processors and the race for teraflops reignited

According to a new confidential report, the chips (processors) intended for the Xbox Helix and the PlayStation 6 have crossed the famous “Tape-Out” milestone. For newcomers, this industry term means that the final design of the completed components is finished and has been handed over to the foundry to begin manufacturing. At this stage, the design phase is almost over, and the move to production has begun. It is also highly unlikely that major changes will occur, unless a critical flaw requiring major fixes is detected during the first manufacturing tests. If today’s leak does not name the companies behind these chips, the market already knows for sure that once again it is AMD that will provide the custom architecture (APU) for the two manufacturers (Intel having recently failed to win Sony’s tender), while the physical etching of the silicon will be entrusted to the factories of Taiwanese giant TSMC.

 

The Teraflop race: 40 for Sony, 56 for Microsoft According to KeplerL2, a well-known and respected “leaker” in the hardware field, we do not only know that these chips would be finalized, we are also getting a first glimpse of their technical specifications. In a message posted on the NeoGAF forums, Kepler claims that the PlayStation 6 would offer 40 teraflops of computing power, 56 for the Xbox Helix.

 

Theoretical power to be put into perspective As a reminder, teraflops measure the raw, theoretical computing power of a console, which notably determines its ability to display and handle ultra-complex 3D models (polygons) on screen. It is however crucial to note that this figure assesses theoretical potential, not real-world, practical performance in games. Other hardware factors (bandwidth, memory architecture) and software factors (game engine optimization) will define the efficiency of these new machines once assembled. Thus, a raw teraflop advantage on paper is not automatically proof of technical dominance in the player’s hands.

 

A massive technological leap compared with the current generation It remains nevertheless very interesting to observe the colossal leap forward promised by these next machines compared with current-generation hardware. To put these numbers into perspective, the recent PlayStation 5 Pro tops out at 16.7 teraflops, the standard PlayStation 5 reaches 10.28 teraflops, the Xbox Series X goes up to 12, and the smaller Xbox Series S settles for 4 teraflops. Of course, despite Kepler’s rather reliable track record, this juicy technical information should be taken with the usual pinch of salt pending official confirmation from Microsoft or Sony.

 

Release dates and indicative prices for the PlayStation 6 and Xbox Helix still totally unknown (analysts generally expect a launch around 2027/2028).

 

Reminder of the key features of the PS6 and Xbox Helix (rumors):

• Type: next-generation home consoles

• Processors: final design (Tape-Out stage reached)

• Estimated raw computing power (PS6): 40 teraflops

• Estimated raw computing power (Xbox Helix): 56 teraflops

• Release date: unknown