AMD says RDNA 4 GPUs are coming in early 2025

Radeon RX 8000 seems to be around the corner, and it will deliver ray tracing improvements, AI capabilities.

AMD's Radeon graphics processor sales saw a notable decline in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, as the company prepares to launch its next-generation RDNA 4 GPUs in early 2025. AMD CEO Lisa Su explained during a conference call that this decline reflects a transitional phase as the company shifts focus to its upcoming lineup. The RDNA 4 architecture promises substantial advancements, including significantly enhanced gaming performance, improved ray tracing capabilities, and the integration of new AI features. Unlike competing for the ultra-high-end market, AMD plans to prioritize mid-range, high-volume models, aiming to cater to a broader audience. This strategy reflects a shift away from a "king of the hill" approach to focus on accessible performance and scalability.

AMD's RDNA 4 architectures have sparked industry-wide anticipation, especially regarding its ray tracing advancements. While speculation about doubled ray tracing performance over RDNA 3 GPUs has circulated for some time, AMD CEO Lisa Su's recent comments mark the first official acknowledgment of these improvements from a high-ranking company representative. Preliminary leaks hint at significant strides in ray tracing capabilities, promising an enhanced gaming experience, though specific details remain speculative. If these advancements hold true, RDNA 4 GPUs could deliver a transformative leap in graphics performance when they launch in early 2025.

AMD's RDNA 4 architecture is expected to introduce enhanced AI capabilities, likely including expanded support for AI-specific instructions and data formats optimized for machine learning tasks. Whether these advancements will be accessible on consumer-grade graphics cards or reserved for workstation and server-oriented Radeon Pro GPUs remains unclear. AMD is also reportedly working to make its FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) technology fully AI-driven, which could significantly boost the gaming experience.

With AMD targeting an early 2025 release, it seems likely that the first RDNA 4-based graphics processors will be unveiled at CES. Historically, AMD and Nvidia align major GPU launches with the holiday season to capitalize on new game releases. However, a post-holiday launch suggests AMD might debut RDNA 4 laptop GPUs first, leveraging CES as a platform for collaboration with notebook partners. If so, this would be a notable shift from AMD's usual strategy of prioritizing desktop gaming GPUs.