The gaming community was greeted with an unexpected delight this Monday morning as the highly anticipated sequel to a beloved title made its debut. Descenders Next, the follow-up to the acclaimed 2019 downhill racing game, is now available for play on Xbox and PC through both the Xbox PC app and Valve’s Steam platform. This release comes from developer RageSquid and publisher No More Robots, marking a significant milestone for fans who have eagerly awaited this moment.
Gameplay Evolution and Features
While the original Descenders focused on biking, the sequel shifts its attention to boarding sports, introducing players to the thrill of snowboarding and mountainboarding. At launch, players can explore four distinct biomes within a procedurally generated open-world environment, featuring off-piste mountains that seamlessly connect to winding parks and breathtaking vistas.
RageSquid has ambitious plans for Descenders Next, with future updates promising new environmental biomes, multiplayer modes, and official mod support. The developers are also keen on expanding the sports offerings, hinting at the potential inclusion of skiing. Players can look forward to a plethora of customization options, allowing them to personalize their Descender and pursue various rewards throughout their gameplay experience.
Importantly, Descenders Next will maintain its introductory price of .99 even after its full release, a refreshing approach in the Early Access landscape. The team is dedicated to refining the game based on player feedback, encouraging fans to share their insights through the official Descenders Discord server, forums, and social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.
(Image credit: No More Robots)
Descenders has earned its reputation as one of the premier downhill racing games, lauded for its intuitive controls, realistic physics, and the high quality of its procedurally generated maps. The title experienced a remarkable surge in popularity following its addition to Xbox Game Pass in 2020, tripling sales and becoming one of the most-played games on the platform. Since its initial release, over 30 million players have enjoyed the exhilarating trails it offers.
With such a strong foundation, expectations for Descenders Next are understandably high. The passionate team at RageSquid appears poised to not only meet but potentially surpass these anticipations, as they strive to deliver what they describe as “the ultimate extreme sports game.” Even for those who may not typically gravitate toward sports or racing games, the allure of this title is hard to resist.
As the gaming world embraces this surprise launch, Descenders Next stands as a beacon of excitement amidst the mundane start of the week. Players can dive into the action via PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which provides access across Xbox consoles, Windows PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. For those looking to purchase the game outright, it is available on Xbox, the Xbox PC app, and Steam for .99.
