Why is Towerborne launching on Steam before Xbox?

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While it should release on Xbox since Game Preview exists, I understand why it’s not especially if/when you need to release an update/patch for the game and then have to wait for certification on Xbox where as on PC, you don’t need certification.

Personally, works out great for me as I have a ton to play anyway and I would have waited for the full 1.0 release anyway before playing the game so no issues here.

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I get why Xbox has a certification process, but for pre-release they should probably consider changing it since there will be more likely more patches than a fully released game.

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That’s what they have the Xbox Insider program for, and why Towerborne was using it. Maybe it’s slightly limited in number of participants, as to why they don’t continue to use it while doing Steam’s Early Access? :person_shrugging:

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After watching the Developer Diary #1 and reading the entire article (I skimmed it before), they are going into Game Preview in early 2025 and will then at some point release the full 1.0 version. I was wrong on that. I thought they were skipping Game Preview completely on Xbox but instead are just delaying it to ensure several aspects of the game are ready when it does release in Game Preview.

On a related note - is anyone going to be playing this on Steam via Early Access? If so, would love to read your impressions. I know they’ll be taking back feedback and going based on just the gameplay videos that were released last week, the only aspect I would like them change is in regards to the health bars and whatnot. I wish they were on the top or bottom of the screen with what looks like abilities to be in the location where the health bars aren’t. The only health bars I would like to see on screen above the characters is for the enemies.

Insider Program is free. I am not aware of any Insider Program beta/alpha/technical flights being paid access. It wouldn’t make sense to continue the Insider Program vs. Paid Early Access on Steam. Game Preview is the equivalent to Early Access on Steam, which means releasing it for retail purchase + Game Pass on Xbox much like Grounded was.

Betas are subject to reduced cert requirements and these can be further loosened when beta is closed.

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But its a Free 2 Play title. I don’t think they’d sell MTX while in Preview / Beta,

You have to pay for the founder’s pack for early access / game preview which is like $25-$45. That’s essentially mtx in Preview / Beta as the pack is mostly skins. When it hits Xbox Game Preview it’ll prob be added into Game Pass Ultimate and then 1.0 is the F2P release with GPU perks monthly I presume.

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