AMD confirms next-gen RDNA 4 GPUs launching early 2025
Short summary:
AMD has officially confirmed that its next-gen RDNA 4 GPUs will launch in early 2025, promising improved gaming, ray tracing, and new AI capabilities. The announcement has sparked speculation about a CES debut.
AMD has confirmed that its next-generation RDNA 4 GPUs will debut in early 2025, marking the first public announcement of these plans during its Q3 2024 earnings call. CEO Lisa Su highlighted that RDNA 4 will offer a "strong increase in gaming performance," enhanced ray tracing capabilities, and new AI features. While gaming revenue continues to decline, partly due to the aging PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, this announcement aligns with rumors of an RDNA 4 reveal at CES 2025, potentially alongside AMD’s other upcoming products, like Strix Halo and Fire Range gaming notebook parts.
Despite the excitement around RDNA 4, gaming remains a smaller focus for AMD, contributing just 2% of its revenue compared to over 50% from data centers. Su emphasized AMD's pivot toward becoming an "end-to-end AI leader," a strategy reflected in its shift away from flagship consumer GPUs to focus on AI and enterprise markets. This suggests that RDNA 4 GPUs will likely prioritize performance and affordability over directly competing with Nvidia's high-end, premium offerings.
As AMD moves forward, the company’s focus appears firmly set on AI and data center innovations while maintaining a presence in gaming through products like RDNA 4 and Ryzen Z2 chips for handheld devices. This strategic shift underscores AMD’s evolving priorities as it navigates a rapidly changing tech landscape.