"I wish hardware like the Xbox Series S wouldn't be released" - former Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada trashes Microsoft's console in front of senior Xbox staff

Former Tekken series game director Katsuhiro Harada harshly criticized the Xbox Series S during a public panel discussion at the Console Game Developers Conference 2026 in Seoul, South Korea. As reported by Inven Global, the panel was moderated by former Sony indie head Shuhei Yoshida and featured several industry figures, including CD Projekt RED associate game director Paweł Sasko and ShiftUp CTO DongKi Lee. According to Kotaku, Harada directly addressed a senior Xbox official in the audience, stating, "Since a senior Xbox official is actually in attendance here today, I wish hardware like the 'Xbox Series S' wouldn't be released." He added that developing for the console "feels like having to do extra work for a slightly weaker child."

Harada explained that while porting to a distinct system like the Nintendo Switch 2 allows developers to view it as a separate platform for Nintendo fans, the Xbox Series S shares similarities with the Xbox Series X while offering awkwardly lower performance and low memory issues. Video Games Chronicle noted that Harada pointed out how popular the console is in markets like the United States, where there are more Series S users than Series X users, preventing developers from simply cutting corners. When visual compromises occur, players frequently direct their complaints at the developers rather than Microsoft, asking why texture resolution is lower only on the Series S.

Paweł Sasko offered a more optimistic perspective during the discussion, noting that the console "constantly throws challenges at us and forces us to optimize our code very cleanly." Sasko explained that intensely optimizing for lower-specification hardware helps games run significantly better across all platforms, including the PlayStation 5, high-end PCs, and handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. He also emphasized that the affordable price of the Xbox Series S makes it accessible to gamers who cannot afford expensive high-end hardware, expanding market penetration. Harada joked that Sasko packaged the console so gracefully that the Microsoft representative in the audience kept nodding along, expressing fear that Microsoft might release a successor like "Helix S" for the next-generation Xbox. Meanwhile, ShiftUp CTO DongKi Lee stated that his team is ready to develop games for Microsoft's next console, known by the working title Xbox Helix, as soon as they receive a development kit in South Korea.