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Tag: High on Life 2

  • High On Life 2 Guide: 13 Tips To Know Before Playing

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    High on Life 2 is here on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, and it’s even wackier, weirder, and bigger than the original game. While not every part of this new sci-fi comedy FPS works, there’s still a lot of fun to be had in the sequel, featuring new talking guns and larger worlds to explore. To help you out on your journey to save humanity (again), we’ve put together a list of 13 tips that you should know before hopping into High on Life 2. 

    Talk to people!

    High on Life 2 is at its best when it isn’t forcing you to fight dozens of aliens with living guns. Where this sequel excels is when it’s telling jokes, and a lot of the best ones can only be found by talking to NPCs. And you should keep talking to NPCs, as most of them will have many bits of dialogue and jokes. Likewise, if the game lets you do something over and over again, like kiss someone at a kissing booth, it’s usually a good idea to do it a few times and see if the NPCs react differently. They often do, and it can lead to some wild moments.

    Sit down when watching TV or movies

    There are multiple full-length movies in High on Life 2 that you can watch in a few places, including on Gene’s TV in the main hub area of the game. But if you stand there and watch these movies, the background music and audio of the game will still be heard. So sit down, which is often an option near the screen, and you’ll get a better view and won’t be distracted by all the noise.

    When told to explore the city, do it

    At certain points in High on Life 2, characters will tell you to go check out the city and explore while they get your next missions ready. And you should do this! Exploring the large multi-area world of Circuit Arcadia will often reveal new NPCs to joke around with, but more importantly, there are plenty of hidden puzzles to solve to unlock more currency, rare upgrades, and new cosmetics for your talking gun pals.

    Buy upgrades at your home base

    Speaking of upgrades, pretty early on in High on Life 2 you’ll gain access to a shop inside your main HQ. Stop by here regularly to buy upgrades for your guns to make them more powerful and useful. And don’t worry about spending too much money, as Gene will give you more cash if you need it for a specific upgrade that is required for progressing forward.

    Use your Gatlian special abilities often

    It is very easy to forget that all of your talking guns in High on Life 2 have special, secondary abilities. But don’t do that. Instead use them, and use them a lot. In particular, Sweezy’s ability to stop time in a specific area is very powerful and works on some bosses. I also think Gus’ magma disc is very powerful against tougher enemies. The point is, use these abilities often. And to help with that…

    Drink lots of Bounty Hunter energy drink

    Dotted around nearly every level of High on Life 2 are vending machines that spit out cans of energy drink. These are useful as you can pop one open by hitting the special ability button (RB on Xbox) and refill your gun’s special meter instantly. This lets you pop their secondary actions far more often during combat. And don’t worry, there are so many vending machines around, you can drink up as much as you want.

    Use takedowns to avoid damage

    Short but useful tip: When you do a takedown on an enemy using Knifey, you are momentarily invulnerable. This is useful during big fights to give you breathing room or avoid taking damage from a boss while murdering a minion.

    Don’t play on story mode difficulty

    High on Life 2 offers a few different difficulty modes, and while the game doesn’t punish you for choosing the easiest option, “Story Mode,” I’d advise against it as High on Life 2 isn’t a very hard game, even on its harder settings. The Story Mode is far too easy and boring. Stick to Easy or Normal.

    Use your radar to track down remaining enemies

    If an objective mentions killing all the enemies in an area and you can’t find the last one, check your in-game radar for a red blip. Very handy. Bonus tip: The radar will also show you where hidden caches are that can be broken up for extra money.

    ©Squanch Games

    Don’t forget about Jeppy

    I won’t spoil who Jeppy is, but eventually you unlock this odd alien sidekick who can only say his name. He functions as a sort of ultimate ability for your character. And I recommend popping him out once his meter is full, as he can clear out weaker enemies and put the hurting on bigger foes.

    Shoot your sister when you first see her at the zoo

    I know you don’t want to, but you should do it. Trust me.

    Maybe wait a month or two before hopping in…

    Perhaps the most important tip of all. If you’re reading this just a few days or weeks after High on Life 2‘s February 13 release, then I’d advise holding off on playing it. The game is currently filled with all sorts of bugs and issues. Some of these have been fixed via a day-one patch, but I’d still suggest waiting a little bit, playing something else, and then coming back to a game that is hopefully in better shape.

