Is Tears of Metal Coming to Xbox Series X? Game Pass Day One and Release Date Explained
If you’ve been following indie games over the past few years, there’s a good chance Tears of Metal has already landed on your radar. After spending time watching gameplay showcases, reading community discussions, and replaying the Steam demo footage more times than I’d like to admit, I honestly think this could become one of those surprise co-op hits people keep recommending months after launch.
What caught my attention isn’t just the flashy hack-and-slash combat. It’s the way Paper Cult mixes large-scale medieval battles with roguelite progression, persistent upgrades, and cooperative gameplay. It feels like a project with genuine personality rather than another game trying to chase the latest trend.
The biggest question from Xbox players, however, has been simple:
Can you play Tears of Metal on Xbox Series X at launch, and will it be available through Game Pass?
The answer is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no, so let’s break everything down.
Xbox Players Are Getting the Game… Just Not All at Once
When Tears of Metal first appeared, most people assumed it would remain a Steam-exclusive Early Access title for quite some time.
That changed when Paper Cult officially confirmed an Xbox version.
The announcement immediately sparked excitement because it wasn’t just a simple console port. The developers confirmed support for Microsoft’s ecosystem, meaning Xbox players won’t be treated like an afterthought.
Here’s the current situation:
| Platform | Release Status | Game Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Steam (PC) | July 22, 2026 | No |
| Microsoft Store (PC) | July 22, 2026 | Yes |
| PC Game Pass | July 22, 2026 | Day One |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming | July 22, 2026 | Included with Ultimate |
| Xbox Series X/S (Native Version) | Late 2026 | Included |
| PlayStation 5 | Not announced | — |
So yes, Xbox owners are getting Tears of Metal, but native console players will have to wait a little longer.
Why Isn’t the Xbox Version Launching Alongside PC?
At first glance, delaying a console release might sound disappointing.
Personally, I think it’s actually the smarter move.
Games built around procedural progression, multiplayer balance, and hundreds of upgrade combinations almost always evolve dramatically during Early Access. We’ve seen it happen with countless successful indie titles.
Launching first on PC allows developers to:
- Fix balance issues quickly
- Gather real player feedback
- Adjust difficulty curves
- Improve performance
- Introduce quality-of-life features
Console certification takes time, and every update has to go through additional approval.
Instead of pushing out an unfinished console build, Paper Cult appears to be letting PC players help shape the final experience.
As someone who’s played plenty of Early Access games over the years, I’d rather wait a few extra months for a polished version than spend launch week dealing with constant patches.
Game Pass Is Actually One of the Biggest Advantages
One thing I love about Microsoft’s current strategy is how many interesting indie games receive Day One support.
Tears of Metal joins that growing list—but with an important detail.
On July 22, 2026, the game launches directly into:
- PC Game Pass
- Microsoft Store on Windows
- Xbox Cloud Gaming
Native Xbox consoles arrive later.
That distinction has caused plenty of confusion online because many people hear “Day One Game Pass” and naturally assume it includes Xbox consoles immediately.
Technically, it does not.
However, there’s another option.
Xbox Cloud Gaming Makes the Wait Easier
Here’s the part many people overlook.
If you already subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate, you don’t necessarily need to wait for the native Xbox release.
Instead, you can simply stream the PC version through Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Will it look exactly the same as running locally on a Series X?
Probably not.
Will it let you jump into multiplayer with friends while everyone else starts playing?
Absolutely.
For players with stable internet connections, that’s a pretty nice compromise until the optimized console version arrives.
The Gameplay Looks Surprisingly Deep
At first, I assumed Tears of Metal was simply another medieval action game.
The more gameplay I watched, though, the more systems started revealing themselves.
Instead of repeating the exact same missions endlessly, every run feeds into long-term progression.
Some of the biggest gameplay features include:
- Three major campaign acts
- Multiple playable heroes
- Permanent village progression
- Battalion management
- Artifact combinations
- Equipment upgrades
- Boss encounters
- Online four-player co-op
That combination gives me strong Hades-style progression vibes while still delivering huge battlefield moments.
