Xbox Series X Games That Were Held Back By The Hardware

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Games are constantly becoming more complex and visually impressive, which puts a strain on hardware. While this isn’t a new problem, the latest consoles have repeatedly shown that even powerful systems can struggle to run certain games smoothly. Developers face a challenge because consoles, unlike high-end PCs, have fixed and sometimes limited specifications. This can result in performance issues and technical problems that aren’t common on more flexible gaming PCs.

Developing a game is already challenging, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ensure it runs well on the wide range of hardware configurations available, especially on consoles like the Series X. This has led to several otherwise excellent games launching in an incomplete state, facing delays, and failing to perform as well as comparable PC versions. This discrepancy has understandably frustrated dedicated fans who just want to enjoy a smooth, polished gaming experience.

Baldur’s Gate 3

A Generational Miss

Details:

  • Series S memory limitations
  • Missed peak cultural relevance

Baldur’s Gate 3 came to Xbox quite a while after it became a huge hit, and the reason was the Xbox Series S. Larian, the game’s developer, had trouble getting the split-screen co-op feature to work consistently on the Series S because it has less memory than the more powerful Series X and PlayStation 5. This meant the Series X version of the game had to be delayed until the issue was fixed, and by the time it finally launched, much of the initial excitement had died down.

The problem was significant because Xbox players missed out on the game for a long time, and Microsoft lost potential customers who chose other platforms or waited for a discount. Even after release, the game didn’t perform as well on Xbox as it did on more powerful systems. While it still plays well today, it’s a reminder of the challenges of releasing games across multiple generations of consoles and the risks involved.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Technical Ambition Meets Console Limitations

Details:

  • Streaming limitations on the hardware
  • Noticable gap between PC

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a stunning technical achievement for consoles, but the console version doesn’t quite live up to its full potential. While the PC version allows for maximum settings, the Series X version is noticeably limited by the console’s hardware. This results in less detailed graphics, shorter draw distances, and objects appearing suddenly. These limitations unfortunately make the console experience less immersive and enjoyable.

It’s understandable why the device had trouble running the game. It was trying to display incredibly detailed environments – like complex airplane cockpits, busy cities, and real-time weather – all on its standard hardware. This led to some crashes and slowdowns during extended gameplay. While updates have made the game run better, it still doesn’t offer the same level of detail and performance you’d get on a PC.

Ark: Survival Ascended

UE5 Brilliance Struggling Outside Of The PC Space

Details:

  • Poorly scaled UE5 features
  • Bandwidth bottlenecks

ARK: Survival Ascended moved to the Unreal Engine 5 for a major upgrade, but the version for Xbox Series X shows that some of the engine’s advanced features don’t work well on consoles. While the technology itself is impressive and offers many benefits, features like Lumen lighting and Nanite geometry require a lot of processing power and memory. Without careful optimization, this can lead to uneven performance, fluctuating frame rates, and noticeable drops in visual quality.

As a fan, I’ve been really hoping the Series X version would live up to the hype, but it’s been a struggle. On PC, if you have a super powerful rig, you can kind of force the game to look and run great, but the Series X just doesn’t have the power under the hood to do that. They’ve released a bunch of updates trying to fix problems and improve performance, but honestly, it still doesn’t feel like it’s meeting the standards we were all expecting when it first came out.

Cities: Skylines 2

Still Waiting To Build A New Metropolis

Details:

  • Console launch delayed indefinitely
  • Too demanding for even some mid-range PCs on release

Cities: Skylines 2 is unusual because its console release has been put on hold indefinitely due to technical issues. The game’s detailed simulations of city life and traffic put too much strain on the Xbox Series X. During testing, the console couldn’t handle the demands on its processor and memory. Because these issues are core to how the game works – things like citizen behavior and traffic patterns – simply lowering graphics settings wouldn’t fix the problem or significantly improve performance.

The game faced performance issues even on powerful computers, meaning a smooth console release wasn’t possible without major changes. The delay was a smart decision to address these hardware limitations, rather than releasing a buggy version that could have damaged the game’s reputation. While it’s not the first game people think of when discussing hardware problems, it shows that any game – big or small – can struggle with performance, regardless of its budget or popularity.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Too Much Action To Handle

Details:

  • Performance inconsistency both before and after patches
  • Visual downgrade versus PC version

When Darktide was released, many players noted performance issues, and this was the primary reason the Xbox version was delayed. The game’s large enemy groups and complex physics put a lot of strain on consoles, making it hard to keep the frame rate steady during intense fights. This required a significant amount of extra work to improve performance after the game initially launched.

Even after a long development process, the console version of the game doesn’t quite live up to its potential. The graphics aren’t as sharp as they are on PC, and the game can slow down during busy moments, which hurts the overall experience. Ultimately, because the game is built around fast-paced, chaotic action, the limitations of console hardware prevent it from being as fun as it could be.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

Functional But Hardly Ideal

Details:

  • Long load times later in the game
  • UI and performance compromises

While Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is playable on the Series X, it’s clearly struggling to run smoothly. The console version’s interface feels clunky and less user-friendly than the PC version. Big battles and complex calculations cause long loading times and occasional slowdowns, mainly because the console doesn’t have enough memory to handle everything, especially as you progress further into the game.

The console version of the game isn’t unplayable, but it doesn’t feel as smooth or customizable as the PC version. Mods, quicker menus, and better performance on PC really enhance the experience. While the Series X runs the game adequately, this port, like many CRPGs, suffers when moved to weaker hardware. This limits the game’s appeal, potentially shrinking the player base even though it’s available on several platforms.

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2026-01-26 06:08