This Month’s ID@Xbox Showcase Is Exactly What Xbox Needs

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This year’s IGN Fan Fest commences on February 24th with an ID@Xbox event, highlighting indie games from more than a dozen studios. The announcement was made by IGN today, and the participating studios have been disclosed. Notable indie game publishers such as Panic (Untitled Goose Game, Firewatch), Don’t Nod (Life Is Strange, Jusant), and Raw Fury (Sable, Star Trucker) are among those scheduled to appear in the presentation. Additionally, it is rumored that the smash hit of 2024, Balatro, might unveil its upcoming collaboration during this event.

Indie games are the exact supplement Xbox needs for its AAA lineup right now

Over the past several years, the Xbox Game Studios have significantly expanded, largely due to acquisitions such as Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. Following a well-received Developer Direct event recently, it appears that Xbox enthusiasts may soon reap the benefits of their waiting period. However, there are some significant challenges: Sony and Nintendo are outperforming Microsoft in console sales, and to add to the trouble, Xbox Studios games will also be available on PlayStation 5. But this could be acceptable because by the end of 2024, Xbox is projected to be the leading video game publisher, with a substantial lead over another massive publisher like EA (Dragon Age: The Veilguard and EA Sports FC 2025).

Although it seems that the traditional Xbox console might soon become less prominent, there’s a silver lining to this situation. In the waning months of 2024, the Xbox Game Pass service on PC has experienced a significant growth spurt, with its user base expanding by an impressive 30%. This trend doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Exciting new titles are already lined up for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. On February 17th, they can look forward to Avowed, followed by South of Midnight in April, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in April, and then Doom: The Dark Ages in May.

While this lineup looks terrific, some of these blockbuster titles may not suit everyone’s playstyle. That’s where indie games come into play, filling the void. Since they can’t consistently offer big-budget games every couple of weeks, featuring indie games is a smart strategy to boost the service’s worth. This month’s ID@Xbox lineup is their opportunity to demonstrate that Game Pass remains a valuable choice, even after you’ve finished playing the month’s major AAA title.

Based on the roster of publishers and developers participating in the showcase, it’s clear that Xbox is poised for an impressive display. As an avid supporter of indie games, I’ve been closely following several games that could potentially be unveiled during this event.

What to expect from the ID@Xbox presentation this month

Publisher Raw Fury has earned a reputation for offering an array of engaging games such as Cassette Beasts (available on Game Pass), Moonstone Island, Sable, and Star Trucker (also available on Game Pass). Currently, they have two upcoming titles that have piqued my interest. Blue Prince is a unique blend of puzzle-solving and exploration, where players construct a mansion, investigate its rooms, and unravel the mystery hidden within. On the other hand, Knights in Tight Spaces is an intense, difficult tactical game that has already consumed several hours of my time through the demo currently accessible on Steam.

If you’ve played Frostpunk 2, Creatures of Ava, or Moonlighter (all available on Game Pass), then the name 11 Bit Studios might ring a bell for you. This publisher seems to have a good relationship with Game Pass and has three intriguing titles coming up.

Death Howl is a deckbuilder that offers tactical combat challenges, scheduled for release soon. In The Alters, set for Q1 2025, you’ll create clones of yourself to survive on an alien planet and build a base. And if you’re a fan of Moonlighter, you might be eager to hear about the upcoming sequel, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault.

As an enthusiastic supporter, I’m thrilled to share that the trailblazing publisher, Panic, known for hit indie games such as my personal favorites, Untitled Goose Game and Firewatch, has more exciting titles in store. The geniuses behind Untitled Goose Game have unveiled their next creation, Big Walk, a quirky multiplayer open-world puzzle game that promises to be another intriguing adventure. Additionally, Panic is set to publish Herdling, a unique game that challenges players to restore peculiar fantastical creatures to their native environments. Last year at PAX West, I had the pleasure of trying out a demo of Herdling, and it seemed like it could be something truly special!

Two years past, Thunder Lotus – the company behind Spiritfarer – unveiled a fresh upcoming title during an Xbox Showcase. Titled “33 Immortals,” this is a cooperative action rogue-lite designed for 33 players. In this game, you band together to outlive swarms of monsters and flee from eternal damnation with a group of allies. A beta testing period runs until February 7th, offering gamers the opportunity to preview the title beforehand. It’s quite unexpected that this game won’t be featured in this month’s presentation.

Additionally, Don’t Nod, creators of the popular Life Is Strange series, will be joining us in this presentation. If you’re a fan of their work, you might want to check out their latest project, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage. The first part, “Bloom,” is set to release this month, followed by “Rage” on April 15th.

Also worth mentioning, Pocketpair, the developer behind the Xbox Game Pass hit Palworld, has ventured into indie publishing. They’ve already collaborated with Surgent Studios, creators of Tales of Kenzera ZAU, so this could be an opportunity for them to showcase their ongoing projects.

In the end, you can anticipate further offerings from Curve Games, known for publishing Dungeons of Hinterberg (now on Game Pass), as well as Cult Games, responsible for Galacticare (also available on Game Pass). Moreover, there’s a possibility that Balatro’s upcoming update might join the lineup, transforming screens into not just Xbox devices but also time-absorbing black holes.

This collection of indie games might possibly debut on Game Pass in the current year. Since most of them don’t have set launch dates yet, it would be ideal to inform eager players about any updates regarding these titles. The anticipation for Game Pass subscribers was already high for 2025, and this upcoming ID@Xbox event further enhances the excitement.

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2025-02-04 08:32