The Ascent for Xbox Series X|S and PC: Release date, features, news, and everything we know
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One of the most exciting games hittingXbox Series XandXbox Series Sthis year isThe Ascent, an absolutely gorgeous isometric RPG from Neon Giant and Curve Digital. Neon Giant is a small team, composed of only 11 developers, that has worked on game franchises like Wolfenstein and Gears of War. Despite their size, Neon Giant is making a mighty impression with what could end up being one of the best RPGs on Xbox. Here’s everything we know about The Ascent for Xbox and PC, and why you should be as excited for this game as we are.
Gorgeous and great to play
This cyberpunk RPG takes place on the planet of Veles, and is looking to be quite spectacular with tough but fair combat and totally stunning visuals.
What is The Ascent?
The Ascent is an isometric RPG developed by studio Neon Giant and published by Curve Digital. Set on the world of Veles, megacorporations hold the majority of control and have divided the world into various districts. Players will take control of an indentured mercenary working in an exoplanet colony. This worker is going about their daily tasks until one megacorporation known as The Ascent Group (hence the title) suddenly collapses. This catastrophe tears open a power vacuum as criminals and opposing corporations alike scramble to seize control amidst the chaos.
The Ascent borrows heavily from cyberpunk themes, and doesn’t depict a happy world full of sunshine and equal opportunities, as you might expect. Players aren’t controlling a god-like demihuman, but instead live in the shoes of a regular person struggling to endure an exploitative world that doesn’t care about them. Your goal is to just survive.
The Ascent is an Xbox console exclusive that’s also heading to PC, and it aims to impress. It was initially revealed during theMay, 2020 Xbox Series X showcase event. The game isn’t out yet, but you can read ourThe Ascent previewfrom our own Jez Corden, who said, “The Ascent may indeed be remembered as one of the best independently released games of 2021, if the full game is anywhere near as good as what I experienced with the fairly limited demo.”
When is the release date for The Ascent?
If you’re excited as we are, you’ll likely want to know when The Ascent releases. Fortunately, we have the answer.The Ascent was actually delayed into 2021from its original release window, but Neon Giant and Curve Digital recentlyannounced the new release date for The Ascentfor Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC:July 29, 2021. Preorders are availableright nowthrough the Microsoft Store.
Of course, The Ascent isn’t content with simply releasing. This isometric RPG will also be available throughXbox Game Passon day one, meaning any of the millions of Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to experience what The Ascent offers.
Watch the trailers for The Ascent
You can check in to watch all the nail-biting trailers for The Ascent right here. We’ll update this regularly as more trailers are released.
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Reveal
You can view the reveal trailer for The Ascent onYouTube.
Developer walkthrough
Xbox Game Pass
Co-op
Release date
What are the features and gameplay for The Ascent?
The Ascent is an isometric RPG, which means it offers a more fixed third-person viewpoint in a similar vein to Diablo games. There’s truly a ton going on in The Ascent to lure players to its brutal cyberpunk-esque gameplay. Neon Giant’s plan seems to be to draw you in with breathtaking visuals and environmental details, then hook you on brutal and addictive combat. Here’s what we know about The Ascent’s gameplay and features so far.
As we get closer to The Ascent’s launch, we’ll learn more about this fascinating isometric RPG. Of course, we also don’t have to waittoolong to play the game ourselves, either solo or with some of our friends.
Is there multiplayer in The Ascent?
The Ascent doesn’t contain any player-versus-player (PvP) multiplayer modes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play with your friends. Similar toMinecraft Dungeons, The Ascent will let you play with up to three of your friends in co-op mode. Tackling The Ascent with more friends will offer increased difficulty in exchange for even better loot, giving players more incentive to work in groups. The exact details for how co-op will work in The Ascent aren’t known yet.
What are the Xbox Series X|S Optimizations for The Ascent?
As expected for a game boasting such incredible visuals, The Ascent is going to be an Xbox Series X|S Optimized title. We don’t have every detail for The Ascent on Xbox Series X|S, but we already know the game is going to be something special on Microsoft’s latest and most advanced gaming consoles.
Some of the features in the Xbox Series X|S Optimized version of The Ascent include:
Will the PS5 get The Ascent?
Players onPS5and PS4 may be wondering if The Ascent is also slated to come to Sony’s gaming platform. As of right now, The Ascent is strictly an Xbox and PC exclusive. That’s not to say The Ascent can’t eventually expand to other platforms like PlayStation, but nothing is confirmed right now. If The Ascent does head to PS5 in the future, it’ll likely be at least a year away.
The Ascent may very well become one of thebest Xbox gamesaround. Prepare for Neon Giant’s debut title and its explosive co-op play by investing in one of thebest Xbox Series X|S headsets.
Gorgeous and great to play
This cyberpunk game takes place on the planet of Veles, and is looking to be quite spectacular with tough but fair combat and absolutely stunning visuals.
All your gaming needs, in one subscription.
Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It’s possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. The Ascent is launching into Xbox Game Pass for consoles day one, making it even easier to play.
Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter@BoddyZachary.
