Black Myth: Wukong Dev Bemoans Lack of Xbox Version, Points the Finger at Xbox Series S
The highly praised action game, Black Myth: Wukong, has seen incredible success on PC and PlayStation 5, securing the Game of the Year award at the 2024 Steam Awards. However, it remains absent on the Xbox platform, a situation that has drawn attention and some criticism from its developer, Game Science.
Feng Ji, the co-founder and CEO of Game Science, took to the Chinese social media platform Weibo to voice his concerns over the missing Xbox version. In his statement, Feng Ji referenced the optimization challenges posed by the Xbox Series S, citing its hardware limitations as the primary reason for the delay.
According to Feng Ji, the Xbox Series S’s 10GB of shared memory presents unique challenges that require extensive optimization experience, experience which is hard to acquire quickly. The key issue lies in the console’s hardware specs: it features 4 teraflops (TF) of GPU compute compared to the Xbox Series X’s 12.2TF, coupled with a reduction in memory from 16GB to 10GB. This has made adaptation to the Xbox Series S significantly more demanding for developers.
Microsoft’s policy mandates that games must be released across both Xbox Series X and S, prohibiting developers from exclusively targeting the more powerful Series X. This policy has previously been a stumbling block for developers, as seen with Larian Studios. Their game, Baldur’s Gate 3, faced delays for the Xbox version due to the Series S struggling with features like splitscreen co-op, leading Microsoft to eventually make an exception for its launch.
Other developers have also spoken out about the Series S. For instance, in 2023, Remedy’s communications director highlighted the difficulties they faced with Alan Wake 2, citing the GPU and memory limitations as significant hurdles. These challenges are not isolated, with other industry professionals noting that development cycles have been impacted, as studios seek to navigate the constraints of the Series S.
Despite these challenges, Microsoft remains firm in its stance. The company emphasizes the importance of offering an entry-level console option, maintaining the significance of a sub-$300 device like the Xbox Series S in the console market. Microsoft maintains this position amidst calls from developers to allow releases exclusively on the Series X when needed.
Adding complexity to the situation with Black Myth: Wukong, Microsoft has refuted claims that the game’s delay on Xbox is due to Series S limitations. Instead, they suggested that exclusivity arrangements with Sony might be the cause, stating their excitement about the game’s arrival on Xbox platforms and commitment to working with Game Science.
Since its launch on August 19, Black Myth: Wukong has sold an astonishing 18 million copies within just two weeks on PC and PS5, generating substantial revenue. It now stands alongside legendary titles such as Grand Theft Auto 5 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in terms of rapid sales success, with production reportedly costing $70 million over six years. The game’s formidable performance even played a significant role in Sony’s recent financial quarter, countering previous setbacks.
Fans of the game can look forward to further content, as an expansion inspired by Elden Ring is slated to precede any sequel. This indicates Game Science’s commitment to expanding the world of Black Myth: Wukong.
The game has garnered favorable reviews, including an 8/10 rating for its compelling gameplay, exhilarating combat, and visually stunning world.
As anticipation builds for its eventual Xbox release, the gaming community keeps a close watch on developments between Microsoft and Game Science. The challenges posed by the Xbox Series S stand as a testament to the complexities of multi-platform game development in today’s console landscape.
