"ATI Extends Patent Cross-License Agreement with Intel; Also Receives License," states the press release. It means that ATI, who make many personal computer video-cards and the "Flipper" graphics core for the GameCube, will be extending their cross-license agreement with Intel. This grants ATI the right to build intergrated graphics processors that will support Intel's Pentium 4 800MHz front-side bus.

Louis Burns, vice president and co-general manager of Desktop Platforms Group, Intel had this to say; "Intel is committed to bringing powerful, feature-rich computing solutions to the market place. This agreement will provide our customers with new choices and flexibility in the development and configuration of their Pentium 4 systems." and Dave Orton, President & Chief Operating Officer of ATI Technologies also spoke of the matter:"ATI and Intel are recognized technology leaders in their respective categories and this agreement will enable both companies to build upon those unique strengths and bring exciting new computing options to consumers worldwide. This agreement will also allow ATI to bring our technology-leading RADEON(TM) graphics to chipsets for Intel's 800MHz FSB Pentium 4 microprocessors."

This may seem irrelevant to the GameCube but it's not. Microsoft have a long time partnership with Intel and have been rumoured to be dropping NVIDIA due to 'cost negotiation difficulties'. NVIDIA's integrated AMD solution, which integrates graphics, audio and networking combination that is based on the latest collaboratively, designed Intel/ATI technology. This could be the basis for both the next console from Microsoft and Nintendo.