The new Xbox could overtake PS6: aiming for 2026 with UDNA architecture and improvements in Ray Tracing and AI

The new Xbox could bet on 2026 with a release date, while Sony with its PS6 could wait a little longer.

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Rumors about the new generation of consoles are starting to take shape, and everything points to the fact that the next Xbox could arrive in 2026, a year before PlayStation 6. This is according to Kepler_L2, a well-known technical insider on NeoGAF, who has also detailed key aspects of the hardware that both platforms will use.

Both Microsoft and Sony will bet on a GPU architecture based on UDNA, an evolution of RDNA4 that promises a 20% superior performance in rasterization and double the power in ray tracing (RT) and artificial intelligence (AI). Although both consoles will share a technological base, Xbox’s plan would be to get ahead of its competitor and launch its new system a year earlier.

The new Xbox: more power and possible launch in 2026

Kepler claims that Microsoft wants to gain an advantage and is considering a launch in 2026 for its next console, compared to Sony’s more traditional calendar, which points to 2027 for PS6. This strategy would make sense if Xbox launches its major franchises – such as Halo CE Remake, Gears of War: E-Day, and Forza Horizon 6 – throughout 2025, closing the current cycle with a bang.

Additionally, the insider assures that the level of customization that Microsoft and Sony usually announce in their APUs is limited, and that most key components are still controlled by AMD. In other words, the heart of these consoles will be practically the same, with minimal differences centered on retrocompatibility or the operating system.

UDNA: improvements in graphics and AI

The UDNA architecture is shaping up to be a significant generational leap:

• +20% performance in rasterization compared to RDNA4.

• 2x improvement in ray tracing.

• 2x improvement in artificial intelligence tasks, very relevant for techniques such as upscaling or dynamic physics.

• No 3D cache, according to the same leaker, which is a difference with some current AMD APUs.

Although the details of the cores (CU) or the exact configuration of the GPU are not yet known, the technological base is already defined, and the collaboration between Xbox and AMD, officially announced last May, reinforces this line.

Xbox Quest 3S as a stepping stone?

This strategy is added to the recent leak of the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition, a virtual reality device co-developed with Meta, which could expand the Xbox ecosystem to new formats. It’s no coincidence that it coincides with this moment: Xbox is restructuring its future and seeks to position itself before Sony also in innovation.

2026 vs 2027?

According to reports, Sony is in no hurry, but Microsoft could take advantage of the 2026 window to take the lead. Although the final date will depend on AMD’s production schedule and the launch software, everything points to Xbox wanting to arrive first.

We’ll be keeping an eye on any new leaks or official movements. What’s certain is that the new generation is already underway.