Indie Dev Says Optimising For Xbox Series S 'Benefits Consumers Immensely'

I'm not a developer, nor do I have any experience or insight, but Baldur's Gate 3 is now on Series S/X. Whatever issue was causing this to begin with surely could have been tackled in time for multi-plat release, no?

I love my S. It's easily my favourite Xbox to date and I've had one each gen. It's small. It's powerful. It's fast, and the games look great.

@Kaloudz Technically Baldur's Gate 3 never had a multi-plat release as it released on PC first, then on PS5 a few weeks after and then on Xbox a further few weeks after that. I don't buy into the theories that the PS release was originally delayed to coincide with Starfield and assume that it just required some further optimisation, and this was likely also required on Xbox.
It's also worth bearing in mind that as yet they still have not fixed the original split screen issue and the reason it was able to finally release was due to MS allowing it to release without split screen on the series S. The good news though is that they have stated that all users will benefit from work they did to optimise for Series S.

@themightyant That's true about the early access, however the full PC release was still early August compared to early September on PS. The PS version was due to release on the same date as PC in August but was then delayed to September.

That's awful easy for a developer that makes games that could run on pretty much anything under the sun. Of course it would be easy to optimize something, that would already run on the S without optimizations, for it.

BG3 is pretty resource intense game.

But when you're saying things like:
"If the developers always keep the slowest platform they are targeting in mind, first and foremost, then the other platforms should be easier to deal with,"

We've gone back full circle to platforms like the Series S holding games back.

Keeping the lowest platform in mind ***** over those of us who buy the more powerful one. It's not just about resolution/FPS. Take the cross platform (PS4/PS5) Earth Defense Force 6 as an example. Both versions have the same ***** draw distance to the point you can't even see enemies sometimes if you pull the camera out to aim an air strike.

I would prefer direct Series S support get dropped sooner and leave it supported via XCloud only so devs can move on to fully utilizing what the Series X and whatever is next can do.

@Kevw2006

Oh right. I had no idea it wasn't a planned multiplat release. I assumed that they wanted to release simultaneously across console? I sure hope MS drop that parity rubbish next gen (or at least make it more relaxed so that Devs can drop a feature or two if they need to (assuming MS make another two consoles) that being said, I would rather they release consoles with the same specs but digital and none digital.

@themightyant Yeah see, I don't think Devs should be beholden to feature parity at all imo. If they need to drop split screen or, I don't know, something else, they should be able to do so.

But yeah, I agree with the Dev too. Just makes more sense to go weakest up, rather than strongest down.

Difference is bg3 is a massive game where as their game could run on my 10 year old mobile

@InterceptorAlpha That would be Switch you're thinking of.

This is similar to how games don't NEED $100mil+ budgets, studios choose to have massive scope.

@Goj What exactly is the Switch holding back? Most non-Nintendo AAA games don't even release on the Switch

Microsoft requires S and X games to release at the same time, with the same features. So if someone want to release in the X they have to do the S or not release at all.

"If the developers always keep the slowest platform they are targeting in mind, first and foremost, then the other platforms should be easier to deal with"

Very easy to say when you make games that could easily run on a Android phone from 2013. Also by his logic developers should still be making games for PS4/Xbone, hey if you target those systems first then the current Gen versions will then be super easy!

@Kevw2006 I remember it the other way around; September was the target for all. PC was moved up to August as it was ready. PS stayed set for September. We were warned months out that Xbox would miss September due to Series S dev issues and Xbox launch policy.

@theduckofdeath It was both, the PC version was brought forward from the original date while the PS version was delayed slightly at the same time.

Don't mind games being developed for Series S but it's a slap in the face for those of us who bought the more powerful and more expensive Series X
If you got a Series S fine, but you shouldn't expect the same parity with Series X.
It's like organising a car race with top end super cars, but their speed is artificially limited so a Reliant Robin can compete.

What really benefits consumers more?

Honestly, save up the little bit more money and just buy the Series X. Your experience is much better, less hassle, and without question a far, far, far, superior product.

Yes, it's incompetence and excuses on the developer's side. It's not the fault of the hardware - as you can see with numerous Switch ports, or what is going on with PCs for decades - but the unwillingness to do what's necessary.