Black Myth: Wukong, the highly anticipated action RPG from Game Science, has been the subject of intense speculation following its delayed release on Xbox Series X|S.
A knowledgeable source confirmed to IGN that the delay is due to an exclusivity deal with Sony Group Corp. (NYSE:SONY), contradicting rumors of technical issues that have circulated online.
Contradicting The Rumors
Spanish leaker eXtas1s recently suggested that Xbox delayed Black Myth: Wukong due to a memory leak issue, allegedly discovered during Gamescom after conversations with Xbox developers.The leaker said these issues had caused the game to fail bug detection tests, leading to an indefinite delay.
IGN's source denied these claims, stating that Xbox has not reported any such technical problems.
Instead, the source told the publication the delay is tied to an exclusivity deal with Sony that neither Game Science nor Sony has publicly acknowledged.The source described the rumors of tech issues as "inaccurate."
What's Really Behind Black Myth: Wukong's Xbox Delay?
The delay has been a topic of confusion since June, when keen-eyed observers noticed the absence of Xbox Series X|S from the Black Myth: Wukong trailer shown during the Summer Game Fest. Game Science attempted to clarify the situation in its FAQ, stating that it was still optimizing the Xbox version.
"Xbox is currently optimizing the Xbox Series X|S version to meet our quality standards, so it won't release simultaneously with the other platforms. We apologize for the delay and aim to minimize the wait for Xbox users. We will announce the release date as soon as it meets our quality standards," the FAQ said.
Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT), on its part, offered a statement on June 21 that hinted at the ongoing situation:
"We're excited for the launch of Black Myth Wukong on Xbox Series X|S and are working with Game Science to bring the game to our platforms. We can't comment on the deals made by our partners with other platform holders, but we remain focused on making Xbox the best platform for gamers, and great games are at the center of that."
As of now, it remains unclear when Xbox players will finally get their hands on Black Myth: Wukong. The game has already made a significant impact, pushing Steam to a record 37 million concurrent players earlier this week and selling over 10 million copies within just three days of its release.
- Why Some Games Run Better On PS5 Despite Xbox Series X's Power Advantage, According To Experts
Image courtesy of Game Science via Steam.