“It faucets into the similar psychology as genuine survival coaching: the wish to check your self, to peer if you’ll do higher with what you’ve realized,” says Dean Corridor, answering my query about what it’s about Icarus: Console Version’s gameplay that may create a “only one extra run” compulsion for avid gamers. And he must know. In any case, the founder and artistic thoughts of New Zealand-based studio RocketWerkz is a grasp of each real-life and virtual survival.
A veteran of the New Zealand military, which integrated time with the Singaporean army, for the previous 16 years Corridor has turn into referred to as the godfather of the survival style, because of a video games portfolio that incorporates the enduring DayZ and extra just lately Icarus, which is coming to Xbox for the primary time in early 2026 as Icarus: Console Version, courtesy of Grip Studios.
Taking Survival to the Stars
Set in a destiny the place humanity trips into the celebs, Icarus: Console Version will see avid gamers – both solo or in a birthday party of as much as 4 – drop onto the in part terraformed eponymous planet to get well invaluable unique subject. When it launches early subsequent yr, the sport will package each the bottom recreation and New Frontiers Enlargement into one, bringing a mammoth 128 sq. kilometers of land throughout six wildly contrasting biomes for Xbox avid gamers to discover, thrive and – expectantly – live on in. “It’s the total bundle that we needed we may have introduced on PC 4 years in the past,” he explains. “We began with the Earth-like terraformed portions of the planet, and the New Frontiers Enlargement provides the alien areas the place the terraforming failed.”
Those dominantly alien environments shape the map of Prometheus, which no longer handiest options extra extraterrestrial-like settings, but additionally unusual – and adverse – new creatures, sources and fabrics, and kit. It additionally introduces a storyline revealing what probably the most company factions exploring and exploiting Icarus were as much as… (Spoilers, it almost definitely isn’t one thing altruistic for humanity!)
Previous to the unique PC release of Icarus in 2021, Dean’s survival video games have been Earth-based, however the far-future, intergalactic surroundings opened a brand new layer of ingenious conceptualizing for him and the crew. “There are numerous survival video games, however with Icarus, we desirous about making the surroundings a powerful antagonist,” he says. “It takes the survival style as you understand it, and layers on deep development thru personality and mount skill bushes, layers in missions to drag you thru – even in open-world – and provides storms as a continual tensor to the revel in.”
Practice, Orient, Make a decision, Act
Shedding onto an alien planet could be a surprise and awe revel in for even essentially the most hardened of pioneers, however Corridor explains that his recommendation to beginners touchdown in the world’s adverse floor in Icarus: Console Version is similar he’d give speaking to new squaddies in a real-world platoon: “[I’d recommend they use] situational consciousness: Practice, Orient, Make a decision, Act.” He provides, “Icarus: Console Version is so much about preparation, and that’s just right as a result of probably the most best possible methods within the recreation are round preparation. Construct properties, discover cautiously, and take battle on your phrases – no longer at the international’s. And be in a position for adjustments.”
Pondering again to his time within the New Zealand Royal Air Pressure and New Zealand Military, he says there are similarities to be discovered between IRL survival and what avid gamers will revel in in Icarus: Console Version. “I believe with just right immersion, you’ll get emotional reactions which can be very similar to the real-life revel in. That is what coaching within the army is set: you drill one thing till you reply robotically, overwriting the emotional elements. I believe video games may also be a very good approach to revel in emotional ups and downs, which is what immersion in a survival recreation is all about.”
Corridor describes graphics, gameplay, a way of development and a recreation’s environments as important to layering that immersion into the participant revel in. It’s one thing he and the crew at RocketWerkz saved in thoughts as they advanced Icarus on PC. “As you play, you’ll see how we realized and tailored as time went on,” he provides.
“The entire concept with Icarus was once to check out and layer in causes to proceed taking part in a survival recreation, as a play consultation can generally tend to get stale after some time. That is one of these disgrace, since you’ve constructed up such a lot. First of all, we desirous about person missions, however then found out learn how to permit the chaining of the ones missions inside of a unmarried open-world consultation,” he explains. “Probably the most amusing got here from weaving in combination the reviews in missions with an ideal backstory, in addition to a actually deep sense of development each on this planet and in your personality and mounts thru skill bushes. That is one thing I actually want survival video games did extra of, and I believe (in the end) we did rather well with Icarus.” And naturally from 2026, Xbox house owners can revel in it too, in Icarus: Console Version.
