Key Takeaways
1. High on Life 2 Release: The quirky shooter High on Life 2 will be available on PS5 and PC on February 15th, moving away from Xbox exclusivity.
2. Sales Performance: The original High on Life sold best on PlayStation, leading Squanch Games to consider it their “lead platform.”
3. Cost-Efficiency: Launching on multiple platforms helps Squanch Games save money on marketing and reach a larger audience.
4. Subscription Trends: The appeal of Xbox Game Pass may be declining, with fewer subscribers potentially leading to more game sales on other platforms.
5. Game Enhancements: High on Life 2 will feature faster-paced combat and interactive weapons, with a later release for Nintendo fans on April 20th.
Third-party Xbox exclusive games are becoming less common these days. Unlike the first game, the quirky shooter High on Life 2 is set to be available on PS5 and PC on February 15th. In a chat with TechRadar, Squanch Games CEO Mike Fridley shared some honest thoughts on why they are focusing on PlayStation.
Sales Insights and Platforms
The original High on Life was released on Xbox and PC towards the end of 2022, and it was also available on Game Pass. It later made its way to PS4 and PS5 in June 2023 after the exclusivity period ended. However, Fridley pointed out that the game sold best on Sony’s consoles, with Steam coming in second. This prompted him to call PlayStation the company’s “lead platform.”
Cost-Efficiency in Game Launches
In addition to reaching a bigger audience, launching on multiple platforms helped Squanch Games save money. This way, they can avoid the expense of running separate, expensive marketing campaigns.
On the date of High on Life 2’s release, the game will once again be included in Xbox Game Pass. Fridley believes the subscription service is beneficial because it allows more players to discover the game. But he also noted that publishers should think about the “cannibalization of sales.”
Changing Subscription Trends
The CEO hinted that the subscription service has become less appealing. He mentioned, “With recent subscription increase on Game Pass, I’m sure they’ve probably seen subscriber numbers go down a bit.” Gamers who have canceled their memberships might be more inclined to purchase the game on PS5 or PC.
With Microsoft making many former Xbox exclusives like Fable available on other platforms, console sales are declining. A recent survey from the Game Developers Conference showed that only 20 percent of developers are interested in supporting Xbox consoles, trailing behind PC, PS5, and Switch 2.
Exciting Updates for Gamers
Among the new features, High on Life 2 will offer faster-paced combat and the option to talk to weapons. However, Nintendo fans will need to wait until April 20th to enjoy these enhancements.
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