It works mostly the same as it does on a PC, as the compiler and linker build an executable that can be run. Consoles are basically PCs running a different operating system, so it changes the file format of the executable. Xbox and Playstation consoles run games in an ELF file format. ELF stands for Executable and Linkable Format, first introduced way back in the Unix System V days. Nintendo does their own thing - they've got their .NSO file format (Nintendo Switch Object) that's a compiled and linked Switch executable.

Thanks to higher network speeds, it's possible to serve data directly from our dev workstations to our consoles, rather than package everything up. The console dev kit connects to a network drive and runs the game remotely, similar to running an app installer over the network. This can cause some discrepancy between a development environment (our local workstation drives) and a full build with all data included on the disc/cartridge. This discrepancy can lead to odd bugs showing up.

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