Microsoft Picks IBM Processors for Xbox 2 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Microsoft Picks IBM Processors for Xbox 2

Microsoft and IBM announced today that IBM technology will power "future Xbox products and services". Details are scarce, but according to the press release, "the new Xbox technologies will be based on the latest in IBM's family of state-of-the-art processors."

Microsoft's Xbox currently utilizes an Intel processor, suggesting that the future Xbox may break backward compatibility with the current crop of machines. (Unless, of course, Microsoft introduces some sort of emulation layer.)

Current Nintendo GameCubes utilize the IBM PowerPC processor, while the next-generation Sony Playstation is also rumored to use IBM-based technology (Cell). Apple currently uses IBM-based PowerPC 970 processors to power their PowerMac G5s.

Of potential interest, Microsoft recently acquired Virtual PC from Connectix which offers x86 emulation on the PowerPC.

Popular Stories

iPhone Handoff Feature

iOS 27 Introduces New 'iPhone Handoff' Feature

Wednesday September 2, 2026 12:35 pm PDT by
Apple has added a new "iPhone Handoff" feature to iOS 27 that will allow you to switch between two iPhones while using the same phone number on each device. This functionality was briefly mentioned during the WWDC 2026 keynote in June, on a slide that listed hundreds of new features coming in iOS 27 and corresponding software updates, but Apple never shared any further details at the time. ...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Thursday September 3, 2026 3:41 am PDT by
Less than a week before Apple debuts new iPhone 18 Pro models, research firm TrendForce has estimated the prices of the devices based on the latest hardware cost environment. TrendForce's price estimates compared to last year's models look like this: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 17 Pro $1,099 iPhone 18 Pro $...
Apple Foldable Thumb

iPhone Ultra's Very High Price and Features Revealed in New Report

Thursday September 3, 2026 7:33 am PDT by
Ahead of Apple's event on Wednesday, September 9, where it is expected to unveil its first-ever foldable iPhone, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce today outlined the device's estimated price range, features, and some other key details. In the U.S., TrendForce estimated that the foldable iPhone will have a starting price of $2,099 to $2,299 and said the highest-end configurations could...