Even though Xbox Game Pass has a slate of games announced from now through the end of the month, the big eye-catcher is that PC Game Pass seems to be teasing the addition of Death Stranding, a PlayStation exclusive. It's no doubt a big deal if true, with many anticipating an official announcement at the upcoming Gamescom Opening Night Live.
However, good things are always coming to Game Pass, and this shouldn't overshadow other, smaller additions. For example, a previously confirmed Xbox Game Pass day one indie title has announced its early access release date, and it will be arriving on the service next month.
Slime Rancher 2 was confirmed to release day one on Xbox Game Pass last year, with the game entering its early access via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Xbox Series X/S on September 22. The official FAQ states that it is expected to be in early access for at least 18 months, if not longer, during which time there will be no achievements for the game. Still, early access/Game Preview has worked wonders for games like Grounded, and it's likely to do the same here too.
Slime Rancher 2 is a direct sequel to its 2017 predecessor, with players taking on the role of Beatrix LeBeau on Rainbow Island. Like the previous game, the gameplay is centered around ranch construction and exploration where players will find, collect, raise, feed, and breed slimes. Feeding Slimes the correct food in Slime Rancher 2 will see them produce plorts which can then be exchanged for Newbucks which, in turn, can be exchanged for ranch upgrades. Slimes will react and change based on what they are fed, with the sequel bringing back fan favorites and introducing new ones too.
The first game proved to be a major success, and with the new game taking players to a new location and building on everything its predecessor did, Slime Rancher 2 has a lot of promise. Of course, it'll still be quite some time before the "final product" is in players' hands, but knowing that feedback will be important as the developer proceeds throughout early access is as exciting as a full launch anyway. It's not a long wait until then at least.
Slime Rancher 2 will enter early access on Epic Games Store, Steam, and Xbox Series X/S on September 22.