After Microsoft and Sony, AMD found a new client for custom APUs. AMD develops these custom APUs for Sony's PS4 en Microsoft's Xbox One already.

In this case it'll be a "semi-custom" chip for a game console, very likely this will be the NX from Nintendo. AMD started last quarter with the development of the semi-custom APU which is developed based on very specific wishes from the client. AMD CEO Lisa Su stated that she expects a solid year for the revenue created from game-console chips, which gives AMD an opportunity to grow in the 2nd half of the year. So, chances are high this all refers to the NX from Nintendo, a x86-apu based game console. The combination of a processor and GPU delivers much advantages for Nintendo.

AMD classifies the APU developed as “semi-custom.” Accelerated processing units (APU) chips combine a central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) on a single chip. Nintendo has already made the jump from IBM’s PowerPC to x86-based (AMD and Intel) architecture. That means that games written for Nintendo’s current Wii U console will be x86 compatible. It would make sense for Nintendo to continue its relationship with AMD and continue to use x86 architecture in its next-generation design, which Nintendo announced would be called the NX.

Nintendo’s upcoming codenamed NX video game console, is expected to launch in 2016.





