TheRetroArcade
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Joined: Feb 2026
"You just used a very polite and elegant way to say 'Xbox Series S sucks,' right?"
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Ex-Tekken director and current SNK VS Studio CEO Katsuhiro Harada expressed some sheer savagery at the Console Game Developers Conference in Seoul a couple of days ago. According to Inven Global, the game director and producer slated the Xbox Series S right in front of a "senior Xbox official" (via EuroGamer).
Harada said: "there's something I really want to say while I have the floor. Since a senior Xbox official is actually in attendance here today, I wish hardware like the 'Xbox Series S' wouldn't be released (laughs). I want to ask Director Paweł personally—honestly, weren't you upset inside because of Series S?"
He's talking to CDPR Associate Game Director Paweł Sasko, who reportedly bursts out laughing and responds: "It constantly throws challenges at us and forces us to optimize our code very cleanly."
Harada: "You just used a very polite and elegant way to say 'Xbox Series S sucks,' right?"
The reason, which Harada continues to explain, is that despite the Series S being more popular than Series X in the US, low memory is an issue and its performance is "awkwardly lower" than the Series X: "With Xbox, after delivering your absolute best output, it feels like having to do extra work for a slightly weaker child."
Sasko actually agrees, although he puts a positive spin on it: "Harada speaks a lot of truth... However, intensely optimizing for lower-spec platforms definitely brings the benefit of making the game run significantly better across all platforms—including PS5, high-end PCs, and handhelds like Steam Deck and ROG Ally... And the biggest advantage of Series S is that its affordable price makes it accessible."
Harada: "Director Paweł packaged Series S so gracefully that the Microsoft representative in the audience keeps nodding along. I'm worried they'll feel reassured and release a successor like 'Helix S' for the next-gen Xbox as well (laughs)."
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As savage as it is for Harada to point all this out in front of an Xbox rep, it's not wrong. We recently saw, for instance, that Rockstar is targeting just 30 fps for GTA 6 on PlayStation and Xbox. That's "while pushing both platforms to their absolute limits to bring the vast and rich world of Leonida to life", apparently.
We PC gamers, on the other hand—the refined and exemplary folk that we are—can enjoy frame rates just as high as our systems allow. Which is, err, actually not so much given the ridiculous hardware prices of late. Let's just forget about that and remain smug, shall we?
1. Best gaming laptop: Razer Blade 16
2. Best gaming PC: HP Omen 35L
3. Best handheld gaming PC: Asus ROG Xbox Ally X
4. Best mini PC: Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT
5. Best VR headset: Meta Quest 3
👉Check out our list of guides👈
Jacob got his hands on a gaming PC for the first time when he was about 12 years old. He swiftly realised the local PC repair store had ripped him off with his build and vowed never to let another soul build his rig again. With this vow, Jacob the hardware junkie was born. Since then, Jacob's led a double-life as part-hardware geek, part-philosophy nerd, first working as a Hardware Writer for PCGamesN in 2020, then working towards a PhD in Philosophy for a few years while freelancing on the side for sites such as TechRadar, Pocket-lint, and yours truly, PC Gamer. Eventually, he gave up the ruthless mercenary life to join the world's #1 PC Gaming site full-time. It's definitely not an ego thing, he assures us.
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Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Ex-Tekken director and current SNK VS Studio CEO Katsuhiro Harada expressed some sheer savagery at the Console Game Developers Conference in Seoul a couple of days ago. According to Inven Global, the game director and producer slated the Xbox Series S right in front of a "senior Xbox official" (via EuroGamer).
Harada said: "there's something I really want to say while I have the floor. Since a senior Xbox official is actually in attendance here today, I wish hardware like the 'Xbox Series S' wouldn't be released (laughs). I want to ask Director Paweł personally—honestly, weren't you upset inside because of Series S?"
He's talking to CDPR Associate Game Director Paweł Sasko, who reportedly bursts out laughing and responds: "It constantly throws challenges at us and forces us to optimize our code very cleanly."
Harada: "You just used a very polite and elegant way to say 'Xbox Series S sucks,' right?"
The reason, which Harada continues to explain, is that despite the Series S being more popular than Series X in the US, low memory is an issue and its performance is "awkwardly lower" than the Series X: "With Xbox, after delivering your absolute best output, it feels like having to do extra work for a slightly weaker child."
Sasko actually agrees, although he puts a positive spin on it: "Harada speaks a lot of truth... However, intensely optimizing for lower-spec platforms definitely brings the benefit of making the game run significantly better across all platforms—including PS5, high-end PCs, and handhelds like Steam Deck and ROG Ally... And the biggest advantage of Series S is that its affordable price makes it accessible."
Harada: "Director Paweł packaged Series S so gracefully that the Microsoft representative in the audience keeps nodding along. I'm worried they'll feel reassured and release a successor like 'Helix S' for the next-gen Xbox as well (laughs)."
The PC Gamer Circuit Breaker newsletter breaks down the latest PC gaming tech, and finds you the best deals on the best products
As savage as it is for Harada to point all this out in front of an Xbox rep, it's not wrong. We recently saw, for instance, that Rockstar is targeting just 30 fps for GTA 6 on PlayStation and Xbox. That's "while pushing both platforms to their absolute limits to bring the vast and rich world of Leonida to life", apparently.
We PC gamers, on the other hand—the refined and exemplary folk that we are—can enjoy frame rates just as high as our systems allow. Which is, err, actually not so much given the ridiculous hardware prices of late. Let's just forget about that and remain smug, shall we?
1. Best gaming laptop: Razer Blade 16
2. Best gaming PC: HP Omen 35L
3. Best handheld gaming PC: Asus ROG Xbox Ally X
4. Best mini PC: Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT
5. Best VR headset: Meta Quest 3
👉Check out our list of guides👈
Jacob got his hands on a gaming PC for the first time when he was about 12 years old. He swiftly realised the local PC repair store had ripped him off with his build and vowed never to let another soul build his rig again. With this vow, Jacob the hardware junkie was born. Since then, Jacob's led a double-life as part-hardware geek, part-philosophy nerd, first working as a Hardware Writer for PCGamesN in 2020, then working towards a PhD in Philosophy for a few years while freelancing on the side for sites such as TechRadar, Pocket-lint, and yours truly, PC Gamer. Eventually, he gave up the ruthless mercenary life to join the world's #1 PC Gaming site full-time. It's definitely not an ego thing, he assures us.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?