The developers of Absolum recently explained on their official Discord server why the game wasn’t initially released on Xbox, as reported by PureXbox. While they’ve published games on Xbox in the past, they directly addressed the omission to their community.
As an analyst, I’m seeing really positive performance from Absolum right now, particularly on Steam. Critics seem to agree, with an 86 Metascore based on 34 reviews. Given its release on PlayStation 4 & 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch, I’m getting a lot of questions from Xbox gamers about why their platform wasn’t included in this launch.
Let’s explore the developers’ reasoning behind why Xbox wasn’t a focus for this well-received game.
What actually is Absolum?
Absolum is a fast-paced, action-packed game that combines the fun of classic beat ‘em ups, like Streets of Rage, with the replayability of modern roguelite games. It features side-scrolling combat and a unique progression system, offering a fresh take on the genre.
Absolum was created by Dotemu, the team known for popular games like Streets of Rage 4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. They worked with Guard Crush Games and Supamonks Studio – the same developers who contributed to those Xbox titles. Dotemu is also the publisher of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, according to Pure Xbox.
The game became available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch on October 9, 2025, and quickly became a popular hit on Steam, ranking among the top 15 best-selling titles. Reviewers have highlighted its engaging combat and impressive visuals.
What really impressed me about Absolum is its support for both local and online two-player co-op – a feature I’d love to see in more games of this type. As someone who’s enjoyed games like Castle Crashers for years, I find that playing beat ‘em ups with friends always makes them more fun, and this feature adds a lot to the experience.
Why Xbox Wasn’t a Priority This Time
On the official Absolum Discord server, the community manager, Pixel Perfect, addressed the question of an Xbox release – and explained why it hasn’t happened.
The team developing Absolum is very small, similar in size to the rebel group within the game itself. Because we’re a small team, like with most games of this type, we have to focus our efforts. Unfortunately, that means we can’t release on every platform, and for this game, Xbox wasn’t a priority and isn’t currently planned for.
Pixel Perfect – Community Manager
Recent comments, as late as October 10, 2025, indicate that an Xbox version is not being planned at this time. The community manager also stated:
Hey there. Xbox is not a platform we’re currently looking to release on for Absolum
Pixel Perfect – Community Manager
This is unfortunate news for Xbox players, but those with a ROG Ally can still enjoy the game by purchasing it on Steam.
Could an Xbox Version Still Happen?
It’s unlikely the project is abandoned. Absolum is doing well on other gaming systems, and although an Xbox release isn’t planned at the moment, doing well elsewhere could provide the team with the funding and ability to create one. For a small team like this, that kind of progress could be crucial.
I’ve been really impressed by the sheer amount of effort that clearly went into making Absolum. I recently read an interview with PC Gamer where Maxime Mary, the art director, talked about how much they focused on making the game visually clear – it sounds like a huge challenge to get right.
It was crucial to ensure clarity because the game features many enemies, complex visual effects, and detailed environments. We needed to create layers of visual information so players could easily anticipate enemy actions and understand what was about to happen. Specifically, we focused on making the character’s movements – forward, up, or down – instantly recognizable and clear, even as a silhouette.
Maxime Mary – Art Director on Absolum
Mary also revealed that every element in Absolum was painstakingly hand drawn:
As the lead animator on this project, I can say we approached the character animation much like a traditional animated show or film. Everything was created by hand – we didn’t use any digital puppets or computer-generated imagery. This meant that if we needed to revise something, we often had to redraw entire scenes from scratch. Our chosen inked style, while visually appealing, also made the whole process incredibly time-consuming and demanding.
Maxime Mary – Art Director on Absolum
That level of thoughtfulness shows how much care went into the game.
Xbox fans may be disappointed for now, but it’s clear the developers put a lot of love and care into this game. If it does well on other systems, hopefully they’ll consider bringing it to Xbox later – and ideally, as an Xbox Play Anywhere game, letting players easily switch between their console and handheld devices.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news, insights, and features from Windows Central by following us on Google News!
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- 3 Biggest Retcons in One Piece’s God Valley Flashback
- Top gainers and losers
- Star Wars: Beyond Victory Is A Slight But Enjoyable Experiment In What Meta’s Storytelling Potential (Review)
- Every Hulk Personality, Ranked by Importance
- ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Writer, Star Revisit the Show’s ‘Seinfeld’ Reunion
- KPop Demon Hunters Stars Make Surprise Appearance on SNL
- Demi Moore Debuts Bangin’ Hair Transformation
- Bethesda and Xbox’s Oblivion Remastered is getting a physical deluxe edition in October — and it’s only $40
- Metal Gear Solid Delta Patch Promised, But No Mention of PS5 Performance Improvements
2025-10-10 22:11