Devs Explain Why Baldur’s Gate 3 is Delayed for Xbox: Split-Screen Issue Causes Release Delay.
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| Dev found a technical issue with split-screen co-op on the Series S. |
Hey there, RPG fans! Get ready for a roller-coaster of emotions because it looks like Baldur’s Gate 3 won’t be hitting our beloved Xbox consoles anytime soon. I know, I know, it’s a major bummer, but let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of why this delay is happening and what the developers are doing about it.
Bad News for Xbox Fans
You’ve probably been counting down the days until the epic launch of Baldur’s Gate 3, just like me. But hold your horses, because it seems that the Microsoft console won’t be getting a piece of the action as soon as we hoped. No release date for Xbox has been announced yet, and brace yourselves because it might not hit our consoles until next year or even later. I can already hear the collective sighs of frustration from Xbox fans everywhere.
Culprit: Split-Screen Woes on Xbox Series S
Before you start pointing fingers at console exclusivity, let’s set the record straight. The real reason behind the delay is a pesky split-screen issue on the Xbox Series S. You know how we were all hyped about the split-screen co-op feature, right? Well, turns out it’s causing quite a headache for the devs, and that’s what’s holding back the release on Xbox.
Technical Hurdle Explained
Here’s the scoop straight from the director of publishing at Larian Studios, Michael Douse. He took to Twitter to share some insight into the matter. According to him, they’re facing a “technical hurdle” with the split-screen on the Series S. Ouch! But wait, there’s more. They can’t just toss out the split-screen feature because they’re determined to launch the game with all the bells and whistles across all platforms.
Far from being exclusive, we have no exclusivity deal that prevents us from launching on Xbox. The issue is a technical hurdle. We cannot remove the split-screen feature because we are obliged to launch with feature parity, and so continue to try and make it work.
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) July 31, 2023
In Douse’s own words, “Hello friend! We’ve said many times in the past that the issue is getting split-screen working on the Series S, which is taking more time, but is in progress. This is a huge technical hurdle, but we are unable to release the game on the ecosystem without this feature.” Well, at least it’s clear they’re not trying to keep it exclusive; it’s just a good ol’ technical challenge.
Focus on Both Xbox Consoles
Now, here’s a glimmer of hope for us Xbox fans. Larian Studios is giving us their word that they’re aiming to release Baldur’s Gate 3 on both Xbox Series X and Series S at the same time. So, while we might have to wait a tad longer, at least we’re all in this together, right?
Cheer up, Series S folks! There’s a silver lining to this delay. The team at Larian Studios is working tirelessly to make sure we have an RPG experience like no other on our lower-tier Xbox console. They’re going all out to achieve a seamless drop-in, drop-out co-op feature on Series S, something that’s never been done on this scale before.
Michael Douse is optimistic about an update coming our way before the year wraps up. That’s good news, isn’t it? It means they’re dedicated to ironing out the kinks and bringing Baldur’s Gate 3 to us as soon as humanly possible.
To sum it all up, folks, the delay of Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox has nothing to do with exclusivity. It’s all about tackling that pesky split-screen issue on the Xbox Series S. The developers at Larian Studios are working hard to sort it out and give us a stellar gaming experience on both Xbox consoles. Hang tight, and let’s keep our fingers crossed for that eagerly awaited release!
