Xbox 2 Semiconducter Supplier Revealed

More on the next gen front today, as Microsoft announces Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's involvement in "Future Microsoft Game Consoles".

Microsoft and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company have reached an agreement for TSMC to provide semiconductor manufacturing services for Microsoft's "future Xbox products".... Xbox 2, to you and us.

The breakthrough agreement expands an ongoing relationship between the two companies by providing Microsoft with direct, collaborative access to TSMC's advanced semiconductor process technologies.

"TSMC has consistently demonstrated industry leadership in the development and deployment of highly advanced semiconductor process technologies for high-volume manufacturing," said Todd Holmdahl, Xbox General Manager of Microsoft Corporation. "It was this solid record of achievement that led us to work directly with TSMC on semiconductors targeted to our future game consoles products."

Founded in 1987, TSMC is the largest semiconductor foundry in the world, specializing in manufacturing semiconductors for its customers in a wide variety of end markets. Its foundry services also include a broad range of silicon-proven intellectual property cores and tight integration with leading electronic design automation (EDA) design tools that allow chip designers to achieve faster time-to-volume.

"Microsoft's future Xbox products and services will require leading-edge semiconductor technologies," said Dr. Rick Tsai, president of TSMC. "This agreement underscores the importance of a partnership between the two companies to identify the best technology platforms for Microsoft's future products. We look forward to a long and productive collaboration with Microsoft."

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com