The boss of Black Myth: Wukong developer Game Science has pointed the finger on the Xbox Series S over the dearth of an Xbox model of the sport.
In a publish on Chinese social media web site Weibo, Game Science co-founder and CEO Feng Ji celebrated PC and PlayStation 5 motion recreation Black Myth: Wukong’s Game of the Year win on the 2024 Steam awards, and in doing so lamented the dearth of an Xbox model of the sport, which he blamed on optimization bother with the Xbox Series S.
“The solely factor lacking is the Xbox,” he stated, per machine studying translation, “which someway feels a bit incorrect, however that 10GB of shared reminiscence — with out years of optimisation expertise — is basically laborious to make work.”
That’s a reference to the Xbox Series S’ energy relative to the Xbox Series X. The Series S has 4TF of GPU compute in comparison with the Xbox Series X’s 12.2TF, however the killer is the drop in reminiscence allocation, from 16GB right down to 10GB.
Microsoft’s Xbox launch coverage means publishers and builders should launch their video games throughout Xbox Series X and S. They are unable to launch a recreation for Xbox Series X solely, for instance. This has induced problem for some studios previously, maybe most notably Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian. Baldur’s Gate 3 was initially launched on PC and PS5 solely, with the Xbox model delayed because of points with the Xbox Series S particularly struggling to carry out splitscreen co-op. In the previous, Xbox had dedicated to parity between Xbox Series S and X for all video games, nevertheless it in the end made an exception for Baldur’s Gate 3 so the sport might launch later in 2023.
In 2023, Remedy communications director Thomas Puha talked brazenly concerning the problem the studio confronted getting Alan Wake 2 working nicely on the Xbox Series S, saying the console’s GPU “is a matter” and “having much less reminiscence is a fairly large drawback.” Before then, a VFX artist who had labored on an Xbox Series X and S recreation stated in a now-deleted tweet that “many builders have been sitting in conferences for the previous yr desperately attempting to get Series S launch necessities dropped”.
“Studios have been by one growth cycle the place Series S turned out to be an albatross across the neck of manufacturing, and now that video games are firmly being developed with new consoles in thoughts, groups don’t need to repeat the method,” the developer stated.
In interviews with press together with IGN, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has deflected questions on whether or not Xbox Series S is holding builders again, and rejected requires builders to be allowed to launch their video games on Xbox Series X solely. In an interview with Eurogamer, Spencer stated: “Having an entry-level worth level for a sub-$300 console is an efficient factor for the business. I feel it is necessary. The Switch has been ready to try this, by way of sort of the normal plug-into-my-television consoles. I feel it is necessary. So, we’re dedicated.”
The state of affairs with Black Myth: Wukong, nonetheless, is additional muddled by Microsoft’s insistence that the sport’s delay on Xbox has nothing to do with growth points. In numerous statements issued to IGN, Microsoft has instructed an exclusivity take care of Sony was the reason for the delay.
“As we’ve got stated earlier than, we’re excited for the launch of Black Myth Wukong on Xbox Series X and S and are working with Game Science to convey the sport to our platforms,” Microsoft has advised IGN.
“We’d favor to not touch upon the offers made by our companions with different platform holders however we are able to affirm that the delay is just not because of Xbox platform limitations which were raised to us.”
Black Myth: Wukong launched on August 19 and offered an eye-watering 18 million copies in simply two weeks throughout PC and PS5, reportedly making over $700 million in income within the course of. That was sufficient to place Black Myth: Wukong up there with Grand Theft Auto 5 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as one of many fastest-selling video games of all time, and is an astonishing return for a recreation that had a reported funds of $70 million over six years of growth. It did so nicely that Sony pointed to Black Myth: Wukong as making a major contribution to income throughout its final monetary quarter, making up for the Concord catastrophe.
DLC is ready to observe. In September, Game Science investor Hero Games confirmed plans to launch an Elden Ring-style growth for Black Myth: Wukong forward of any sequel.
IGN’s Black Myth: Wukong overview returned an 8/10. We stated: “Despite some irritating technical points, Black Myth: Wukong is a good motion recreation with implausible fight, thrilling bosses, tantalizing secrets and techniques, and a fantastic world.”
While you’re right here, IGN has a lot extra Black Myth: Wukong guides that will help you out, together with Essential Tips and Tricks, Things Black Myth: Wukong Doesn’t Tell You, and our Boss List and Guides.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