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    Zack Zwiezen

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  • Art of the Joke: How High On Life 2 Turns ‘Funny’ Into ‘Fun to Play’ – Xbox Wire

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    “Bible Adventures was the big one we got – I think that might have been the very first one we even tried to get. We’re big fans of it here – there’s a book by Gabe Durham that’s all about the history of that game and its developer, Wisdom Tree, and how they skirted the law to sell bootleg NES carts. It’s such a crazy story, and it’s an honor to feature the game here. I won’t spoil the other ones, but Bible Adventures does get featured hugely in the game during [a boss fight]. I’m really proud of that part – it took a lot of work and we did it just because it made us laugh and seemed like an insane thing to commit to.”

    But alongside the jokes that come with huge amounts of planning, there are also ones that sprung up by chance – game development’s “improv”, perhaps. Throughout a creative process there will no doubt be surprises along the way, elements you had not expected, or chances to take that just happen to work out. In the case of High On Life 2, that came in the form of the tutorial to help get you on the new skateboard for the first time.

    “It’s very early on in the game, and to teach the player how to use their new skateboard we have Gene look up a video online, and he shows it to you,” Robbins tells me. “The video is just something I shot with my friend Jon Millstein, a skater and comedian, with my phone in a parking lot near the Los Angeles Zoo. I wrote this long monologue for Jon to read, full of specific game controls and instructions, and he memorized it nearly on the spot in an alien mask. It’s one of my favorite parts of the game and it came together quickly on the cheap, at the last minute. We shot it in an hour, I went home and edited it that night, and by the next day it was already in the game. That’s the Squanch magic!”

    This “magic” is what holds the ambitiously hilarious High On Life 2 together, through crisp writing, creative gameplay (skateboards!), and an incredibly immersive world for us to explore. It’s developed with a swagger, confident that their sense of humor will resonate with enough of us to take even bigger swings at turning “fun to play” into “funny.” High On Life 2 is about to show us what can happen when a group of creative game developers craft something that’s centered around a singular purpose: To make us laugh our asses off.

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    Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • Next Week on Xbox: New Games for February 9 to 13 – Xbox Wire

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    Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Relooted

    Nyamakop

    Relooted – February 10
    Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

    A crew. A job. A plan. Toss those ingredients together, and you’ve got yourself a classic heist — but with a few twists. Your crew members are everyday citizens (from different countries in Africa) with pretty normal careers. The job is to liberate African artifacts from Western museums. And the plan? Well, that’s up to you to create.


    Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Deluxe Edition

    SEGA

    $74.99

    Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties

    SEGA

    $59.99

    Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties – February 11
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Continue the story of Kazuma Kiryu as he fights to protect those he cares about most in an extreme remake of Yakuza 3 that evolves every aspect of the beloved game. The bustling streets of Okinawa and Tokyo come to life in stunning detail with reimagined combat taking brutal brawling action to the next level. Added scenes deliver more depth and emotion to the beloved story with new and enhanced side experiences that immerse you in the world like never before, and more. In Dark Ties, experience the brand-new tale of Yoshitaka Mine from Yakuza 3 in an included separate game. Having once led a successful startup company, he plunged himself into the dark world of the yakuza by choice after losing everything. Left with an empty heart, the pursuit to find true bonds drives him forward once again in a dramatic journey colored by exhilarating boxing-based combat, and a variety of engaging side experiences.


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    BlazBlue Entropy Effect X

    91Act

    BlazBlue Entropy Effect X – February 12
    Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

    A roguelite action game set in the BlazBlue universe, featuring striking 2D visuals, stylish, fast-paced combat, and precise, responsive controls. Command a lineup of unique characters from the renowned BlazBlue franchise and dive into an unparalleled action experience.


    RIDE 6 – Ultimate Edition

    Milestone S.r.l.

    $99.99

    RIDE 6 – Deluxe Edition

    Milestone S.r.l.

    $79.99

    RIDE 6

    Milestone S.r.l.

