Microsoft's current-gen consoles, the Xbox Series X and Series S have been a huge hit, especially with North American audiences. Their popularity looks set to continue too, with the upcoming releases of some major first-party titles, such as Starfield and Forza Motorsport, being backed up by some brilliant Game Pass offerings, including day one releases of the critically acclaimed Sea of Stars and indie Soulslike, Lies of P.
However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows for Xbox, as it's recently come under scrutiny over one of the year's biggest and best games, Baldur's Gate 3. The blockbuster RPG released on PC on August 3, with a PlayStation 5 release set for September 6. However, its developer, Larian Studios, struggled to figure out how to get the game working on both the Xbox Series X and the lower-powered Series S. The solution has been controversial and could be the start of a slippery downward slope for the Series S.
Baldur's Gate 3 Will Launch on Series S Without an Expected Gameplay Feature
After months of hard work, Larian's founder and CEO, Swen Vincke, recently announced on Twitter that the team had finally found a way to make Baldur's Gate 3 work on the Series S. Although it's definitely a positive that Xbox fans will get to experience Baldur's Gate 3 this calendar year, it wasn't a simple solution. Unfortunately, the Series S version of the game will arrive without split-screen co-op.
The Xbox Series S has come under criticism multiple times for allegedly holding back the Series X as developers are forced to create titles that can be played on both consoles. Although Xbox maintains that all games released on the Series X will also be playable on the Series S, the latest news surrounding Baldur's Gate 3 has fans questioning this stance.
Is the Xbox Series S Really Holding Back the Series X?
Evidently, the Series S is holding back the Series X. However, the extent of the impact it has on game development and releases is still up for debate. It's clearly causing some issues, though, as shown by Larian's struggles in particular, which caused the delay of Baldur's Gate 3's Xbox release. Beyond delays, there's also a bigger issue in that developers are struggling to make games that push the limits of the current-gen consoles because these same games also have to run on the lesser-powered version.
Last year, several developers publicly took to Twitter to voice their frustrations over the Series S and whether it's holding back the current generation. For example, Bossa Studios' VFX artist, Ian Maclure, stated that "it might sound broken, but the reason you are hearing it a lot right now is that many developers have been sitting in meetings for the past year desperately trying to get Series S launch requirements dropped." He wasn't alone either, as several other developers came out and agreed that they also felt hamstrung by having to develop for the Series S.
However, despite these issues, Series S owners have been able to enjoy the same games as those with a Series X, albeit at lower resolutions and lesser all-round performance. So far, the console has offered a great budget alternative for those who accept these lower specs in exchange for a cheaper entry point. But, Baldur's Gate 3 will release without an included gameplay feature—and that's a completely different problem entirely.
Why Is Baldur's Gate 3's Lack of Split-Screen Co-op on the Series S Such a Controversial Issue?
Microsoft has always advertised the Xbox Series S as a viable current-gen alternative to the Series X, just with lower performance and reduced specs. Notably, it was never advertised as lacking key gameplay features. Inferior graphics and slower performances were all part of the accepted cheaper specs, but being unable to play the same modes as the Series X was not something fans were told to expect. As a result, it's hugely disappointing for those who wanted Baldur's Gate 3's split-screen co-op feature and a little disingenuous from Microsoft.
Seeing a major game launch with fewer features on the Series S has sparked major concerns. Many fans are wondering whether this trend will continue and how many future features Series S owners might have to miss out on. If it's ok for one game to do it, others will likely follow suit and such a practice could become the norm.
Could the Precedent Set by Baldur's Gate 3 Signal the End of the Series S?
Some fans are even suggesting that Microsoft has realized how limiting the Series S is for developers and that it might decide to ditch its budget console altogether. Thankfully, such a drastic shift seems highly unlikely. The Series S has a huge player base with many loyal fans buying into the Xbox ecosystem through the cheaper console. Microsoft would face a huge backlash if it wanted to invalidate these players, so it doesn't seem likely at all.
However, as developers continue to push the boundaries of these current-gen consoles, it does seem probable that the Series S might have to have some parts removed or held back more frequently. As third-party studios begin this trend, it could eventually become the norm, making it acceptable for Xbox's first-party teams to do the same.
Realistically, developers won't want to remove key gameplay features, so taking out less popular or smaller features seems like a viable compromise to ensure Series S players still get access to the biggest games. If something as huge and jaw-dropping as Baldur's Gate 3 can run on the Series S—albeit without split-screen co-op—then it shows there are ways to release most games with minimal impact on the player base and this seems like the best and fairest solution moving forward.
Ultimately, the vast majority of players won't have used Baldur's Gate 3's split-screen co-op feature, and it's definitely preferable to have the game come out without it than to not come out at all. Although the Series S will likely continue to get inferior versions of games, for its price, it's still a fantastic alternative to the full-price Series X. Overall, the fact that Baldur's Gate 3 will be released on Xbox this calendar year should be viewed as a positive for fans, despite the concerns raises regarding the future of the Series S.