As the development on STALKER 2 has approached the final stages of production, a new (but familiar) challenger has emerged—optimizing the game for the Xbox Series S.
A particularly contentious topic, the Xbox Series S has become the scapegoat of the current video game generation, especially when a game doesn’t come out on Xbox platforms despite the lack of exclusivity deals with competing platforms like Nintendo and Sony. Most recently, many pointed fingers at the economically priced console as the reason why Black Myth: Wukong isn’t on Xbox, representing a missed opportunity for Microsoft to capitalize on what could very well be the defining game of the current console generation, especially in China.
While it’s unclear if the Xbox Series S’s weaker hardware is the reason for the delay—different sources make varying claims about the exclusivity of Black Myth: Wukong on PlayStation 5—what’s become evident is Microsoft needs to be a more proactive partner and help developers run their games run on the less powerful console, similar to what’s happening with STALKER 2.
As covered by wccftech, GSC Game World’s PR Specialist Zakhar Bocharov and Lead Producer Slava Lukyanenka shed light on the ongoing development process of STALKER 2 at Gamescom 2024.
While the Xbox Series X version of STALKER 2 is progressing smoothly, offering the players two distinct modes – a Performance Mode running at 60 FPS with slightly reduced graphics, and a Quality Mode showcasing stunning visuals at 30 FPS – the Series S version has proven to be a tougher nut to crack.
Lukyanenka revealed that the team is still working diligently on optimizing STALKER 2 for the Xbox Series S, with the current build managing around 25 FPS. This gap in performance highlights the challenges developers face when creating games for Microsoft’s dual-console strategy.
Both revealed that Microsoft has been very supportive of STALKER 2’s development, saying that Microsoft representatives visited their studio multiple times to provide expertise on optimization techniques.
The Xbox Series S, designed as a more affordable entry point into the next-gen ecosystem, is a constant point of contention. Many argue that it’s holding back the potential of next-gen gaming. Digital Foundry’s analyses have consistently shown that games on the Series S often suffer from compromised image quality, lower frame rates, and missing features compared to their Series X counterparts. This disparity has led some to question whether the Series S is becoming a bottleneck for developers aiming to push the boundaries of what’s possible on more powerful hardware.
However, there’s another perspective to consider. The existence of the Series S forces developers to optimize their games more efficiently, potentially benefiting players across all platforms. PC gamers with older hardware may find that games remain playable on their systems for longer, as developers are compelled to create scalable experiences that can run on a wider range of hardware configurations.
Larian Studios wasn’t afraid to vocalize how it learned from optimizing Baldur’s Gate 3 for the Xbox Series S, but not after working closely with Xbox, which only came following the release of last year’s Game of the Year winner.
Microsoft’s hands-on approach with STALKER 2 needs to happen more often even in games that aren’t exclusive (even if temporarily) to the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X. Otherwise, Microsoft’s decisions will continue casting a cloud over developers who might hesitate to release their games on Xbox.
For example, if the rumors are true and Microsoft introduced a portable Xbox, the developers would need to account for an even wider range of hardware capabilities, potentially leading to further compromises in game design and performance unless Microsoft steps in to help.
Ultimately, the success of Microsoft’s strategy depends on how much help Microsoft can dedicate to developers in optimizing their games for both systems and if the compromises required for the Series S prove acceptable to players.
With the PlayStation 5 price hike making the console out of reach to consumers in countries like Japan—the PS5 Pro is expected to sell at an absurd price—the Xbox could become the go-to alternative in the eyes of financially savvy consumers, which is what’s happening in Japan. But for this to continue at a larger scale, more games need to come out on the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X first on the same day they become available on other platforms. Otherwise, Xbox will miss out on the initial wave of FOMO, and eventually, developers will no longer prioritize developing their games for the Xbox.