    $59.99

    Ride 6 – February 12
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Ride 6 isn’t just about riding – it’s about who you become on your bike. It’s where passion turns into identity, and every race becomes a statement. It’s time to prove what it really means to be a rider – to yourself and to the world. Collect and ride 250+ bikes from various categories, including Baggers and Enduro. Leave the asphalt behind and feel the thrill of the dirt on new off-road tracks for an even more complete riding experience. Race online in full cross-play, claim your spot at the top of the leaderboard, and show off your custom bikes, suits, and helmets.


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Roadside Research (Game Preview)

    Oro Interactive

    Roadside Research (Game Preview) – February 12
    Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

    Aliens have landed on Earth… to run a gas station. Play solo or up to 4 players and do human tasks to blend in. People depend on you, it’s your job to make sure that the shelves have the correct items, refuel customers passing by, and provide food for travelers. But most importantly, you must conduct your research.


    High On Life 2 Pre-order Bundle

    Squanch Games, Inc.

    $59.99

    High on Life 2 – February 13
    Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    You’ve done it. You’ve taken down an intergalactic cartel, brought humanity back from the brink of extinction, and hunted dangerous bounties to the far corners of the galaxy. Bounty hunting has brought you fortune, fame and love; but when a mysterious figure from your past reappears and puts a price on your sister’s head, your cushy life gets thrown into chaos. Do you have what it takes to risk it all and bring down an intergalactic conspiracy that once again threatens your favorite species (humans)? High On Life returns as you and your beloved rag-tag team of alien misfits shoot, stab, and skate your way through gorgeous, dangerous worlds all across the galaxy to blow up the evil pharmaceutical conglomerate hell-bent on putting price tags on human life!


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    REANIMAL

    THQ Nordic

    $39.99

    Reanimal – February 13
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

    The original creators of Little Nightmares & Little Nightmares II have returned to take you on a more terrifying journey than ever before. In this co-op horror adventure game, you play as a brother & sister who go through hell to rescue their missing friends. Exploring by boat and on land, you must use your wits to survive, work together to escape the hellish island, and the dark secret that haunts you.


    Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma

    XSEED Games / Marvelous USA, Inc.

    Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – February 13
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Choose from one of two protagonists whose destinies are intertwined by mysterious forces. Use sacred treasures to fight against the Blight’s many forms to restore the people, and even gods, to their natural glory. Take farming further, as you’ll manage more than a plot, rebuilding entire villages and cultivating new allies and resources along the way. Explore seasonal-themed villages heavily inspired by traditional Japanese culture, each with brand-new festivals and revamped fan favorites, as well as charming romance candidates.


    Monterey Jack

    DangerousBob Studio LLC

    Monterey Jack – February 9
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    You’re trapped in a cheese factory with a seven-foot-tall monster made of cheese. Good luck. Meet Monterey Jack: a wisecracking, seven-foot-tall cheese monster with a big grin and bigger appetite. He’ll joke while he hunts you. And if he catches you? You’re on the menu. You are Gordi, a high school kid hunting for your friend Mikey, last spotted sneaking into the abandoned Cheese Factory. Run. Hide. Outsmart the Cheese Man.


    Crisol: Theater of Idols

    Blumhouse Games

    Crisol: Theater of Idols – February 10
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Crisol: Theater of Idols is a gripping first-person horror/action adventure set in the haunting world of Hispania, a nightmarish reimagining of Spain. Playing as Gabriel, a soldier who can use his own blood as a deadly weapon, you endeavor on a journey to fulfill a divine mission from the Sun God.


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Sleeping Beauty: Hidden Object Game

    Crisp App Studio


    $6.99

    $5.59

    Sleeping Beauty: Hidden Object Game – February 10
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

    We all know that Princess Aurora slept for years until true love’s kiss woke her — but have you ever wondered what she was dreaming about all that time? Now you can step into her dreams and explore a magical world full of colour, mystery, and surprises. Travel through beautiful, hand-painted locations, find hidden objects, and piece together the memories tucked away in her mind. As you explore, you’ll uncover secrets, solve puzzles, and slowly reveal the story behind her long sleep.


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Cash Cleaner Simulator

    Forklift Interactive Inc.

    Cash Cleaner Simulator – February 12
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

    Cash Cleaner Simulator welcomes you into the life of a low-level criminal with a particular specialty. When your underworld contacts need dirty money to come back squeaky clean, they call you. Each delivery is different. Arriving in bags, boxes, or stuffed into mattresses, it’s your job to retrieve it all, identify any problems like dirt, blood, or counterfeit bills, and get to work. Your clients expect results! Do your job well, or do whatever it takes, and reap the rewards.


