Publisher Annapurna Interactive and developer Giant Squid have announced that their 3D action-adventure title called The Pathless will be available for digital download on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles starting February 2.
The American indie studio behind the project, which gained recognition for its work on the critically acclaimed diving and ocean exploration game named Abzu, also revealed that a physical edition of the title is planned to launch on the Nintendo Switch through iam8bit and Skybound Games distribution channels, with more details to be announced in the following month.
The Pathless is coming to Nintendo Switch and Xbox February 2nd 🦅🏹
Available now for PlayStation, Steam, Epic Games Store, and Apple Arcade // https://t.co/PuJa5zywgJ pic.twitter.com/LpmaE3hSlD
— Giant Squid (@GiantSquidology) January 27, 2023
The Pathless first launched for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PCs via the Epic Games Store, and Apple Arcade when the PS5 came out in late 2020. It was then followed up by a Steam release a year later on November 16, 2021. It was met with pretty impressive reviews and a strong reception on all fronts, garnering an 81% approval rating on Metacritic for the PC version.
Now, with the Xbox expansion that was announced during Annapurna Interactive's second annual showcase last summer becoming a reality, a whole new market will get to experience their masterpiece.
Annapurna Interactive Showcase 2022 https://t.co/mojWvQ51WU
— Annapurna Interactive (@A_i) July 28, 2022
The Pathless has received a ton of praise for its smooth movement system that allows the Hunter to use her bow while on the move as she shoots emblems in order to receive a speed boost. But apart from the fluid gameplay and mythical open-world experience, The Pathless has also gained recognition for its outstanding soundtrack. Austin Wintory, the film and video game composer behind the Journey screen composition, landed a Grammy nomination for The Pathless' ambient sound experience.
The Pathless features an interactive music system with traditional Tuvan throat singing by the folk music group called Alash Ensemble. This technique that produces more than one pitch simultaneously helped the project win multiple awards at the 2020 Annual Game Music Awards. These included Score of the Year for Traditional / Acoustic, Audio of the Year for In-Game Music, and Audio of the Year for the Main Theme.
Here is an overview of the game and what you can expect, in Annapurna Interactive’s mythic adventure where you'll slide in the role of an archery master, tasked with hunting corrupted spirits, solving puzzles, and more epic battles:
Become the Hunter, a master archer who travels to a mystical island to dispel a curse of darkness that grips the world. Soar through the air and forge a connection with your eagle companion. Perform fluid acrobatics and execute awesome trick shots with a unique archery system that allows effortless shooting while moving at high speeds. The Godslayer won’t rest until the world is destroyed. Your bond with your eagle and the fate of the world hang in the balance."
