According to AMD leaker Kepler_L2, the chipsets designed by AMD for the PS6 and Xbox Helix game consoles have completed tape-out, suggesting a release date in late 2027 rather than 2028 as some rumors had suggested. Both Kepler and MLID dispute this claim, arguing that manufacturing contracts are already in place and chip production is reportedly scheduled to begin in Q2 2027, with the cost of delaying production exceeding even the losses from rising memory prices. Completing tape-out fits this timeline.
Kepler_L2 also confirmed the final TFLOPS figures for each console: 40 for the PS6 and 56 for the Xbox Helix. At least on paper, the Xbox console holds a substantial 40% TFLOPS advantage. However, in practical applications, this margin is unlikely to double frame rates or deliver similar significant improvements.
These figures align closely with previously leaked information: assuming the PS6 features the rumored 52 active compute units, and considering RDNA's dual-issue FP32 throughput, a GPU clock speed of approximately 3.0 GHz would yield 40 TFLOPS, placing it at the upper end of the previously reported 2.6 to 3.0 GHz range (earlier reports also hinted at a TFLOPS figure between 34 and 40).
Kepler_L2 previously stated that the Helix silicon is about 42% larger than its PlayStation counterpart, with approximately 20% more memory.
The Pricing Dilemma
It is an established fact that the memory crisis has heavily impacted next-gen console costs. In March, Kepler_L2 estimated the PS6's bill of materials at around $760, suggesting a retail price of $699 was still possible. However, about three months later, he reported that this figure had surged to approximately $960, a 26% increase. Sony's CEO has also publicly acknowledged that memory prices are expected to remain high until fiscal year 2027.
Helix is expected to be priced even higher.
Kepler predicts Helix will be priced over $1,000, while MLID's component breakdown estimates a bill of materials cost of around $900 for mass production, implying a conservative minimum price of $999 and a most likely price of $1,200. Part of the issue lies in its structure: since Helix supports an open third-party app store, Microsoft may struggle to subsidize hardware costs like traditional consoles, as it cannot rely on software revenue to offset these losses. In short, given current trends, four-figure pricing for next-generation consoles is not out of the question.
On paper, Helix boasts stronger performance. However, if the new Xbox ends up priced significantly higher than the already expensive PS6, this advantage may become meaningless.