AMD, which supplies Sony and Microsoft with chips for PS5 et Xbox series, is pleased with stronger than expected demand. Dr. Lisa Su discusses the challenges resulting from such a launch of consoles.
On the occasion of the virtual CES 2021, a few handpicked American media had the opportunity to discuss with Lisa Su, CEO of AMD. VentureBeat notably published a report of this press conference, during which the boss of the semiconductor company returned to the launch of next-generation consoles.
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Lisa Su relativizes stock issues
“We're thrilled with how it turned out,” says Lisa Su. And while there are out-of-stock and delivery issues, she believes the situation is pretty good given the logistical challenges involved.
“From our perspective, and if you think about the amount of new components that needed to be put together for millions of units, across the three consoles that then needed to ship, it all went very well.”
Read also:Sony distributes 3,4 million PS5s in one month: a record for the firm
To increase production, AMD depends on TSMC
Lisa Su also indicates that the demand has been stronger than expected, whether it is the Sony console or those of Microsoft. AMD has therefore done everything possible to deliver more chips, the main missing component in the manufacture of more PS5 and Xbox Series.
Remember that if AMD designs the chips, it is not she who manufactures them directly. It is indeed the founder TSMC who is in charge of this part, but it is already running at full capacity on its production lines.
It must be said that the AMD chips for PS5 and Xbox Series are based on the 7 nm engraving process, already in high demand by other industries. The move from high-end smartphones to 5 nm could free up space for consoles, but it will still take several months before the situation really stabilizes...
