Microsoft took a different approach to console gaming this generation, introducing the budget-friendly Xbox Series S. This console is $200 cheaper than the Xbox Series X and supports current-gen games.
However, its lower cost comes with weaker hardware which is becoming a problem for some developers. Previous reports claimed developers were looking to drop support for the Xbox Series S, but Microsoft has clarified that it will stick to the console.
Matt Booty from Xbox also claimed that developers could plan ahead to improve optimization for the console.
Why it matters: This is great news for existing and future owners of the cheaper Xbox Series console. Microsoft’s first-party will continue to support the hardware, and third-party games will also be released.
The Head of Xbox Game Studios recently spoke with Axios. While many topics were discussed, Matt Booty revealed an interesting point about the Xbox Series S.
He acknowledged the compromises with the hardware and the difficulties associated with developing games for the console. However, he also stated that first-party developers have been able to get more out of the console, and experienced developers did an even better job with the budget console.
He then said:
“They can plan better, knowing where some of the sharp corners are.”
This implies that third-party developers can accomplish similar results with planning. Since the Xbox Series S has been on the market for three years, many teams have had a lot of experience with the hardware.
As such, they are now well aware of its weaknesses and strengths. Games like Cyberpunk 2077 did not initially support 60FPS on the $300 console. However, a new performance mode for this frame rate was later patched in.
Still, games like A Plague Tale: Requiem recently skipped 60fps for Xbox Series S, limiting the patch to the more powerful consoles. However, it is possible that the developer could release another patch for the budget console later on.
Nonetheless, Matt Booty has made it clear that the Xbox Series S is here to stay, and developers releasing games on the platform must create games for the console.
While it may be troublesome to deal with its limitations, careful planning and optimization can allow the console to shine, allowing more people to enjoy games at a lower cost.
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