Black Myth: Wukong Director Reveals Why the Game Isn’t on Xbox Yet

As a dedicated gamer and long-time Xbox user, I can’t help but feel a twinge of frustration at the continued absence of “Black Myth: Wukong” on our platform. Having been in the gaming community for years, I’ve seen this scenario play out time and time again – promising games that are delayed or even outright skipped due to the unique challenges posed by Microsoft’s Xbox Series S requirements.

While I understand the desire to maintain parity between the two consoles, it can’t help but feel like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gives budget-conscious gamers an enticing entry point into the Xbox ecosystem, but on the other, it creates roadblocks for developers looking to bring their games to our platform.

In the case of “Black Myth: Wukong,” I’m hopeful that a compromise can be reached between Game Science and Microsoft. The game has generated significant buzz in the gaming community, and delaying its release on Xbox is not only a loss for us as consumers but also for both Game Science and Microsoft themselves.

I can’t help but wonder if perhaps we should consider a little humor to lighten the mood – maybe Microsoft could offer Game Science a case of “Halo”-themed donuts or something as an olive branch? After all, who doesn’t love a good donut? Fingers crossed that this situation is resolved quickly so that I can finally get my hands on “Black Myth: Wukong” and join the millions of other satisfied players enjoying the game.

The action-packed game titled “Black Myth: Wukong” debuted on PC and PS5 in August, and astonishingly, it’s already sold millions of copies globally. However, the eager fans of Xbox Series X|S are still waiting for its release. For months now, discussions about an Xbox version have been ongoing, but sadly, the game is yet to appear. There has been a lot of speculation regarding the reason behind this delay, ranging from exclusive deals with PlayStation to a memory leak issue. But recently, the game’s director has shed some light on the situation, and it aligns with what Xbox users may have anticipated.

On New Year’s Day, Feng Ji, director of Black Myth: Wukong and CEO of Game Science, discussed the game’s recent success at the Steam awards in a post on Weibo. In this post, he also addressed the absence of the Xbox version, focusing particularly on the challenge of “10G of shared memory.” Feng Ji explained that achieving this without several years of optimization experience is essentially impossible for his team at Game Science, suggesting that the smaller size requirements of the Xbox Series S are proving challenging.

Generally speaking, Microsoft insists that games launched for the Xbox Series X must also be available on the Xbox Series S console. This policy has been beneficial for players as it offers them an affordable entry point into the Xbox world without worrying about compatibility with less expensive hardware. However, this rule has posed challenges for third-party developers over the past few years. It’s believed that this requirement may have delayed the release of Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox. The issue wasn’t resolved until developer Larian Studios negotiated a compromise with Microsoft, resulting in splitscreen co-op being removed from the Xbox Series S version.

It’s uncertain if a similar agreement can be reached to expedite the arrival of Black Myth: Wukong on Xbox systems. The game was one of the most anticipated releases in 2024, and it’s disappointing (or at least delaying) potential sales for both Game Science and Microsoft. Clearly, this must be a frustrating situation for everyone involved. At the heart of the matter, it seems reasonable that Microsoft wants to ensure the Xbox Series S doesn’t appear inferior compared to the Xbox Series X. However, customers who own an Xbox Series X are having to wait much longer than those with PS5 or PC to play certain games.

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I’ve learned to be patient when it comes to eagerly anticipated games like “Black Myth: Wukong.” It seems that Xbox users, including myself, are in for a wait as Feng Ji’s recent announcement doesn’t hint at an imminent release on our platform. However, I have seen instances where public statements from third-party developers have managed to catch the attention of Phil Spencer and bring about change. So, I remain hopeful that this situation will be resolved swiftly, enabling us gamers to immerse ourselves in the world of “Black Myth: Wukong” soon enough.

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2025-01-02 17:09