We’re less than a handful of days into 2025 and Xbox has found itself in the eye of another storm – the absence of the critically acclaimed Black Myth: Wukong.
The truth behind the reasons why the breakout hit from Game Science is not on the Xbox platform is somewhat obscured. It was initially revealed as a title coming to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, until an unexpected rug-pull left Xbox players wondering why Series X|S had been omitted from the game’s Summer Games Fest trailer.
Jez Corden of Windows Central reported that Microsoft had suggested Black Myth: Wukong skipped Xbox due to some form of timed exclusivity; further adding to this angle in a more recent article that Microsoft is “internally operating under the idea that Black Myth: Wukong took some form of timed exclusivity with PlayStation – for engineering support, or something along those lines.”
Black Myth: Wukong’s game director Feng Ji cited on Weibo that the reason for the game’s absence from Xbox is that the Series S’s 10GB RAM allocation is proving to be difficult to work with.
This reasoning has also been met with some skepticism, as, bar a few standout issues (like not being able to support split-screen co-op on Baldur’s Gate 3), Xbox Series S is holding its weight as a budget-option entry point into current-gen gaming. It’s capable of running other Unreal Engine 5 titles like Stalker 2 and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, so it’s not as though the little-machine-that-could isn’t capable of playing more demanding software.
Similarly, the Steam Deck and other popular handheld devices are also capable of running Black Myth: Wukong – although, to be fair, the Steam Deck has 16GB RAM, which adds weight to Ji’s claims.
Ambiguity around the omission of a zeitgeist-level game unfortunately isn’t new to Xbox, as the split-screen co-op issue was a contributing factor towards Baldur’s Gate 3’s Xbox delay in 2023.
There’s a glimmer of rationality behind why this can happen, as it makes sense for developers to prioritise PC first and foremost, followed by the largest console platform (PlayStation), followed by the smaller one (being Xbox).
The problem though, is that the audience for these games don’t see it that way. And to be fair, why would they? Players don’t buy into a games platform knowing that they’ll end up missing out on a 3rd party title that is expected to launch everywhere, especially given that Black Myth: Wukong’s launch on Xbox had previously been confirmed!
Platform exclusivity by default creates a difficult and unique challenge for Xbox.
The casual audience, your typical video game enjoyer outside of the enthusiast bubble, is left with a sour taste in their mouths whenever Xbox misses out on a big ticket title. Being absent from said enthusiast bubble also means they’re less likely to care for, or to pay attention to the nuances around the reasons why this happens. In turn, this does something very damaging: it erodes trust.
In a world where only reading the headline is king (thank you, by the way if you’re still actually reading this), vast swathes of Black Myth: Wukong’s casual audience on Xbox receives an unfortunate message; The game’s absence tells them that they’re not as important as players on another platform (or at least it has the capacity to make them feel that way).
Of course, we know that this isn’t the case. Games sales and player counts are important to a developer, regardless of the platform in question – but this reoccurrence of instances like Black Myth: Wukong, Baldur’s Gate 3 and MARVEL vs. CAPCOM puts Xbox in a compromising light.
The latter two of the games I’ve just listed have since been resolved, which is a relief to those that had previously been left disappointed.
That in itself is a huge positive, as it signals that Xbox does take the issue of exclusivity-by-default seriously. But, if these issues keep dogging Microsoft, it could threaten platform loyalty.
So, what can Xbox do to make it better?
In short, it needs to actively engage with developers – preferably sooner, rather than later. Microsoft needs to support its Xbox Advanced Technology Group (ATG) and developers alike to get ahead of challenges like this.
Of course, it’s a two-way street. This communication barrier also happens on the development side too, as proven by Microsoft seemingly being somewhat blindsided by Black Myth: Wukong’s omission from Xbox consoles.
In a recent interview with Stephen Totilo for Game File, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer noted that he “does know” Xbox players will get to play Black Myth: Wukong, but developer Feng Ji said it “would take years” of optimisation work to get there.
Well… Which is it?
The general ambiguity surrounding certain aspects of Xbox, including both Black Myth: Wukong and its 3rd party publishing strategy, adds to the already negative-leaning perception of the brand. This is the uphill battle Xbox is having to face, as it has to work against the likes of critical pundits and frustrated fans while still making decisions that will keep Microsoft’s gaming arm profitable.
We’re no further to getting clarity on when Xbox players will get their hand on the critically acclaimed action RPG, so for the time being all we can do is hope that Microsoft is able to provide the support Game Science – and that Xbox is more cognisant of the damaging ripple effect exclusivity-by-default can have on its brand’s perception.
