Developer cites Series S as reason for Xbox game release delay

The Xbox Series S has once again come under scrutiny following remarks made by Thomas Mahler, the founder of Moon Studios, which is responsible for the action role-playing game “No Rest for the Wicked.” This title has been available since early access on Steam in 2024, and recent developments have caused a stir within the gaming community.

During the PlayStation State of Play event, it was announced that “No Rest for the Wicked” would be launching on the PlayStation 5 in October to coincide with its official 1.0 release. However, Xbox users will face delays in accessing the game. Mahler indicated that the complications stem not from any marketing agreement but from the technical limitations of the Xbox Series S hardware. In a response to a fan’s inquiry regarding the absence of a release date for Xbox, Mahler highlighted these challenges, noting that greater optimization would be necessary before releasing the game on platforms like Xbox and the anticipated Switch 2.

The comments drew attention not only because they reflect concerns over the performance of the Xbox Series S but also due to the trend of game delays on the platform. Previously, the Xbox version of “Black Myth: Wukong” experienced a year-long delay, attributed to similar optimization issues. While Microsoft initially refuted speculation regarding development troubles, Game Science later acknowledged that the shared memory limitations of the Series S were impacting performance. When “Black Myth: Wukong” was ultimately released for Xbox, the developers verified that the additional time was spent optimizing the game specifically for the console.

Additional instances of development challenges associated with the Xbox Series S include “Baldur’s Gate 3,” which faced delays in its launch on Xbox. The game had a staggered rollout across platforms, with its Xbox debut pushed to December 2023 mainly due to difficulties in achieving smooth performance for split-screen gameplay. Larian Studios even sought assistance from Microsoft engineers to navigate these technical concerns.

These ongoing discussions raise questions about the long-term viability of the Xbox Series S in the current console generation. Microsoft mandates that all Xbox Series X titles must also function on the Series S while maintaining feature parity, a requirement that has inadvertently led to delayed releases for certain titles. This situation prompts speculation regarding the future of Xbox consoles, particularly the forthcoming Project Helix, and whether it will adhere to a dual-console approach or focus on a single, robust hardware model.

For now, “No Rest for the Wicked” is set to be released on the PS5 in October, with the Xbox date yet to be confirmed by developers.

#business #technology