Tekken development veteran Katsuhiro Harada recently shared blunt criticism of the Xbox Series S. During a roundtable at the Console Game Developers Conference in Korea, Harada called Microsoft's budget-friendly console a "weaker child" with "awkwardly lower performance."
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With a senior Xbox official sitting in the audience, Harada did not hold back his true feelings. According to Inven Global, he joked that he wished hardware like the Xbox Series S would not be released at all.
Developer Struggles With Xbox Series S Parity Rules
Harada's candid remarks highlight a frustration many studios have faced since the console launched in 2020. Microsoft mandates that games release on both the Series X and Series S with main feature parity, meaning developers cannot leave the lower-powered machine behind.
Because of this rule, several high-profile titles have hit notable roadblocks. For example, Baldur's Gate 3 arrived on Xbox months late and required assistance from Microsoft engineers to get split-screen co-op running on Series S.
More recently, the team behind the shooter Wardogs admitted that Series S hardware limits prevented them from adding certain features. However, Harada's willingness to speak so openly about these drawbacks remains rare for a developer of his stature.
Harada Presses Cyberpunk 2077 Director on Performance
During the panel, Harada tried to get Cyberpunk 2077 associate game director Paweł Sasko to join his critique. Knowing that CD Projekt had reportedly wrestled with the Series S port, Harada asked Sasko if the console had made him upset inside.
Sasko chose his words carefully, noting that the hardware constantly throws challenges at teams and forces them to optimize their code cleanly. Harada playfully translated that diplomatic answer, suggesting Sasko had just found a polite way to say the console sucks.
Furthermore, Harada explained that low memory makes the Series S especially tough to handle because it sits awkwardly close to the Series X. Unlike Nintendo's Switch 2, which developers treat as a distinct platform, the Series S feels like extra work after a studio has already delivered its best output.
To make matters worse, Harada noted that Series S users outnumber Series X users in markets like the United States. As a result, studios cannot cut corners, yet players still blame developers rather than Microsoft when texture resolution looks lower on the Series S.
Looking Ahead to the Next-Gen Xbox
Despite the technical headaches, Sasko pointed out that the Xbox Series S brings real benefits to the industry. Its lower price helps games reach a wider audience, and optimization breakthroughs made for the console ultimately improved Cyberpunk 2077 across every platform.
In response, Harada joked that Sasko's positive outlook might reassure Microsoft enough to release a "Helix S" alongside its next-generation hardware. Whether Microsoft plans a lower-powered successor remains unclear, as recent estimates point to a 2028 launch for the next Xbox at a steep $1,200 to $1,800 price point.
Source: Tekken Legend Katsuhiro Harada Says He Wishes 'Hardware Like the Xbox Series S Wouldn't Be Released'
