Summary
- Baldur's Gate 3 and Black Myth: Wukong enjoyed massive sales success upon release.
- Technical issues with Xbox Series X/S delayed the Xbox version of both games.
- Studios have encountered challenges with optimizing games for Xbox Series X/S due to hardware differences.
Baldur’s Gate 3 was released in August 2023 and was a monumental success for Larian Studios. The game sold more than 2.5 million copies during its early access phase, and according to the studio’s CEO, it has sold over 15 million copies in total. These are numbers that any studio would be proud to flaunt. Black Myth: Wukong also launched in August 2024, and the title has also been a success for Game Science. It sold over 10 million copies in just a few days and broke the record for the highest number of concurrent players for a single-player game on Steam.
Being released in August and having high sales isn’t the only thing the two games have in common. Although Baldur's Gate 3 and Black Myth: Wukong seem like wildly different titles, they do share something interesting in common that affects many players.
Black Myth: Wukong Fuels Over 1 Exabyte of Chinese Steam Traffic
In yet another major testament to its immense success, Black Myth: Wukong fuels well over one exabyte of Chinese Steam traffic.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Missed the Xbox Series X on Launch
Baldur’s Gate 3 had a staggered release on different gaming platforms. It was first released on PC, then the studio looked toward the consoles from Microsoft and Sony. A PlayStation 5 version of the game was meant to launch alongside the PC version. However, it was delayed until September 2024. Not long after, the MacOS version of BG3 was released.
Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox Faced Technical Problems
At this point, the only players that didn’t have the game were Xbox Series X/S owners. The game was unfortunately delayed due to technical issues surrounding the Series S. As the studio’s director of publishing explained, “the issue is getting split-screen working on the Series S.” The studio was adamant they had to get it working because it is “obliged to launch with feature parity.”
The Xbox Series X/S port was eventually released, though the split-screen co-op feature was cut from Baldur's Gate 3's Series S version. This is something other studios sympathized with, like Remedy’s Thomas Puha, who Tweeted that “you have to take into account the technical limitations from the beginning of development. Nobody really wants to think of that when you start making your game.” This isn’t the last time a game has been delayed on Microsoft’s console due to technical reasons.
Black Myth: Wukong Follows a Similar Release Pattern
Black Myth: Wukong launched on PC and PS5 on the same day. However, the Xbox Series X/S version was nowhere to be found. According to the game’s FAQ page, the studio is “currently optimizing the Xbox Series X/S version to meet our quality standards.” Microsoft has also chimed in, stating that it’s “excited for the launch of Black Myth: Wukong on Xbox Series X/S” and it’s “working with Game Science to bring the game to our platforms.”
The Xbox Series S Continues to be a Problem
Though it hasn’t been confirmed by Game Science, there are rumors that the cause of the delay is due to the Series S. It wouldn’t be surprising if this is the case, as developers have complained that it is a challenge to optimize current-gen games for both Xbox consoles. Puha explained the issue to IGN, stating that while the CPUs on the two Xbox consoles are basically the same, the GPU is different and the Series S has less memory. This poses a problem because “it’s just not enough to drop the resolution heavily.”
On the surface, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Black Myth: Wukong are very different games that target different audiences. However, they both highlight the development issues studios face when attempting to release games on the Xbox Series X/S. Consequently, Microsoft is left having to balance developer concerns with the benefits consumers get from having a cheaper console available.
Baldur's Gate 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.
THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.
A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.
- Cross Save
- Full cross-platform progression.
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
