Original Xbox designer claims that the idea of the Series X being 'more powerful' is not relevant today.
Good games are "all you need" to succeed.
Seamus Blackley, one of the designers of the original Xbox, shared his thoughts on the evolution of consoles in a recent podcast. He stated that currently, what matters most are not the technical specifications but the quality of the available software. In his remarks, he noted that in the early days of gaming, promoting Xbox as the most powerful console was effective and relevant, as we were in an initial stage of graphic development. However, over time, the differences between consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have become less evident.
Blackley recalled how he had to acquire Gran Turismo at the time of its release, due to how striking its graphics were. For him, that type of experience is no longer as common. In his opinion, what’s most important now are the games themselves: "The battle [...] has shifted away from that kind of technical achievement to other things [...] you have to create an experience that people want to have when they see it."
A clear example of this trend is the commercial success of the Nintendo Switch, a console that, despite not having next-generation specifications, has achieved record sales. "That's all you need," Blackley said, referring to his experience with games like Breath of the Wild, which he has enjoyed repeatedly.
Regarding the current state of Xbox, he commented that although the Xbox Series X is presented as the most powerful console (at least before the arrival of the PS5 Pro), it has lagged behind the PS5 in sales. This highlights that pure technical power does not guarantee commercial success. "How they managed that brand and the narrative going forward is not my fault. I wouldn’t have done it the same way [...] I definitely think this narrative of being more powerful is not useful today."