Game Science CEO Says Black Myth: Wukong Hasn't Arrived On Xbox Yet Due To Optimisation Issues On Series S

Black Myth: Wukong developer, Game Science said, "The only thing missing is XBOX robe... That 10G of shared memory, it's really impossible to get it without several years of optimisation experience."

Xbox S series' 10GB of RAM, compared to Series X's 16GB, seems to have become a bottleneck for developers who intend to bring their games to the Xbox platform.

Source : Game Science

The head of Game Science, the studio behind the critically acclaimed action RPG Black Myth: Wukong, has hinted that the game's absence from current-generation Xbox consoles is due to optimisation challenges with the less powerful Xbox Series S. This statement contradicts earlier speculation that the developer had signed a console exclusivity agreement with Sony.

While Black Myth: Wukong launched on PC and PS5 in August last year, a release date for the Xbox Series S/X remains unconfirmed.

Game Science CEO Expresses Regret Over Xbox Series S Optimisation Issues

The Game Science CEO appears to be referencing the Xbox Series S's shared memory of 10GB, which is split between the system and games. This limitation, especially compared to the Series X's 16GB of RAM, seems to present challenges for developers aiming to optimize their titles for the Xbox platform, Gagdets 360 reported.

Feng Ji said, “The only thing missing is the XBOX robe... seems a bit wrong, but that 10G of shared memory, it's really impossible to get it without several years of optimisation experience,” he added.

The Game Science chief seems to be pointing at the Xbox Series S's 10GB of memory shared between the system and games. This 10GB of RAM, compared to Series X's 16GB, seems to have become a bottleneck for developers who intend to bring their games to the Xbox platform.

Limitations Of Xbox Series S

Technical limitations also impacted the release of Baldur's Gate 3 on Xbox Series consoles. The less powerful Series S encountered challenges with the game's split-screen co-op feature, forcing developers to make adjustments. When the RPG eventually launched on Xbox—four months after its PC release and three months after its PS5 debut—the Series S version was notably missing the split-screen functionality.

Microsoft enforces a policy that mandates feature parity between the Series X and Series S, ensuring both consoles offer the same core gameplay experience. Furthermore, the company expects games to launch simultaneously on both platforms, a requirement that can create additional hurdles for developers working on graphically intensive or technically demanding titles.

Statements Not Matching?

Feng Ji's remarks about the Series S limitations add another layer of complexity to the ongoing delay in bringing Black Myth: Wukong to Xbox. While he cites optimization challenges as the primary reason, an August 2024 report suggested that Game Science might have entered an exclusivity agreement with Sony, restricting the game to the PS5 for an unspecified period. However, neither Sony nor Game Science has officially confirmed such a deal.

This speculation conflicts with Game Science's earlier communication. In the FAQ section of the game's official website, the studio stated that additional time was needed to optimize the game for the Xbox Series S/X.

Developer said, “PC and PS5 users can enjoy the full game starting August 20, 2024. We are currently optimizing the Xbox Series X|S version to meet our quality standards, so it won't release simultaneously with the other platforms. We apologize for the delay and aim to minimize the wait for Xbox users. We will announce the release date as soon as it meets our quality standards.”

The situation was further muddled by a June 2024 statement from Microsoft, which hinted at possible agreements between developers and other platform holders, potentially influencing game releases.

Microsoft said, “We're excited for the launch of Black Myth Wukong on Xbox Series X|S and are working with Game Science to bring the game to our platforms. We can't comment on the deals made by our partners with other platform holders, but we remain focused on making Xbox the best platform for gamers, and great games are at the center of that.”

The lack of clear communication and contradictory statements from all parties involved, combined with the absence of a confirmed Xbox Series S/X release date for Black Myth: Wukong, is bound to leave Xbox players feeling disappointed and frustrated.