Former Tekken director and current VS Studio CEO Katsuhiro Harada has openly criticized the Xbox Series S, arguing that Microsoft's affordable console creates unnecessary development challenges because of its limited memory and significantly weaker performance compared with Xbox Series X.
Speaking during the Console Game Developers Conference 2026 in Seoul, South Korea, Harada jokingly addressed a senior Xbox representative attending the discussion.
"I wish hardware like the 'Xbox Series S' wouldn't be released."
— Quote by: Katsuhiro Harada
Harada explained that the console's 10 GB of memory and reduced graphics performance require developers to dedicate additional resources to optimization. Unlike Nintendo Switch 2, which developers approach as a separate platform, Xbox Series S must support the same games as Series X despite its considerably weaker specifications.
He also noted that developers frequently receive complaints about reduced texture quality and graphical compromises, even though these limitations originate from Microsoft's hardware design. Similar concerns have appeared in The Witcher 4 development discussions, where CD Projekt RED acknowledged the difficulty of achieving 60 FPS on Xbox Series S.
However, CD Projekt RED associate game director Paweł Sasko offered a different perspective. While acknowledging the technical challenges, Sasko explained that optimizing games for weaker hardware can improve performance across PlayStation 5, PC, and handheld devices.
He cited Cyberpunk 2077, explaining that optimizations developed for Nintendo Switch 2 were subsequently applied to other platforms. Sasko also emphasized that affordable consoles allow more players to access modern games without purchasing expensive hardware.
Harada concluded by joking that he hoped Microsoft would not introduce another reduced performance console alongside its next generation Project Helix hardware.
Harada raises legitimate concerns about hardware limitations, but affordable consoles should not be treated as obstacles to gaming accessibility. The Xbox Series S makes modern gaming available to consumers who cannot justify premium hardware prices.
However, Microsoft must balance affordability with realistic hardware specifications. Developers should receive sufficient tools and resources to optimize their games without sacrificing quality across platforms.
As Sasko highlighted, efficient optimization ultimately benefits everyone, including PC gamers using older or more affordable hardware.
Should Microsoft release another affordable Xbox alongside Project Helix, or would you prefer a single, more powerful console without the development limitations of Series S?
