Programs like Play Anywhere, and services like Game Pass, expand access to games, but console exclusivity remains an antiquated concept. When a player purchases a Play Anywhere title through a Microsoft digital storefront, they can download the game for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, or PC, at any time.

The Halo: Master Chief Collection supports Xbox Play Anywhere, along with most other first-party Xbox releases, and select third-party games like High On Life. The game is an Xbox Play Anywhere title, meaning those who purchase it for PC may prefer using the Microsoft store instead of Steam or Epic. Ideally, the game will be ported to any platform that can handle it, but for now, gaming fans can buy High On Life for Xbox or for PC, or play it through Game Pass.

Farcical shooters are a rarity, and the humor in High On Life outdoes the likes of the Shadow Warrior series. It is unclear whether High On Life is going to remain a console exclusive for Xbox, or if a PS5 or Switch port will happen at some later date. While low-cost services like Game Pass offer a consumer-friendly means to access a massive library of games, any sort of exclusivity is bad for consumers, as it limits options. The pairing with Microsoft proved a wise decision for Squanch, since High on Life is the most ambitious game the studio has produced, and its Game Pass success has given it ample exposure. Xbox reported that High On Life had the biggest single-player launch in Game Pass history, as well as the largest of any third-party game to hit the service.

Still, the game’s availability through Xbox and PC Game Pass has encouraged many gaming fans to take a chance on Squanch’s comedic FPS. “ It’s an incredibly powerful tool to have the ability to make games more accessible on such a large scale.” The absence of a PlayStation or Switch release does limit the accessibility of High On Life in other ways. “ High On Life existing on a platform like Xbox Game Pass means more players will have an opportunity to play – and that’s exactly what any developer could wish for,” Halpern said.

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