What's become one of Xbox Game Pass' greatest features is the constant introduction of new games. That's not just Xbox's own first-party games, either, but also third-party releases of all different styles and size. The latest example is the competitive disc-throwing game Windjammers 2. After several delays pushing Windjammers 2's initial launch window all the way from 2019 into at least 2021, Windjammers 2 is now confirmed to be a launch game for Xbox Game Pass.
The announcement was made in conjunction between Xbox and Dotemu, with Dotemu head of marketing Arnaud De Sousa sharing the news in a lengthy news post on Xbox's website. The long and short of it is that Windjammers 2 is now confirmed for Xbox Game Pass on both PC and Xbox consoles. Further, it's going to be a day-one launch, meaning it'll be free to Xbox Game Pass subscribers as soon as Windjammers 2 is released -- whenever that may be.
De Sousa also took the opportunity to confirm that Windjammers 2 will be supporting cross-platform play between PC and Xbox when it launches. That's not just cross-play between Xbox Game Pass users, either, but full support for PC players whether they buy the game on Steam, the Microsoft Store, or download it via Game Pass. Prepare for the discourse between whether controller or keyboard+mouse users have an innate advantage in Windjammers 2.
It should be noted that Windjammers 2 has previously been announced for other platforms, as well. It's confirmed for PlayStation, as well as Nintendo Switch and Stadia. There was even an open beta held in August that was exclusive to PC and PlayStation consoles. It's unclear if any of Dotemu's publishing plans have changed, but there's no reason to believe so at this time. Dotemu also hasn't confirmed cross-play for other devices, as of yet.
While Windjammers 2 is a small project overall, it has the potential to be a surprise success. The original Windjammers is still played competitively by groups within the fighting game community due to its strategic depth. Windjammers 2 is leaning into that competitive niche and will offer an online ranked mode with rollback netcode.
All that's left for Dotemu to do is map out its remaining development schedule for Windjammers 2 so it can give fans an idea of when the game will be available. Clearly, after such frequent delays, Dotemu is wary of providing a release date without knowing for sure when the game will be ready. That could mean that 2021 is out of the question, or it could mean a surprise launch is coming up soon. Windjammers 2 is closer to launch than ever.
Windjammers 2 is in development for PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.