Balancing for Each Solo and Squads
As with the unique unlock, Icarus: Console Version can be absolutely discovered for each solo avid gamers and the ones taking a look to take in the world with a gaggle of as much as seven others. Getting that steadiness proper could be a daunting job, but it surely’s one thing that Corridor deliberate for proper from the beginning:
“Certainly one of our design pillars [was] that it must be amusing to play on my own. That is one thing we predict many survival video games drop the ball on. Something we did only for solo avid gamers was once upload a Solo Skill Tree, a complete set of abilities and buffs that handiest follow while you’re taking part in on my own.” He stocks that this ranges the taking part in box, lowering the grind for solo avid gamers who don’t have a crew backing them up.
“We actually sought after your personality to subject to the participant, so you’re feeling the ache after they die. [There are] more than one skill bushes so you’ll specialize your personality into looking, construction, accumulating and even one thing like fishing. In a small staff, survival turns into a crew effort: dividing duties, masking every different, and mixing those abilities. With a complete crew, you get one thing nearer to an expedition: there’s power, chaos, believe and that feeling of being a part of a residing challenge.”
Coming to Xbox Collection X|S a little bit over 4 years after the unique recreation introduced on PC, Corridor finds that he’s excited for the brand new cohort of prospectors, extraplanetary explorers and terraformers to peer what he, RocketWerkz and the passionate Icarus PC player-base have constructed: “It took a very long time, and numerous running with the group on PC to get the sport to the place it’s now. I’m beautiful resentful of Xbox players, who’re going to be entering Icarus: Console Version recent after such a lot iteration.”
Icarus: Console Version is coming to Xbox Collection X|S in early 2026. Wishlist now.
ICARUS: Console Version
GRIP Studios
ICARUS: Console Version
Land on ICARUS, a planet damaged because of failed terraforming. As soon as supposed to be humanity’s 2nd house, it’s now a adverse frontier of poisonous skies, savage natural world, and constant storms. Each drop from orbit is a battle for survival. Construct refuge, craft guns, hunt for meals, and search your fortune in unique subject.
Continue to exist on my own or with as much as 4 avid gamers on this uncompromising PvE survival recreation from the writer of DayZ.
The New Frontiers Enlargement is integrated from the beginning, remodeling ICARUS: Console Version into a bigger, deadlier however extra rewarding survival revel in. Uncover new maps, missions, creatures, and rewards.
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A PLANET THAT FIGHTS BACK
ICARUS resists your presence; poisoned air, lightning storms that tear aside constructions, wildfires that unfold unchecked, and predators that stalk within the shadows. It feels just like the planet itself desires to force you again into orbit.
· With New Frontiers added from the beginning, you’ll discover two 64 km2 maps of hand made terrain throughout forests, mountains, deserts, and caves
· Harvest each tree, rock, and creature
· Adapt to excessive climate and herbal screw ups
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NEW FRONTIERS INCLUDED
The Prometheus area, as soon as sealed off through the UDA, is now open. Terraforming failed right here utterly, leaving uncooked alien landscapes intact however warped. This growth expands ICARUS some distance past its authentic borders:
· New Map & biomes: Alien grasslands, volcanic wastelands of molten lava, and perilous swamplands
· Six Narrative Missions: A chained tale throughout Prometheus as you pursue a mysterious whistleblower for the UDA
· New Creatures: Face Needlers, Dracs, Dreadwings, and different mutated apex predators, developed to dominate those zones
· New Exotics: Find a risky new unique with distinctive results at the plants, plus new unique crops and over 30 further workshop pieces
· New Pieces & Assets: Mine obsidian, clay, scoria, crystallised miasma, and super-cooled ice; craft 100+ new pieces together with guns, meals, recipes, and construction tiers
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THREE WAYS TO SURVIVE
· Open Global: Identify everlasting bases and discover freely
· Missions: Timed contracts the place extraction is the whole thing
· Outposts: Low-pressure zones for ingenious construction and experimentation
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PROGRESSION & REWARD
· Tech Tree & Skills: Advance from primitive equipment to complicated tech
· Specialisation: Focal point as a hunter, builder, or survivalist
· Orbital Workshop: Industry unique subject for everlasting upgrades and kit
Unique subject stays without equal prize; uncommon, risky, and fatal to pursue.
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SOLO OR CO-OP
As much as 4 avid gamers can proportion every drop, combining abilities and sources to bear. Desire to move it on my own? Continue to exist solo with a Solo Skill Tree for optimum problem.
Notice: ICARUS: Console Version does no longer reinforce cross-play.
