Stop us if you’ve heard of this tale before: a highly anticipated game is scheduled to be released on both the Xbox and PlayStation only for the developers to confirm that it’s no longer coming out on Xbox, often leaving out the reason for the “delay.”
This has happened multiple times in recent years, including with Baldur’s Gate 3 and Black Myth: Wukong. It’s even come to a point that Xbox is causing delays even on PlayStation, such as what’s happening with Dune: Awakening.
The latest to join the number of games that aren’t coming to Xbox is Enotria: The Last Song, a soulslike game inspired by Italian and European folklore.
Originally slated for a September 19 release on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X as well as PlayStation 5 and PC, Jyamma Games, the game’s developer, announced an indefinite delay for the Xbox version.
In recent months, the company has faced criticism for its “no console needed” marketing campaign for Xbox Cloud Gaming as well as the controversial decision to bring exclusive titles to competing platforms, subtly rebranding Xbox at the expense of current Xbox Series X owners who bought the console based on the promise that they’ll enjoy the “most powerful console” on the market.
Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco didn’t mince words when addressing the situation, saying, “You can ask Xbox why they haven’t answered us for 2 months. Obviously they don’t care about Enotria and they don’t care about you.” He went on to explain that despite having the Xbox Series X|S version ready, they were unable to proceed with submission and release due to a lack of response from Microsoft.
For what it’s worth, Jyamma Games isn’t blaming the Xbox Series S this time around, with a community manager clarifying that the economically priced console didn’t cause the delay and that Sony had not paid them to make the game exclusive, unlike what the rumors are saying with Black Myth: Wukong.
Developers have long criticized Microsoft’s certification process as cumbersome and time-consuming to the point that it becomes a hindrance.
With Enotria: The Last Song the latest game to skip Xbox or, at the very least, face significant delays, it now becomes fair to question Microsoft’s commitment to its gaming arm.
The timing of this announcement is particularly troubling for Xbox fans. It comes on the heels of other high-profile games either skipping the platform or facing delays. The action RPG Black Myth Wukong recently announced an indefinite delay for its Xbox version, while major publishers like Capcom have opted to skip Xbox for the upcoming remasters of classic fighting games and titles like Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2.
With the next generation of consoles already on the horizon—the next PlayStation and Xbox consoles are expected to hit the market in 2028—Microsoft has to address these concerns and reassure both developers and consumers about the future of Xbox. Otherwise, it’s bound to have an effect on the Game Pass as well, which is obviously what it’s trying to sell these days instead of the Xbox consoles.
The company’s handling of this latest setback could have far-reaching implications for its position in the gaming industry.
For now, fans of Enotria: The Last Song on Xbox are left in limbo, wondering when – or if – they’ll get to experience the game on their preferred platform.
