What you need to know
- Starbound is a popular 2016 open-world space exploration game in which you adventure through a procedurally generated universe with your spaceship.
- The indie was a huge hit on PC, and now — eight years after its original launch — Starbound is getting an Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One port soon.
- Developer Chucklefish hasn’t yet announced a release date, but is currently holding a beta playtest for the game on Xbox that you’ll have a chance to get access to by installing the Insider Hub app on your Xbox.
- The beta runs until next week on September 4, 2024, with the developers primarily looking for feedback on the console version’s performance, UI, gamepad controls, and gameplay balancing.
- The PC version of Starbound is available on GOG, Steam, and the Microsoft Store for $14.99. Notably, it’s playable on the latter platform through PC Game Pass (and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, by extension).
As a tech enthusiast with years of gaming experience under my belt, I must say that the news of Starbound coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One is nothing short of exhilarating! Eight long years after its initial PC launch, this fan-favorite open-world space exploration game is finally making its way to consoles.
It’s common for games to be released on various platforms a few years following their initial launch. Occasionally, highly acclaimed titles will appear on new systems several years later, offering latecomers an unexpected opportunity to play what many gamers consider a cherished classic. This week saw just such an occurrence as the developer of the adored open-world PC game Starbound announced plans for an Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One release, which will mark eight years since its debut in 2016.
As a researcher, I’m thrilled to share that the Starbound Xbox version is nearing its launch! In our eagerness to release it, we’re reaching out to the Starbound community. We’d greatly appreciate your input on usability, particularly control adjustments and design decisions tailored for the Xbox version. Your insights will significantly impact our final tweaks before the game goes live, and they’ll also guide us in making any additional quality-of-life improvements following the launch, in future updates.
According to the post, Starbound’s exact release date on Xbox hasn’t been specified yet. Nevertheless, Chucklefish is conducting a playtest for the game on Xbox consoles via the Xbox Insider Program that goes up until September 4, 2024. The creators mention that “the testing group will be limited to manage and prioritize the feedback we receive,” but any Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One users might become eligible for this beta once they download the Insider Hub app (if you qualify, the opportunity to participate will show up within the app).
Essentially, you can start playing Starbound on Xbox immediately, but remember, access isn’t always certain. Once you’ve given the game a go, Chucklefish requests that you complete their Xbox Insider feedback form to share your thoughts. This survey is quite comprehensive, with around six pages of questions, primarily focusing on console performance, user interface, gamepad controls, and gameplay balance. The developers are also asking playtesters to report any bugs they encounter by using the “Report a problem” option (by holding down your controller’s Xbox button, you can access it).
The studio’s goal with this playtest is to determine the ideal default control setup for the game’s initial release. They want to discover what feels most comfortable and intuitive for most players. After trying out the default controls, you have the option to customize the mapping and deadzone settings according to your preference.
If you’re excited about playing Starbound with your friends, here’s some great news! This game was specifically designed with multiplayer functionality and can accommodate up to four players in a party. However, it’s important to note that if you’re using an Xbox One S, you can only play with one friend. The reason for this limitation wasn’t explained in the blog post by Chucklefish.
Starbound is a game that takes you on an open-world survival adventure across a huge universe made up of procedurally generated planets. You travel from planet to planet in your spaceship, and while I haven’t played it personally, it reminds me of No Man’s Sky in feel – both games were released in 2016. However, Starbound appears to focus more on role-playing game elements like character development and storyline, whereas No Man’s Sky emphasizes exploration. With over 85,000 reviews on Steam, it has a very positive rating, with 90% of those reviews being positive.
Keep in mind that if you can’t join the current Xbox playtest, numerous individuals within the Xbox community may access the PC version without a complete purchase due to Starbound being accessible on PC Game Pass (which also includes Xbox Game Pass Ultimate). It’s anticipated that it will be playable via the console version of Xbox Game Pass when the full Xbox edition is launched, although this hasn’t been explicitly confirmed as of now.
If you choose to purchase the game directly, you can find it priced at $14.99 on GOG, Steam, and the Microsoft Store. At this time, there are no sales available, but considering its positive feedback from both critics and players, I believe it’s a great value at its regular price. If you enjoy open-world and survival genres, it appears to be one of the top PC games currently available; I plan on playing it myself for that reason.
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2024-08-30 23:09