When searching for a game on the Xbox Store, you've probably come across the various tags (or "Capabilities") that are listed alongside it - things like the resolution, the FPS and whether it contains online multiplayer or not.
That's obviously the case with Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 as well, but as pointed out by one player on the Xbox subreddit today, these "Capabilities" are never split between Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. In the case of Space Marine 2, they say it's being "falsely advertised" because the game is listed as supporting 60FPS+ on the Xbox Store page, but it doesn't actually run any higher than 30FPS on Microsoft's lesser-powered console.
And here's a look at how the Space Marine 2 page displays on the browser version of the Xbox Store:
Initially, the Reddit poster was getting a bit of criticism for not doing more extensive research before buying the game, but others have since come to their defence - suggesting that Microsoft really should provide details for each console.
In our opinion, it clearly makes sense for Microsoft to be as transparent as possible with the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S specifications for each title, but then that obviously does add to the workload - it's much easier to just slap a "60FPS+" sticker on it and trust that consumers will do enough research themselves before they buy the game.
We probably don't see enough stories like this for Team Xbox to really take notice, especially considering we're now multiple years into the Series X|S generation, but we're hopeful that improvements will be made in this area in the future.
Do You Think This Is Too Misleading For Xbox Series S Owners? (1,001 votes)
- Of course it is! It needs to be changed!
- I can see how it'd confuse people, yeah
- Kinda, but it's not a really a big deal
- Don't see the problem to be honest!
Do you think Xbox is being too misleading for Series S owners? Let us know in the poll and comments.
Comments 24
I'm never one to criticize the articles but "ONE player complained/said this" is too much. 😂
I like the discussion itself (already voted!), it's just the title that makes it kind of funny.
If you're going to have a less powerful alternative to your flagship console, you should be telling consumers what that less powerful alternative is and isn't capable of. Anyone reading that capabilities list under "Xbox Series X|S" would be perfectly justified in assuming that all of those listed features apply to Series S.
I don't see Xbox going down the X|S route next generation. They might have multiple SKU's with different storage sizes or maybe a SKU without a disc drive, but having a less powerful model that's expected to run all the same games seems to have been more trouble than it's worth.
(edit)
What Xbox should have done was listed the Series X and Series S capabilities separately, in the same manner that storefronts such as Steam and Epic lay out the minimum and recommend specs for each game, often with what performance you can expect.
A similar thing happened with Sonic Frontiers, where despite the game having a performance mode on Series X, it was missing on Series S for reasons unknown. It was patched into the version a whopping more than two weeks later which is incredibly embarrassing. For shame!
It's definitely misleading that they don't list these specs separately, I had to go back to ol Google to reference the Series S performance when I found out my PC is a little below-spec to reliably play the Steam version. I was also upset that Xbox/PS5 list Space Marine 2 at 70 while it's 60 on Steam, but that's its own can of worms 😑
The series s should never have happened in the 1st place its definitely holding the series x back
@Dan1283 Holding it back from what? If games are running the same on Series X and PS5 then how is the S holding it back. Why is the PS5 not miles ahead as they only have one console. Hmmmmmm
It should be advertised as sold/played.
But I wouldn’t worry too much about unhappy people on reddit
I get it. But if someone bought a series S and still expects 60 fps on everything, they are kinda dreamin.
That said, 1080p and 60fps shouldn’t be that hard, should it?
@Deformedpye maybe it’s holding back the ps5 too 😝 now soon we’ll have the ps5 pro to muddy the waters further. And the super popular switch still holding everything back too. It’s a complicated eco system. People sure worry about it a lot tho.
It's even worse for Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina's Wonderland, where the store lists 2-4 player local multiplayer as a feature, but on the Series S only 2-player local multiplayer is possible. And if you played Borderlands 1, 2, or The Pre-Sequel you might not even pick up on this, since 2-4 player local multiplayer is possible on the Series S for those games.
@jesse_dylan fair points to folks like you and I, but we aren't the main market for these consoles. The bulk of people that own them will literally take what it says as true.
Flip side, the majority of them won't be looking at fps or resolution when they play them and likely won't care.
Yet another Series S owner being hit with reality. The console is, and always will be, an incredible mistake by Microsoft.
If you want a Ferrari, you don't buy a Yugo. It's really not that hard to understand.
Removed - trolling/baiting
@Deformedpye Cause Series S is the lowest common denominator. From business perspective, that's what developers really plan for. Very few exceptions to that rule.
@GuyinPA75 they please themselves what they say lol its the truth
There is a problem with my disc.
BUY A CONSOLE WITH A DISC DRIVE THEN!
applauds at 1 clap per 15 seconds
I trust PX more than Reddit, if it wasn't obvious. This is that reason why will continue to do so.
@Dan1283 Thoughts and prayers sent. Never let the truth ruin a good t[ruth].
Key word "on the BROWSER VERSION of the Xbox Store"... But rabble rabble rabble on...
I consider it inaccurate listing 60+ when it has plenty of issues hitting 60 period and I've yet to see any reports of it actually going higher than 60.
With tags yeah it's not clear unless the description says so. But then again like Tony Hawk Gameboy Color in magazines or EA Sports Tiger Woods Golf Wii version it's not like this hasn't happened before.
I assume Saber would show it how it is (maybe you never know with marketing teams or showing the better version title people show the reality of how it looks/runs) and Microsoft just needs better tagging/store pages, I get the Series S/X tagging but yeah they are different systems but same family, it needs better descriptions, tagging and more on separate pages for each platform not an all encompassing one for both Series S/X and it being misleading.
It's been that way for a looooog time.
Yeah they should split it. For all that a few hysterics whine about the Series S there’s not even that many games where you would see much difference in such a listing. But they should definitely give consumers the correct information.
I'll be nice to know before you buy the game without refering to Digital Foundry videos all the time.
You get what you pay for.
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