Microsoft Is Asking Developers Why They "Aren't On Xbox"

Summary

• Microsoft is asking those who work in the games industry why they aren't bringing their titles to Xbox.
• We've seen some high profile delays recently, from Baldur's Gate 3 to Black Myth: Wukong, and the Series S appears to be the common demoninator.
• It's likely then that Xbox is seeking to address concerns about the less powerful console behind closed doors rather than stirring up more bad press.

Microsoft has opened a new program similar to Xbox Insider for everyone involved in game development, from those in marketing and user research to community managers, PMs, artists, and more. The idea is to gather feedback on all aspects of the industry so that Xbox can make their lives "easier".

However, there's one particular part of this program that stands out. As reported by The Verge, principle user researcher Deborah Henderson asked, "If you aren't on Xbox, we'd love to know why. And honestly, if you are using our competitor's products, you probably have a great perspective we could learn from!"

Over the last few years, we've seen countless high-profile cases of popular games either missing out on Xbox altogether, or launching at a much later date. The most infamous case is Baldur's Gate 3. Larian Studios' award-winning viral sensation didn't launch on Xbox until December because of parity issues with the Series S. More recently, reports surfaced that Black Myth: Wukong struggles on Xbox Series S, which might explain why it still hasn't been ported (although, it could be down to a Sony exclusivity deal).

The Xbox Series S Has Been Getting A Lot Of Bad Press

Microsoft has split its console into two formats this generation — the Series S, and the Series X — to offer gamers a cheaper, less powerful alternative. But there's a problem, Microsoft demands parity between the two consoles. Since Baldur's Gate 3 couldn't get split-screen multiplayer working on the Series S, it couldn't launch on the Series X, and this might be the root cause for many delays.

Developers, such as Funcom chief product officer Scott Junior, have publicly stated that working with the console is a "challenge". Former Naughty Dog and Rocksteady developer Del Walker went as far as to say that he wished "the Series S never existed". Suffice to say, it's causing a headache for some developers.

This survey might be designed to address these pressing concerns privately, rather than furthering the bad press that the Series S has been bringing to Xbox's door. But what will actually change, if anything, remains to be seen.

Xbox Series X

Launched in 2020 in conjunction with the Xbox Series S digital-only console, the Series X is the disc version of Microsoft's premier gaming platform.