Why Xbox Series S Poses a Significant Challenge for Game Developers

Highlights

Xbox Series S, the cheaper version of Series X, is being criticized for its low-spec hardware and its impact on game development.

The technical limitations of Series S must be taken into account during game production, as stated by a Remedy Entertainment developer. These limitations restrict the creative possibilities for developers. However, despite potentially resulting in less advanced games, Series S is a popular and affordable choice for gamers, and it also broadens the range of games available on various hardware.

According to a developer at Remedy Entertainment, the Xbox Series S may hinder game development. As the least powerful console among the mainstream current-gen consoles, the Series S was designed as a more affordable alternative to the Series X. One of its main selling points is that it can still play the major games, albeit with reduced visual quality. The usefulness of Microsoft's budget console has been called into question multiple times before, with Baldur's Gate 3 for Xbox being hindered by the Series S, as stated by Larian Studios. Thomas Puha from Remedy Entertainment sympathized with Larian, acknowledging the Series S's limited hardware and its impact on game development.

According to Puha, the communications director at Remedy Entertainment, the creators of Control, optimizing for the low-spec hardware of Xbox Series S cannot be done after development. Puha asserts that the console's technical limitations must be considered from the beginning of a game's production, which limits what can be created compared to Series X, the more powerful current-gen Xbox console.

It is worth noting that Puha's statement contradicts the opinion of the boss of Baldur's Gate 3, who believes that Series S does not pose issues for game development. Some have criticized Puha, as a communications director, for having a role that is solely focused on PR. However, Puha has been a part of Remedy Entertainment since 2015, according to his LinkedIn page, suggesting that he is well-acquainted with Remedy's production process and holds authority on the subject.

At Rocksteady, a developer expressed their belief that the development of Xbox Series S is hindered and openly stated this in 2022. Lee Devonald, a Senior Character Technical Artist, commented that the Series S is comparable to a previous-generation console. However, it is necessary for Xbox developers to address this issue since all Series X games must also be compatible with the lower-spec variant.

Considering the lower price of the Xbox Series S compared to the Series X and PS5 consoles, it becomes an attractive choice for gamers seeking more affordable options. Admittedly, targeting the lower-end hardware of the Series S may result in less technically advanced games than they could have been. Nevertheless, the advantage of making games available on a wider range of hardware should not be overlooked.