This popular MMO is coming soon to Xbox consoles exclusively, at least for now — it's free to play, and getting a big visual upgrade too

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) have traditionally only been available to play on PC through platforms like Steam or in-house clients, though over the years, some MMOs — including big ones like Final Fantasy XIV — have expanded to other systems.

One such MMO is Albion Online, a popular free-to-play medieval fantasy game from Sandbox Interactive that initially came out on Windows, Mac, and Linux in 2017, and then released on iOS and Android mobile devices as well in 2021. Now, Albion Online is coming to Xbox Series X|S in just a few weeks on April 21.

Notably, it's "the game’s first step into the console space," and in the console space, it will — for the time being, anyway — be exclusively available on Microsoft's Xbox systems. There's been no word of a port to PS5 or Nintendo Switch, and while versions of it for these platforms haven't been ruled out, there's no indication they'll come, either.

The devs say "Albion Online on Xbox will bring the full experience enjoyed by countless players to your console. Every server will be playable, every weapon can be wielded, and every feature can be mastered." Like the rest of the MMO, the Xbox version will fully support crossplay and cross-save progression, meaning you can play with players on other platforms and switch between platforms yourself without losing progress.

Albion Online | Coming to Xbox - YouTube

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On top of that, Albion Online on Xbox is "optimized for console play" with "dedicated controller schemes, reworked key UIs like the Marketplace and Inventory, improved combat and targeting for controllers, keyboard and mouse support, and usability features like communication tools and dedicated radial menus."

The Xbox edition of the game is coming out just over a week after the Radiant Wilds update scheduled for April 13. That patch is giving Albion Online "a broad visual overhaul" of the MMO's open-world zones that will feature improved lighting and colors, new textures, and a new water shader. Sandbox's goal with the update is to elevate Albion Online's stylized graphics without affecting performance.

As for what Albion Online itself is like? It's a sandbox MMO, which means that it lacks a central story and is instead focused around giving players the opportunity to tell their own stories through emergent gameplay and interact with the world however they choose to.

Though there is PvE content to engage with, Albion Online is a PvP game at heart, with most activities designed to funnel players together, leading to dynamic encounters. All the MMO staples — gathering, crafting, trading, etc. — are there, and there are large-scale guild wars to partake in too if you decide to join a clan.

I've never played Albion Online myself, but it looks like good fun if you're into PvP and like the idea of forging your own destiny in a world that lets you do whatever you want to. Plus, it's always nice to see MMOs come to console, given how rare it is for them to be available on platforms beyond PC.

🗨️ Will you play Albion Online on Xbox?

As I wrote above, it's a pretty rare sight to see MMOs come to console, so it's great that Albion Online is coming to Xbox Series X|S next month. The game's free-to-play, too, so players will be able to check it out without spending a penny.

Will you give the game a shot on Xbox yourself, or are you not interested? Let me know in the comments, and vote in our poll!

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