Black Myth: Wukong has finally landed on Xbox, but not without setbacks. A detailed breakdown from Digital Foundry reveals that the Xbox Series X|S versions of the game take a noticeable hit, particularly in performance mode, where compromises undercut the experience seen on PlayStation 5 and PC.
Xbox Series X runs better than PS5, but at a cost
At first glance, Xbox Series X appears to edge out the PS5 version. It offers a higher rendering resolution 1296p on Xbox vs. 1080p on PS5, giving it slightly better sharpness and detail. However, this clarity comes at the expense of one of the game’s most praised features: its lumen lighting system.
Performance mode on Xbox disables lumen lighting entirely, stripping away the dynamic light behavior that gave the PC and PS5 versions their atmospheric depth. Digital Foundry also reported more frequent frame drops and full-screen tearing on the Series X version, further muddying the supposed advantage in resolution.
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Black Myth: Wukong hits a wall on Xbox Series S
The situation worsens with the Xbox Series S, where the game suffers from even heavier visual downgrades. Beyond the missing lighting system, the overall fidelity is significantly lower. The visual compromises make the experience feel stripped down compared to other platforms.
This performance gap may shed light on earlier rumors that technical difficulties with the Series S contributed to the Xbox version’s delayed release. While Game Science denied that claim, the developer has since acknowledged that bringing Black Myth: Wukong to Microsoft’s consoles posed more challenges than expected.
What comes next for Black Myth?
Despite the rocky Xbox launch, Game Science isn’t slowing down. The studio recently announced a sequel, Black Myth: Zhong Kui, which will shift away from the original’s monkey protagonist. According to early developer notes, the team is exploring the tonal and mechanical contrasts between the two mythological figures, though the project is still in early development.
For now, Xbox players finally get to step into Wukong’s world, but not without trade-offs.
