Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake 2 is a multiplatform horror game designed to take full advantage of current-gen consoles. However, one developer at the studio has revealed one frustration with making games in the current generation: the Xbox Series S.
Communications Director at Remedy Entertainment Thomas Puha explained to fans that development on new multiplatform console games require developers to take the technical limitations of the lower-power Microsoft console in mind when making titles.
Puha’s thouguts came after the recent news that Larian Studios is struggling to bring its massive RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 to Xbox Series consoles due to Series S. With split screen multiplayer currently performing underwhelmingly on the cheaper console, Larian is unhappy with the product on Xbox.
On Twitter, Puha explained that Larian’s goal of getting the game on Series S isn’t just a case of optimisation, and that Xbox fans who believe it is have a lot to learn.
“I feel Larian's pain on Series S. It's not about ‘just optimize at the end’,” they said. “Naaah. You have to take into account the technical limitations from the beginning of development. Nobody really wants to think of that when you start making your game, when everything is possible.”
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Microsoft’s cheaper console as of late. While Baldur’s Gate 3 may be a fantastic title that’s greatly optimised on PC, the fact that Series S has to share complete feature parity with its bigger, more powerful X counterpart is an issue for developers.
On the other hand, Alan Wake 2 is still scheduled to come to Microsoft’s budget next-gen console, and will likely still look amazing. Nevertheless, it is an inescapable fact that developers are having to compromise to get certain titles running on Xbox.
Currently, Baldur’s Gate 3 is scheduled to release on PlayStation 5 on September 6th, the same day Starfield comes to Xbox. Afterwards, if possible, the game will also arrive on Xbox, but no release date has been announced.
If you’re still unsure whether you should pick up Larian’s Steam-destroying RPG, you should read our Baldur’s Gate 3 review. Here’s a sneak peek: the game’s phenomenal.