Baldur’s Gate 3, one of the most awaited role-playing games of the year, is set to launch on August 3 on PC and September 6 on the PlayStation 5. However, fans are left scratching their heads over the conspicuous absence of a release date for the Xbox Series X and S versions. The culprit behind this delay is not exclusivity deals but rather the technical challenge posed by the game’s two-player split-screen co-op functionality on Xbox Series S and Microsoft’s policy of feature parity across its consoles.
Because of this mandate, Larian Studios, the developers of Baldur’s Gate 3, can’t launch on the Xbox until they’ve optimized the split-screen co-op feature on both the Xbox Series S/X without compromise.
Given that Larian Studios has its hands full at the moment with the impending PC release and the PS5 port one month later, the Xbox port will likely not take priority until both versions are out and running smoothly.
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The Xbox Series S, a more economical, slimmer, and less-powerful version of Xbox’s flagship console, is a peculiar device. On one hand, it’s more powerful than the now-phased-out Xbox One X. On the other hand, it doesn’t have any competition in the market. The PS5’s more affordable Digital Edition houses the same specifications as the Standard Edition. The only difference is the bulge on the side where the disc drive is located on the Standard Edition. Otherwise, both the Digital and Standard Editions of the PS5 are the same.
We can’t say the same for the Xbox Series S, and therein lies the problem. Apparently, the Xbox Series S is struggling to keep up with the demands of the taxing split-screen co-op feature. The necessity for more memory increases significantly when two players pslit-up and engage in demanding actions in the game, slowing down the performance. Larian Studios’ boss, Swen Vincke, acknowledged this challenge in an interview with IGN, and the need to potentially make “compromises” that could, in an extreme case, lead to the removal of split-screen co-op on Xbox Series S. Yet, they are determined to find a solution without compromising gameplay, stating that they view split-screen co-op as a crucial feature and wouldn’t want to release the game without it.
Yet, in the face of these technical obstacles, Vincke expresses strong confidence in his team’s ability to deliver, claiming that they’ve done this before with Divinity: Original Sin 2 on the Switch.
In the meanwhile, the PlayStation 5 version of the game, set for release in September, seems to work fairly well albeit it isn’t perfect either. The use of radial menus and thumbstick movement control present a more natural gameplay feel, although it isn’t without its issues with frame rates and texture quality. The extra month of polishing should, at the very least, be good for the PS5 port.
The delayed release for Xbox is certainly not ideal for Microsoft, and it paints a somewhat unfavorable picture. The situation presents a growing issue for Microsoft as more developers strive to maximize the capabilities of the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Will the less powerful Series S hold them back? Or, in the extreme cases like Larian’s, hold back Xbox versions entirely?
Just last year, one of the developers who worked on Gotham Knights called out the “potato gpu” of the Xbox Series S and it’s presumed that this is partly to blame for the performance woes suffered by the game.
This new information also makes you consider why 343 Industries dropped split-screen co-op from Halo Infinite. Maybe the studio couldn’t get it to work on the Xbox Series S at all.
However, despite the wait, Xbox fans have a glimmer of hope: Baldur’s Gate 3 will offer cross-platform progression support, meaning players can transition across platforms without losing progress. This will ensure seamless enjoyment of the game’s immersive universe, and when the Xbox launch does occur, it is poised to be a celebrated event.
Looking forward, the timeframe for the Xbox launch remains unclear. Vincke notes Larian’s “ambition” is to guarantee that Baldur’s Gate 3 is on Xbox Series X and S this year, but the studio isn’t guaranteeing anything. The reality of development sometimes imposes unwelcome delays, but the team is committed to ensuring a high-quality gaming experience when it finally arrives in the hands of Xbox players.
As the gaming world holds its collective breath for the full release of Baldur’s Gate 3, the saga continues. Each day brings the pivotal moment in RPG gaming history ever closer, and despite the obstacles, the anticipation for Baldur’s Gate 3 still is undimmed.
In the end, it’s a question of patience and ensuring that Baldur’s Gate 3, when it finally arrives on all platforms, meets the high standards gamers expect.
For now, gamers can, at the very least, look forward to the review embargo to lift on Baldur’s Gate 3 around the time that it’s available on the PC.
