Summary
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has recently commented on theXbox Series S' parity with the Series X, considering it a good move. TheXbox Series X/Sparity is one of the most controversial aspects of Microsoft’s consoles, as developers and even some players have often criticized it, but it does not seem that Spencer agrees with them.
The Xbox Series X and Series S were released in 2020. Instead of following the Xbox One’s footsteps, Microsoft decided to release two consoles instead of one: the cheaper Series S and the more powerful Series X. To ensure that all games would run similarly on consoles with different specs, Microsoft created a parity clause, stating that developers could only release games for the Series X if they had the same features on the Series S. Over the years, this clause madeBaldur’s Gate 3be delayed for the Xbox Series X/S, and some titles such asBlack Myth: Wukonghave not appeared on Microsoft’s consoles, which made it fairly controversial.
Now, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has talked about the Series S parity clause in an interview with Destin Legarie. When asked whether Microsoft ever considered dropping parity, Spencer answered that it was the opposite, as Microsoft considered it an excellent idea. According to him, “I actually think we have a real advantage because we’ve been targeting the Series S for quite a while.” With the rise of handheld gaming andthe upcoming Switch 2, which will receive Xbox games, the Series S helped the developers to create games that will run well on multiple platforms. In his argument, Spencer cited the recentIndiana Jones and the Great Circleas an example of a game that can be supported on different devices and runs well on all of them.
Phil Spencer Believes Xbox Series S Parity Was a Good Idea
I actually think we have a real advantage because we’ve been targeting the Series S for quite a while
In any case, the Series S parity clause remains a controversial topic in the gaming community. Last year, aformerSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguedeveloper bashed the Series S parity, for example, saying it’s “annoying” to optimize for it.
The same sentiment was echoed by the developer of the upcomingKingdom Come: Deliverance 2. According to recent reports, the limitations of theXbox Series S hardware affected the size ofKingdom Come: Deliverance 2. While the sequel is bigger than the first game, it could only be around 25% larger than its predecessor, as the devs explained that they needed to cut the size for the title to run well on the Series S.
Microsoft Xbox Series S
The Xbox Series S is a digital-only game console that offers the same processor as its more powerful Xbox Series X sibling but cuts down on memory, storage, and the GPU while removing the disc drive to offer a next-generation console experience at a fraction of the cost while targeting gamers at lower Full HD or 2K resolutions instead.