You’re Never Fighting Alone
One mechanic that immediately stood out is the Scottish Battalion system.
Rather than controlling a lone hero cutting through endless enemies, you’re constantly supported by AI-controlled soldiers that grow stronger alongside your own character.
That’s a surprisingly uncommon mechanic in roguelites.
Instead of feeling like a solo dungeon crawler, battles start resembling miniature medieval wars.
Watching dozens of friendly warriors clash against invading armies creates a much larger sense of scale than most indie action games manage.
Building Your Village Actually Matters
Another feature I’m looking forward to is the persistent settlement.
After each run, you return to your home base instead of simply starting over.
As you progress, you’ll unlock:
| Upgrade | Benefit |
|---|---|
| New merchants | Additional equipment choices |
| Village improvements | Permanent progression |
| Character upgrades | Increased combat strength |
| Unlockables | More gameplay variety |
| New modifiers | Fresh run combinations |
This system gives every unsuccessful run a purpose.
Even failed expeditions contribute toward future success, which is one of the reasons roguelites remain so addictive.
The Combat Has Its Own Identity
People keep comparing Tears of Metal to Dynasty Warriors.
I understand why.
There are enormous enemy groups, flashy attacks, and satisfying crowd-clearing abilities.
But I think that comparison only tells half the story.
Unlike traditional musou games, positioning, build choices, cooldown management, and progression seem far more important here.
Every artifact changes your strategy.
Every weapon influences your playstyle.
Every run encourages experimentation.
That’s much closer to modern roguelites than classic hack-and-slash games.
The Art Style Deserves More Attention
One aspect that doesn’t get discussed enough is the visual presentation.
Instead of chasing photorealism, Paper Cult leaned into a colorful stylized approach.
The environments almost resemble a living painting, while character animations remain exaggerated enough to keep large battles readable.
The Scottish setting also helps.
Fantasy games often revisit medieval Europe in fairly generic ways.
Here, the developers embrace Highland landscapes, Celtic influences, and historical inspiration without trying to become a realistic historical simulator.
That artistic confidence makes the game much more memorable.
Multiplayer Could Become the Real Star
While Tears of Metal supports solo play, everything about its design suggests cooperative multiplayer is where it truly shines.
Up to four players can fight together online, combining different heroes, builds, and battalions.
Better yet, cross-play support connects Steam players with Microsoft Store users on PC.
Once Xbox launches later this year, that multiplayer community should grow even larger.
That’s important.
Nothing hurts a co-op game faster than splitting its player base.
How to Fix Shift At Midnight Black Screen on Startup on Xbox (Series X/S & Xbox One)
Is Waiting for Xbox Worth It?
If you’re strictly an Xbox console player, waiting several months obviously isn’t ideal.
Still, I don’t think it’s bad news.
If the developers spend those extra months polishing performance, improving balance, and expanding content, Xbox players could actually receive the strongest version of the game.
We’ve seen similar strategies pay off before.
Early Access communities identify thousands of bugs that internal testing simply never finds.
By the time consoles arrive, many of those rough edges have already disappeared.
Final Verdict
After following Tears of Metal throughout its development, I genuinely think this has the potential to become one of the standout indie multiplayer games of 2026.
It isn’t trying to imitate every successful roguelite on the market.
Instead, it mixes massive medieval warfare, persistent progression, colorful visuals, cooperative gameplay, and surprisingly ambitious battlefield mechanics into something that feels fresh.
Yes, Xbox Series X owners will have to wait a little longer for the native version.
But thanks to PC Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft players still have several ways to experience the game from day one if they don’t mind streaming or playing on Windows.
If you’re a fan of cooperative action games with long-term progression, this is definitely one to keep on your wishlist. I wouldn’t be surprised if, by the end of the year, Tears of Metal becomes one of those indie games everyone recommends whenever someone asks, “What should my friends and I play next?”
