In something that I have personally never heard happening before, an Xbox One launch game has had to be completely redone sound wise. Paul Lipson, Microsoft Studios’ audio director, tells about a game that is scheduled to be released alongside the new console having to have its audio completely overhauled as a result of failing to meet Microsoft’s sound standards.
There were not a ton of details given, as the name of the game was kept hidden, but Lipson said at the Game Music Connect event that the game received a “full lobotomy.” He continued on to say that they have a group of composers and sound designers that make sure that each game, first-party or third-party, meet the set sound quality standards that they have put in place for the Xbox One console.
Lipson said that Microsoft’s internal audio team has had to come in to help save the game prior to its release, so it must have been a pretty serious job to need the extra help. At this point we don’t know which title or even if it was an Xbox One exclusive title. The last part is what I am most curious about to see if the game would have passed for the unknown standards for the Playstation 4 if it was a multiplatform title.
