Oxenfree 2 Launches Today but Unlike the Original, it Won’t be on Xbox, Let Alone Xbox Game Pass

After what has felt like forever, we’re finally here and are able to play Oxenfree 2! Announced at a Nintendo Showcase all the way back in 2021, Oxenfree 2 features our protagonist Riley, who returns to her hometown to find mysterious secrets and odd sound radio signals, ending up with a much worse homecoming than she’d wanted. Set five years after the original, Oxenfree 2 won’t be playable for those that only have an Xbox, and the reasoning behind it is a little head-scratching.

The first game, Oxenfree was released in 2016 to much fanfare from critics and fans alike, with huge scores and decent sales, considering the indie studios lack of exposure. It was at one point an Xbox exclusive, before making its way onto Game Pass. The same won’t be happening with Oxenfree 2.

Related: ‘Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals’ Review – Lets Do The Time Warp Again! (PC)

Oxenfree 2 on Select Consoles (and Steam) Only

Oxenfree 2 is one of the few games we here at FandomWire have given a full 10/10 to, with others including the recent God of War: Ragnarok and Trepang2, so it is in esteemed company. Our critic described it as follows:

“It takes all the best parts of the original and builds upon it, providing a near-perfect gaming experience where it feels like each one of your choices has consequences. The characters are all charming, the setting is atmospheric, and the game is also very pretty to look at. If the first Oxenfree is about accepting the loss of innocence Oxenfree 2 is all about growing up.”

With a perfect score, it is understandable many of us want to be able to experience such a game, but unfortunately, only those with a PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch or Netflix can enjoy the game. Yes, you read that right, Netflix. Most won’t know but Oxenfree 2 was actually developed by a little known Netflix studio Night School, and as such, Netflix have full publishing rights and decisions.

They haven’t announced why they chose not to release on Xbox, but the running theory right now is they wanted to avoid the game being swallowed up by Game Pass, as so many other releases have, and lose sales and exposure to their rapidly growing gaming brand.

This isn’t the first time in recent months we’ve seen a decision that seemingly reflects poorly on the Xbox Game Pass service, with comments made at the recent FTC trial backing up a theory that many developers dislike the service, with Sony boss Jim Ryan calling it “value destructive”. Much is made of the service, with it having many Xbox exclusives dropping on day one release on the service, allowing gamers quick and free access to the biggest releases, exposing the game to more players yes, but definitely resulting in fewer direct sales.

Related: More Shade Thrown as Sony Boss Jim Ryan Suggests Developers Aren’t Happy With Xbox Game Pass

It takes all the best parts of the original and builds upon it, providing a near-perfect gaming experience where it feels like each one of your choices has consequences. The characters are all charming, the setting is atmospheric, and the game is also very pretty to look at. If the first Oxenfree is about accepting the loss of innocence Oxenfree 2 is all about growing up.

Perhaps this is the main reason for Netflix denying Oxenfree 2 a release on Xbox, perhaps it was just time related and they didn’t want to delay the release. We don’t know. What we do know is that unlike the original, Oxenfree 2 won’t be on Gamepass, or the Xbox at all.

What do you make of all this? Were you planning on picking up Oxenfree 2? What did you make of our review? Let us know in the comments!

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