Microsoft engineers criticized, as source claims AMD is designing new Xbox consoles alone

[Redaktion]

A source at AMD questions how involved Microsoft is with designing new Xbox consoles. The chip maker is reportedly crafting the systems with little help from Microsoft engineers. Conversely, Moore's Law is Dead discusses how Sony collaborates with AMD to improve PlayStation consoles and GPUs.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Microsoft-engineers-criticized-as-source-claims-AMD-is-designing-new-Xbox-consoles-alone.1138388.0.html

[Boseefus]

Not sure about the title there.  As someone working in an engineering environment I very much doubt that Microsoft operates much differently.  If the engineers at Microsoft aren't working with AMD I very much doubt that is a reflection of their competency or commitment.  There is always some product owner, all to often someone with no technical acumen, directing those engineers as to where their time is to be spent and what their priorities should be.  If Microsoft isn't working with AMD, it's because leadership at Microsoft has decided they don't want to or it isn't worth the time.  Nobody is slacking off or dropping the ball; this is, I assure you, a choice and one not made by the engineers.

[GeorgeS]

sigh

Welcome to modern outsourcing. "Brand" sends out 'request for bid' with a list of 'requirements'. OEM's work on what can/can't be done with existing/future hardware that may or not meet the needs/requirements.

Once the major technical details are worked out, the "Brand" may have further size/shape/packaging that they wish to add.

[Reply to GeorgeS]

The final part is:

Beancounter executives then cut a key piece of hardware spec (ie, memory bandwidth or capacity) to save 5% unit cost. Product then fails to meet sales expectations and concedes defeat to competition in following cycle.

[Fragslayer]

This source sounds just as incompetent as he claims Microsofts engineers are. Actually moreso. A. Saying they "would not" be able to work at a place such as Nvidia is slander. To even think for a single second they have the slightest choice on where their time is spent spells criminally incompetent in its own right.

I assure you if that is where they are meant to be, that's where they would be. It would be up to the person calling those shots not them. You're insider has no clue what arrangements Xbox has with the higher-ups at AMD. Calling out their skills competence was the biggest mistake in all this nonsense. Therefore, I do not believe a word they said now.

[Making the case]

because leadership

Isn't that agreeing with the very premise tho?

What self-respecting engineer, especially one who is among the top of their field, who could literally work at any company choose to stay at one with incompetent leadership and no vision?

Answer: Maybe the worse engineers but the best left ages ago. We saw similar things happen with Intel and can draw parallels from that story. Jim Keller tried to join intel to help a couple of years ago. In the end, after a brief stint he ended up leaving due to getting tired of the being bogged down with all the bureaucracy b.s. at the company.