Towerborne: New Xbox Adventure Game Becomes Steam Exclusive

The Xbox adventure game Towerborne, developed by Stoic, the creators of The Banner Saga, has announced that it will launch into Steam Early Access on September 10, 2024, becoming a limited-time exclusive on Steam. This change comes amid news that the game was initially scheduled for simultaneous release on Xbox and PC, including Game Pass. Post-Early Access, Towerborne is set for a full, free-to-play launch in 2025. The game director, Daniel McLaren, emphasized the importance of player interaction and the benefits Xbox and PC players will receive from early access refinements. However, this new launch strategy has sparked mixed reactions among Xbox fans, highlighting the shifting focus of Xbox’s strategy towards cross-platform availability.

Towerborne will enter Steam Early Access on September 10, 2024, with a full, free-to-play launch planned for 2025.

Towerborne is a highly anticipated title from Stoic, known for its unique art style and narrative in The Banner Saga series. This shift to early access represents a strategy to engage players earlier in development, as Stoic aims to capture the spirit of community-driven funding that propelled their previous projects. As Xbox faces challenges in console-exclusive titles, this move signals a potential shift in how Microsoft approaches its gaming portfolio, increasingly prioritizing multi-platform releases and player involvement in game development.