Digital Foundry : we've heard from multiple developers that Xbox Series S is a bit of a pain at times

They won't drop the Series S. It's a next gen console and is selling like hotcakes and most developers haven't had issues developing games for it. Not to mention, MS will support the millions of gamers that already own a Series S for the next 7 years or more. They won't be alienating next gen gamers, lol..

@girlusocrazy: So no proof that the Series S is hindering game design.😎

@girlusocrazy: Unlike DF, I have direct access to development hardware.🙂

But the thing is: systems get dropped all the time, it's completely normal.

Nobody would feel that upset if it were dropped in 4 years, and those still "next gen" gaming then will be a very small minority.

They can stop making them sure. But they will still make games for it alongside the Xbox Series X. So why not still sell it since they are still putting games on it either way.

@girlusocrazy: Nothing I said about second hand information on my end. Don't get upset that you rely on second hand information from a third party source while I do not. 😂

@girlusocrazy: Don't be upset that I have direct access and you don't but you have your uncle DF.🤣

If the game isn't compromised, sure

Let's say a Ori 3 would exist, you could make that for Xbox One X and up.

But let's say GTA is being compromised from needing to run on Series S, I'd be fine with them dropping it for that game.

Ok, GTA is a bad example. As they want as big an install base as possible.

@girlusocrazy: Turning your system to a devkit is not the same as an actual devkit but you don't know because you rely on your uncle DF.😂

Sorry son, I'm not like you. I didn't play any game in 720p in over one and a half decade.

So which resolution and frame rate do you play CP2077 at? Oh wait, I forgot. 720p is too high a number for you. You play certain games at 0p/0FPS even though you hypes them being a part of hive mind cult. Letthat sink in.

Nah, they can't unless they want to drop Xbox completely. You can't develop for just one of the Series consoles.

Microsoft can't, but I'm talking about third party, who most definitely can.

@R4gn4r0k: They can't.

@girlusocrazy: Must be really awkward for you to talk to someone with hands on experience while you rely on uncle DF 😁.

In reference to one of my original replies:

systems get dropped all the time, it's completely normal.

So what makes this system special? Are you still getting software support for your original iPhone just because it says it's an "iPhone"?

Sure they can. They can just skip Xbox altogether. Lets hope that never happens. But if/when it does, this place is gonna be fun!

@R4gn4r0k: They are not dropping Series S and Series S development is mandatory. Developers are strictly forbidden from having any Series X only games.

@goldenelementxl: Note context.

They won't drop the series s anytime soon they are all in on both consoles. If they did they would look foolish for even releasing it.

Hmmm interesting, but it would be interesting to see what happens in four years as well, when devs find out they can't get around Series S shortcomings anymore.

Again, the dev could just not launch on Xbox. Or the Series S version could be streaming only...

No, no one can! If you need to develop for Xbox you have to develop for both Series S and X. It's the same as you need to support both PS4 and Pro in Sony's case and X1 and X1X in MS's case.

Yes, very true. But if the Series S version is streaming they could say "oh well we developed a Series S version too"

Eventhough we all know, at that point they stopped developing for Series S.

There is nothing on the Series S would be a hard roadblock to developers.

Are devs going to drop the PS5 because it is holding back the Xbox Series X? Unlikely. They won't drop the Series S either.

and so...?? They get paid good money to do their damn job, why do you care about the amount of work they do? lol

and whats your point? Its not 720p, its DRS 720p, which means dynamic resolution scaling with a low bar set to 720p. Most of the time it will hit 1080p. Its hilarious, you are playing off a ps4, not even a ps5 and trashing series S graphics. Why don't you buy that ps5 already? Thats right, not even you want to get milked for $700 for a ps5, and I applaud you. Your a cow but not a fool.

yep, great post. These whining devs are just annoying.

yes, the nintendo switch proved this, selling potato hardware for $350. Let that sink in, its not even on the level of a ps4, but actually a ps3 but selling 107 million units, and expecting to beat the ps4, and possibly even surpass the ps2 by the time its done. Let that sink in again.

So why are developers bitching? And most are still making cross gen games. Let’s see what happens when last gen support is dropped

@goldenelementxl: Developers always complain. Every machine has its weaknesses. Developers will always hit a wall (especially in the AAA sector).

last gen the CPUs in the systems were universally crapped on and they weren't thrilled with the storage setup either.

The PS3 and 360 gen: ram again. also for the PS3 specifically....er....all of it. they hated that thing :P. funnily enough Michael Ancel of Ubisoft did describe the Wii as "perfect" though so.....devs eh?

I could go on.

the gap in performance between the Series S and Series X is nowhere near to the degree that devs would need to drop support for the S. Most Series X games will be targeting 1600P internal rendering with a final output of 4K. Dropping that to 900P with an output target of 1080P closes most of the gap. Drop texture details a bit (further compression), bring in the draw distance a bit and that closes even more of the gap. Functionally anything the Series X can do the series S can also do at the end of the day.

Anyone who bought a Series S to play on a 4K 55" OLED TV made a poor purchasing decision. Its not made for it. I don't think MS even advertise that it does it (though correct me if i'm wrong). its a solid current gen 1080P console.

I thought it was targeted at as a 1080p machine with 1440p support mainly for indie games which can hit 4k in some. I knew exactly what I was getting.

Because they have to do more work. Every configuration added is added work. It is really that simple.

I wouldn't mind them still supporting the Pro and the One X but the base consoles need to be dropped. It's been 9 years since base PS4 and Xbox One released.

@osan0: The memory bandwidth on the Series S will require more than dropping resolution, draw distance and and other quality settings. We’ve seen multiple games just axe 60fps for the Series S. Others are missing features altogether. And these are still cross-gen games for the most part. The RAM is so slow, and the bandwidth is so tight, that we will see more and more issues as the generation goes on.

What gameplay features have been cut from Series S games?

Same reasons developers have praised it.....

Graphical features. Performance options

Some games don’t offer performance and fidelity options.
Some games have axed raytracing
Some games only run at 30fps

There was a Digital Foundry article detailing how the Series S was being outclassed graphically by the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X.

As for gameplay features. Some might argue the missing FPS options have an impact on gameplay. But beyond that, there are none. And I don’t suspect there will be. Xbox would move a game to streaming only before altering gameplay on the Series S

@goldenelementxl said:

@x_hedon said:

@goldenelementxl said:

So why are developers bitching? And most are still making cross gen games. Let’s see what happens when last gen support is dropped

Same reasons developers have praised it.....

Agreed ;)