What you need to know
- Black Myth: Wukong is an upcoming action-adventure title from Game Science.
- Based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong’s spectacular visuals and tight combat are highly anticipated.
- Unfortunately, the Xbox version of the game was “delayed due to optimizations” to an unknown date on June 7, 2024.
- Microsoft has made a rare statement about the delay, making the proceedings somewhat mysterious.
Black Myth: Wukong is a spectacular-looking action-adventure game from new studio Game Science, based on the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West. The player takes control of a martial arts-wielding monkey known as Destined One, based on Sun Wukong from the novel. Described as a boss rush game, Black Myth: Wukong was previously set to release on August 20, 2024 for the Xbox Series X|S, alongside the PC and PlayStation 5 versions. Until plans changed.
Developer Game Science showed off a new trailer for Black Myth: Wukong during this year’s Summer Game Fest 2024 in LA, and the Xbox Series X|S logo was mysteriously missing. The company later confirmed in the FAQ that the Xbox version was “delayed due to optimizations.”
“We are currently optimizing the Xbox Series X|S version to meet our quality standards,” Game Science said: “So it won’t release at the same time as the other platforms. We apologize for the delay and aim to keep the wait to a minimum for Xbox users. We will announce the release date once it meets our quality standards.”
The news sparked a wave of speculation that the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S platforms are difficult to work with. The Xbox Series S in particular has previously been blamed for delayed games, most notably Baldur’s Gate 3, which dropped split-screen co-op to release the game. The Xbox Series S has less RAM and GPU power than the Xbox Series X and PS5, leading to resolution compromises in exchange for a lower, more affordable price. The console has proven popular as a more affordable option for millions of people, although it is often blamed for situations like the above.
I’ve asked both Microsoft and Game Science to comment on the ‘optimizations’ issue, looking for some clarity. Was the Xbox Series S to blame? Game Science did not respond, but this morning a Microsoft spokesperson issued the statement below.
“We are excited about the launch of Black Myth Wukong on Xbox Series X|S and are working with Game Science to bring the game to our platforms. We can’t comment on the deals our partners have made with other platform holders, but we remain focused on making Xbox the best platform for gamers, and great games are at the heart of that.”
Exclusivity deal or problems with the Xbox Series S?
I would like to note here that the question of possible exclusivity deals was not asked by me, although Microsoft is clearly aware of the rumors. Most, including myself, thought from the start that the Xbox Series S was probably the culprit. But maybe there’s more to it – maybe not.
I later became aware of whispers and rumors while I was in LA for the Xbox Showcase 2024 that, despite the optimization claims, Game Science had actually signed some form of exclusivity deal with PlayStation for Black Myth: Wukong. Between the lines, Microsoft seems to suggest that some form of third-party exclusivity deal may be in play, although it doesn’t explicitly state this.
If That is In that case, such a retroactive exclusivity deal is problematic for several reasons, especially if you’ve already announced which platforms your game is coming to. A delay for ‘optimization’ reasons is also problematic for Microsoft and Xbox, as it furthers the narrative that Xbox is not a priority for developers, and furthers speculation that developers are finding the Xbox Series S difficult to work with. If Black Myth: Wukong had signed an exclusivity deal, it would be in Sony’s interest to sow doubt about the Xbox platform by keeping the details of the deal secret.
Related: Xbox games leader Matt Booty talks exclusivity, Xbox Game Pass and more
Game Science is a new, independent studio. It’s not unheard of for indie teams to sign exclusivity deals to boost their cash flow. Microsoft has similarly secured several exclusivity deals, including Pokemon-like survival hit Palworld. What would make less sense is throwing Microsoft under the bus to save face from the public disappointed by the delay. Dozens of dozens of articles and YouTube videos blaming the Xbox Series S for Black Myth: Wukong’s delay appeared in the wake of the delay statement, creating yet another wave of doubt about the Xbox Series X|S platform. I’d love to hear some more details from Game Science about what exactly is causing the delay on Xbox at the end, if it is indeed the Xbox Series S, but I’m not sure we’ll get anything official.
Whatever the harsh reality, it’s ultimately up to Microsoft to fix the problems developers have with the Xbox platform, and ensure that Xbox customers can still receive content at the same rate as their competitors. Capcom recently exclusively announced a series of classic game ports not is coming to Xbox Series X|S, for example.
Either way, we’ve been here before with Xbox, and we’ll likely be here again as Xbox remains in third place. A truly stunning upcoming Xbox games list revealed at the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase means Xbox fans will have plenty to play in the coming months. It just seems like, for whatever reason, Black Myth: Wukong won’t be there.
Black Myth: Wukong will launch on August 20, 2024 for Windows PC and PS5, with an Xbox Series