Recently released Xbox console exclusive, We Are The Caretakers, appears to have been denied inclusion on Xbox Game Pass, according to one of the game’s developers. In a recent interview, Creative Director Scott Brodie of Heart Shaped Games stated that the team tried to get its wildlife conservation RPG on Xbox Game Pass, but unfortunately, it will remain off its library for now.
As detailed in an ID@Xbox blog post, We Are the Caretakers is a grand strategy RPG developed by Heart Shaped Games that bring forward topics about the conservation of wildlife and raises awareness about the harmful effects of poaching. The game takes an XCOM-like approach to its strategy and team-building mechanics while crafting a dynamic reputation system that evolves as players commit actions throughout its world. We Are The Caretakers is an Xbox console exclusive, with 10% of the game’s net revenue going to the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Rhino Recovery Fund.
Heart Shaped Games initially launched We Are The Caretakers in Early Access on PC in 2021 but has been in production for over four years. Most recently, Creative Director Scott Brodie was featured in an interview on the Xbox Expansion Pass podcast just before We Are The Caretakers released version 1.0 on January 6. Back when the game launched in Early Access via Steam, Brodie stated that there was a possibility the game could come to Xbox Game Pass, but it seems like the studio was denied. When asked about the status of We Are The Caretakers on Game Pass in his most recent interview, Brodie states, “We tried, it is not gonna be on Game Pass…who knows, maybe in the future if we have a great launch, that could be there.”
As an excellent platform for discovering indie games similar to We Are The Caretakers, it is odd to see the small-time strategy RPG excluded from Xbox Game Pass, especially given its Xbox console exclusivity. However, it seems like perhaps the game was a bit too small-time. Currently, We Are The Caretakers only has 19 user reviews on Steam and seven on the Microsoft Store. Multiple games likely come through Microsoft’s door for Xbox Game Pass inclusion every year, and We Are The Caretakers may have been too small to make the cut, but the true reason is currently unknown.
However, We Are The Caretakers is finding some success despite not being a part of Xbox Game Pass. At the time of this writing, We Are The Caretakers sits at a “Mostly Positive” rating on Steam, with users stating they enjoy the story, appreciate the game’s unique setting, and find depth in its turn-based strategy systems. Unfortunately, Xbox users seem to be having a rougher time, as the game seems very buggy in its current state and crashes frequently. Heart Shaped Games has stated that patches are on the way as the studio works out its launch week growing pains.
We Are The Caretakers is available now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.