Wizard101 dev blog breaks down the long road to its console launch

KingsIsle has shared a new behind-the-scenes blog detailing how Wizard101 made the jump to consoles after nearly two decades as a PC MMO. The post looks back at the years-long process that led to the game’s Xbox and PlayStation launch in October, followed by its Nintendo Switch release earlier this month.

A big part of the challenge, according to the studio, was technical. Wizard101 runs on its own engine, Gamebryo, which meant the team couldn’t just flip a switch and call it a day. They had to work through engine-level compatibility issues alongside the usual console requirements.

KingsIsle says it first seriously explored a console version in 2021, but paused due to “industry conditions and resource challenges.” In 2023, the team restarted that push and began looking for outside help to navigate the technical hurdles. Product president Joel White describes an intense partner search, including 30 meetings over three days at Gamescom 2023.

Once development ramped up, KingsIsle split focus between getting the game running properly on console hardware and handling the less visible work: account integration, platform-specific infrastructure, and meeting certification standards. The studio also points to a months-long Xbox Game Preview period as a key step in getting the launch into shape.

KingsIsle frames the end result as groundwork for future console support, noting that having certification and a working pipeline should make it easier to bring projects to console going forward. If you want the full breakdown, the studio’s developer blog goes deeper on the process, including the UI work needed to make a long-running PC MMO feel usable on a controller.