AMD is on a roll with massively profitable gaming CPUs, and it’s already planning for the years forward. Based on a brand new rumor, AMD expects to launch its next-gen Zen 6 Ryzen “Medusa” gaming CPUs in late 2026 or early 2027, with plans that the brand new CPUs will preserve compatibility with current motherboards by utilizing the identical AM5 socket design as different Ryzen CPUs.
It’s by no means too early to assume forward, and AMD has an enormous lead within the battle for the very best gaming CPU that it’s going to wish to maintain on to. Simply this week, we revealed our AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D overview, which confirmed that this new CPU is effectively forward of the very best that Intel has to supply, together with the Intel Core i9 14900K, with phenomenal gaming efficiency.
Nonetheless, AMD has a repute to uphold, and it will possibly’t relaxation within the pursuit for glory, so it’s not shocking to listen to that it already has a plan for the subsequent era. This newest rumor comes straight from X (previously Twitter), with well-known {hardware} leaker Kepler_L2 reporting in a tweet thread that the corporate is launching Zen 6 “so far as they know” in a interval between late 2026 to early 2027.
In the identical thread, Kepler_L2 additionally reviews that these new Ryzen gaming CPUs will preserve compatibility with AM5 by answering “sure” when requested in the event that they’ll be utilizing the identical socket design as present Zen 5 CPUs. There are not any different particulars to be shared up to now, however that’s unsurprising, as any unconfirmed particulars (together with these) are topic to vary.
Nonetheless, this does appear to match earlier AMD Zen 6 launch particulars that got here straight from the chip maker itself at its AMD Tech Day occasion again in July, when it said that the Zen 6 launch date could be in 2027, and that AM5 could be supported till at the least 2027, too.
Whereas the discharge date is fascinating, the socket design affords some early excellent news for shoppers. By sticking with the identical AM5 socket as present Ryzen 7000 and Ryzen 9000 CPUs, it’s possible that avid gamers received’t must improve to a model new motherboard, decreasing the general value for upgrades. A brand new PC construct is dear sufficient, however this might enable for less expensive upgrades, particularly when you think about that the very best CPUs already value a whole lot of {dollars}.
As at all times, with a launch date so distant, quite a bit is (and sure will) change between at times. Within the meantime, when you’re out there for a brand new CPU improve, take a look at our Ryzen 7 7800X3D overview – it’s simply been usurped by the brand new 9800X3D on the prime, however it’s nonetheless the most effective gaming CPUs that you could purchase right this moment.
