Sequel to Popular Strategy Game Skips Xbox Games Pass

SteamWorld Heist 2's Unexpected Game Pass Exclusion

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Recent confirmation from SteamWorld Heist 2's PR team reveals the upcoming strategy game will not launch on Xbox Game Pass, contradicting earlier marketing materials. The game's August 8th release date remains unchanged, but the developers have attributed the initial Game Pass announcement to an unintentional error.

The initial Game Pass inclusion was announced in April alongside the game's launch trailer. SteamWorld Heist 2, a sequel to the 2015 turn-based tactics title, distinguishes itself with its unique 2D tactical shooting mechanics, where players manually aim their robot's weaponry.

XboxEra reported that Fortyseven, the game's PR team, clarified the Game Pass logo's appearance in the trailer was accidental, leading to widespread misunderstanding. All related social media posts have since been removed.

Despite the Game Pass omission, SteamWorld Heist 2 will still launch on August 8th for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

This situation mirrors a recent incident with Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance, where a mistakenly included Game Pass logo on an Instagram post was quickly corrected by the developers.

While disappointing for Game Pass subscribers, the service offers alternative options for SteamWorld fans, including the recently added SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Dig 2, and last year's day-one release of SteamWorld Build.

The absence of SteamWorld Heist 2 is offset by a robust July Game Pass lineup featuring six day-one titles. Flock and Magical Delicacy arrive on July 16th, followed by Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, Dungeons of Hinterberg on July 18th, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess on July 19th, and Frostpunk 2 on July 25th. While stylistically different from SteamWorld Heist 2, these games provide diverse alternatives for players seeking fresh gaming experiences.