Annapurna Interactive has announced that 3D action-adventure The Pathless is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The indie title will be available for digital download starting February 2.
Launched in 2020, The Pathless is already available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Apple Arcade. The Pathless was created by indie developer Giant Squid, known for the critically acclaimed diving and ocean exploration game Abzu. Like Abzu, The Pathless has been praised for its breathtaking landscapes envisioned by creative director Matt Nava. Set on a mystical island, The Pathless gives players plenty of room to roam through lush forests, snowy mountains, and the ruins of a lost civilization.
Giant Squid and Annapurna Interactive announced The Pathless' expansion to new consoles with a brief trailer. The action-packed video shows the game's protagonist, the Hunter, running through the island's varied terrain and performing acrobatic feats alongside her eagle. Wielding a bow and arrow, the Hunter has the ability to swiftly eliminate targets using a unique archery system.
As seen in the trailer, the Hunter encounters corrupted spirits with glowing eyes on the island. With assistance from her eagle, the Hunter can defeat the beasts to bring peace to the land and lift the island's curse. If the boss battle proves to be too challenging, players have infinite chances to try again, as The Pathless doesn't implement permanent death.
Aside from the fluid gameplay and mythical open world, The Pathless has been recognized for its outstanding soundtrack by film and video game composer Austin Wintory, whose work on Journey was nominated for a Grammy. The Pathless includes an interactive music system with traditional Tuvan throat singing, a technique that produces more than one pitch simultaneously, featuring folk music group Alash Ensemble. At the 2020 Annual Game Music Awards, The Pathless won Score of the Year for Traditional / Acoustic, Audio of the Year for In-Game Music, and Audio of the Year for Main Theme.
Fans have expressed their excitement for The Pathless' arrival on the Xbox and Nintendo Switch, which was initially slated for last year but ultimately delayed. Currently, the only physical edition of The Pathless is for PS5, but a physical edition for Nintendo Switch will be released by iam8bit.