Black Myth: Wukong has been one of the most anticipated new titles of the year. It’s a game that’s been in the works for a while and has garnered a lot of attention. Developed by Game Science, it seems to be inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.
The game features very impressive visuals from what we’ve seen so far and a challenging Souls-like combat system. The game’s initial release for all major platforms was on 20 September 2024. But there seems to have been a delay in the game’s launch for the Series X|S consoles.
Microsoft Gives An Official Statement About Black Myth: Wukong’s Xbox Delay
Microsoft has since given an official statement via Windows Central regarding this delay. The statement subtly refrained from mentioning any specifics about the delay, or any potential exclusivity deals.
We’re excited for the launch of Black Myth Wukong on Xbox Series X|S and are working with Game Science to bring the game to our platforms. We can’t comment on the deals made by our partners with other platform holders, but we remain focused on making Xbox the best platform for gamers, and great games are at the center of that.
The statement also repeated and reaffirmed its focus on Series X|S as the best platform for gamers. But this does not clarify any of the rumors of the game having an exclusivity deal with PlayStation, or the fact that it is inherently difficult to develop games for the Series S.
Only a few days ago at the Summer Game Fest 2024, we saw many different upcoming games get teased and announced. And among them was this game and got a brand new trailer. But the absence of the Series X|S logo in the trailer raised eyebrows.
Game Science later confirmed this delay on their official FAQ page for the game and stated that the game needed more time for optimization so that it could meet its quality standards. Fans have been quick to wonder and call out whether the Series S and its lower hardware spec is to blame for this delay.
Is the Series S Truly a Next-Gen Console?
The Series S was initially intended as a budget-friendly option but it continues to face criticism for its limitations in hardware capability. Because of Microsoft’s dual console policy, developers have to make sure their games are optimized and can run on both the Series X and the lower spec Series S.
This often leads to devs facing problems with optimizing the game for both consoles, which sometimes also results in these kinds of delays. And the game isn’t even the first one to face this.
Even last year’s monster of a hit Baldur’s Gate 3 had optimization issues on the Xbox version of the game. In the end, Microsoft has to address these optimization issues to make sure Xbox as a platform remains competitive in the already contested console market.
Because these issues have started to make people debate whether the Series S can truly deliver a next-gen gaming experience without actively being a hindrance, not just to the developers, but also to the gamers.
What are your thoughts about the game’s delay on Xbox consoles? Let us know in the comments below.
