Former PlayStation executive Jim Ryan made a bold statement in the past about the drawbacks of “reduced spec” consoles like the Xbox Series S, and recent optimization challenges seem to support his stance. Despite facing criticism for his opinions, Ryan’s insights on topics like Xbox Game Pass have proven to be on point.
Xbox Series S optimization issues are causing frustration for developers and impacting players
Developers are required by Microsoft to release games simultaneously on both the Series X and Series S, a mandate that has sparked discontent among some game creators who have voiced their frustrations. While developers have faced backlash from dedicated fans and media alike, the perspective of those in the industry should carry more weight than armchair commentators.
Former Naughty Dog and Respawn developer Del Walker recently expressed his frustrations with the Xbox Series S, stating that while the console itself is impressive, optimizing games for it can be a tedious task. Walker also raised concerns that more developers may opt to skip Xbox platforms altogether due to these challenges.
Walker’s concerns are valid. Given the lower sales performance of Xbox consoles, developers are left to decide between investing resources in optimizing for a platform with limited returns or focusing their efforts elsewhere. For smaller studios with limited budgets, the choice is clear.
Even established developers like Larian have faced delays in releasing games on Xbox Series X|S, suggesting that financial considerations may not be the only factor at play. The trend of prioritizing the PS5 over Xbox for game releases is becoming more apparent, as seen with titles like Black Myth: Wukong.
While the exclusivity period for Final Fantasy 16 on the PS5 is ending, the game is only launching on PC for now. The reasons behind this decision are apparent.
Jim Ryan’s cautionary words about creating budget-friendly, lower-spec consoles seem to be ringing true. The challenges faced by executives who have pursued this route in the past serve as a cautionary tale for the industry.
It’s evident that Ryan’s foresight was indeed accurate.