Now that we're nearly 5 years in, was Series S a good or a bad idea?

[Vinther1991]

I am unsure. I think there is a case to be made for a more affordable system, but I don’t like the idea of having two systems in a generation with different hardware, same goes for the “pro” systems. Think about it, in the 6th gen, developers had to worry about optimising a version for PS2, Xbox and Gamecube all with one fixed hardware, and then PC where there should be some scalability, but they could get away with a bit less optimization. The situation for PC is now more or less the same, but now developers have to optimise versions for PS5, PS5 pro, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch 2 docked, undocked, maybe some last gen systems (s, x, standard, pro, undocked, docked) and they are also sometimes expected to make a performance and fidelity mode. They can then spend a year post-launch patching their games. And people wonder how video games take so long to make and have gotten so expensive…

I think Xbox should have picked a lane, either Series S or X, not both.