AnandTech forum user SixPie discovered the previously unseen "Gainsborough" codename in AMD Adrenalin 26.9.2 drivers. This name has been linked to a potential successor to the Steam Deck, but current clues are insufficient to determine which device manufacturer will adopt the chip.
Import and export records show that test devices labeled "Gainsborough" were shipped to Asia several times in late July, using an FF6 BGA package with 1179 contacts. These records, combined with driver information, suggest the codename is already in use, but do not identify the device customer.
Speculation about the Steam Deck stems mainly from the naming convention: previous chips used names of Final Fantasy VII characters Aerith and Sephiroth, while Gainsborough is Aerith's surname. Leaker Kepler_L2 also pointed out this connection.
According to Moore's Law Is Dead, "Gainsborough" is a semi-custom APU built on TSMC's N3P process with Zen 6 and RDNA 5 architectures, potentially arriving in late 2027 or 2028. These specifications and timelines have not been confirmed.
There is another theory regarding the chip's customer: the same FF6 package is reportedly associated with AMD's Ryzen Z3 chip for handhelds. Therefore, it remains uncertain whether "Gainsborough" will be used in a future Steam Deck.