Breaking: Baldur’s Gate 3 Confirms Exciting Split-Screen Feature for Xbox Series S!
Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox Series S may lack split-screen multiplayer at launch, but Larian Studios and Microsoft remain committed to incorporating this exciting feature in the future
Highlights
Microsoft confirms possibility of split-screen mode in Xbox Series S version of Baldur's Gate 3, despite sacrificing it previously.
Concerns arise over the exception made for Baldur's Gate 3, as Microsoft views the Xbox Series S as crucial to their success in the current console generation. Despite this, Microsoft plans to collaborate with Larian to investigate the inclusion of split-screen features after the game's release, establishing a potential precedent for similar requests from other developers in the future.
Microsoft has confirmed that there is a possibility of a split-screen mode being added to the Xbox Series S version of Baldur's Gate 3. This update comes soon after Larian Studios, the Belgian developer, received permission to prioritize the Xbox Series S version by sacrificing its split-screen multiplayer functionality.
When the latest Xbox systems were introduced in 2020, many industry experts believed that the Xbox Series S would be instrumental in Microsoft's success in the ninth console generation. Priced at $299 and promising the same gameplay features as the $200 more expensive Series X, the Series S was seen as an enticing option. While this perspective still holds true, the exception made for Baldur's Gate 3 has led to speculation that the popular RPG is indicative of future trends, potentially relegating the Xbox Series S to a secondary position compared to the Series X.
In an effort to address concerns raised by fans, Microsoft has taken to the internet to clarify that split-screen multiplayer will still be available for the Xbox Series S version of Baldur's Gate 3. The gaming company expressed its commitment to working closely with Larian to "explore" the possibility of bringing this desired feature to the current-gen console. This statement confirms that the exception made for Baldur's Gate 3 was primarily motivated by the desire to quickly bring the highly-rated game to Xbox systems, rather than signaling a major change in developer policy.
However, even if Larian is successful in adding split-screen multiplayer to the Xbox Series S port of Baldur's Gate 3, the fact that the game will initially launch without this functionality sets a significant precedent for the console's developer policy. By granting an exception for Larian's game, Microsoft inevitably opens the door for other studios to request similar allowances when porting their games to the Xbox Series S.
The company can find comfort in knowing that their decision to support the Xbox versions of Baldur's Gate 3 by any means necessary has earned them the loyalty of one of the most admired developers. Larian's commitment to Microsoft was evident when the boss of Baldur's Gate 3 emphasized that the Xbox Series S does not hinder gaming, despite the challenges faced by the studio in bringing their newest game to that console.
Currently, Baldur's Gate 3 is available for PC, with a release date for the PS5 version set on September 6. Additionally, an Xbox Series X/S version is also being developed.
