Xbox Game Pass: Sequel to one of the service’s most popular games drops unexpectedly

Descenders Next is a diverse extreme sports game developed by the British studio RageSquid and published by No More Robots. But this isn’t just any game – it’s the sequel to Descenders, one of the most popular titles on Xbox Game Pass. As stated by No More Robots, sales of the original game tripled after it joined the service. According to Windows Central, Decender ranked eighth among the most popular games on Game Pass. On July 21, Descenders Next surprised fans with a shadow drop, launching directly into Early Access and becoming immediately available through Microsoft’s gaming subscription on both PC and Xbox consoles (the Xbox Series X is available on Amazon for around $510).

Unlike its predecessor, Descenders Next moves away from a campaign-driven experience and focuses on fast-paced, continuous gameplay. There is no traditional storyline; instead, the emphasis is on freestyle riding, races and challenges set in open-world environments. The game launches with two core sports: snowboarding and mountainboarding. According to the developers, more disciplines are already in development. Diverse biomes such as mountains and forests provide both visual variety and unique terrain, requiring players to adapt their riding style to each environment.

The track design in Descenders Next combines procedural generation with handcrafted elements. In the “off-piste trails,” players face randomly generated descents featuring roguelike mechanics, including limited lives, a set number of resets and instant restarts after a fall. Meanwhile, the “Race & Slopestyle Parks” offer carefully designed challenges where you can race or perform tricks to earn medals. As you ride, you build reputation, which can be used to unlock new gear such as boards, clothing, helmets and goggles in the in-game store.

Players enjoy the fun gameplay and the variety of procedurally generated and handcrafted maps. However, the physics engine is not yet perfect. Snowboard rides are reported to feel "floaty," with limited control over speed and few braking options. The multiplayer mode is also criticized: while players can ride together, there are no shared achievements to unlock. Since Descenders Next is still in Early Access, these issues are considered manageable. The full release is still some time away, as the developers plan to keep the game in Early Access for around two years.