    Centipede Gun

    QUByte Interactive

    Centipede Gun – February 12
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Centipede Gun is a creature-building roguelite inspired by games like SNKRX and FLERP, where you create unusual beings by combining different shapes, modules, and… weapons!? Try out insane combinations and try to break the game with the craziest creations! Each combination offers new possibilities to defeat enemies in increasingly challenging battles. After each round, use the money you earn to buy different units in the store and further strengthen your centipede of destruction. But be careful — as you evolve, enemies also become stronger, testing the limits of your creativity and strategy.


    Disciples: Domination

    Kalypso Media


    $49.99

    $44.99

    Disciples: Domination – February 12

    Rule through the chaos! Fifteen years after Avyanna freed Nevendaar from the tyrannical grip of the gods, Disciples: Domination returns you to a realm hanging in the balance. In this dark fantasy strategy RPG with turn-based combat, take your place on Queen Avyanna’s throne – and attempt to hold together a crumbling kingdom.


    Down Among the Dead Men

    Infinite Zone

    $4.99

    Down Among the Dead Men – February 12

    Set sail on your very own epic pirate adventure. Choose your class, forge your legend, and navigate a sea of perilous choices in this immersive gamebook adventure. Every decision writes your unique tale. Become the hero of your own high-seas saga. In a world where the rival kingdoms of Sidonia and Glorianna teeter on the brink of war, you are caught in a deadly race for survival. Hunted by the sadistic Captain Skarvench and drifting across the sea, you hold a secret that could rewrite the fate of the world. The power to become a legend of the seas is in your hands, but the deck is stacked against you.


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Heart of the Forest

    Wales Interactive

    Heart of the Forest – February 12
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

    On an ill-fated hiking trip through the Black Forest, a mismatched group of students fall under the spell of a vengeful spirit trapped deep inside the woods. Now they must fight for their survival while trying to escape its corrupting influence. Haunted by fear, trauma, and secrets of the past, each character is pushed to their breaking point, and their survival depends on your choices in this interactive psychological horror story by Trapped Predator.


    PopSlinger Vol. 2 – Loveless

    Ocean Media

    PopSlinger Vol. 2 – Loveless – February 12

    Brew up some action in this coffee-powered musical shooter! PopSlinger Vol. 2 – Loveless takes you on a thrilling new adventure where Agent Cooper McLaren of the Juncture Against Various Anomalies (JAVA) teams up with Akane 2.0, a reformed digital idol, to rescue Ria, the heroine of the first game, who has mysteriously vanished. As they navigate the bizarre Purple District, Cooper’s coffee-fueled weapons and Akane’s digital powers will be put to the test against the formidable Loveless Sisters and a variety of new enemies.


    Sokobear Cave

    Bad Minions, Little Giant

    Sokobear Cave – February 12
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    The Bear’s job takes him deep into a huge cave, featuring 40 different environments. Inside the mine, he will find precious gems alongside cheap crystals and fragile rocks that break easily. To complete the Bear’s task, solve the puzzles and deliver the rare gems to their proper place!


    Backrooms: Poolrooms

    Ratalaika Games S.L.

    Backrooms: Poolrooms – February 13
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Strange deaths are plaguing the Poolrooms, and now it’s your turn to investigate the horrifying mystery. Bodies have been found floating in the endless, dimly lit pools, their faces twisted in terror. The Poolrooms are no ordinary place – something dark and deadly has taken root, and it’s not alone. 


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Cinemoji Collection

    Gray Boss Game Studio

    Cinemoji Collection – February 13
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

    Welcome to Cinemoji Collection, the ultimate trivia game for movie buffs, pop culture fans, and puzzle lovers! This isn’t just a game; it’s a massive anthology. We’ve packed 4 complete editions into a single bundle, offering hundreds of levels that range from timeless classics to the latest blockbusters.


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Clue: Murder By Death

    Dolores Entertainment

    Clue: Murder By Death – February 13
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

    Clue: Murder by Death is a narrative-driven detective adventure inspired by classic British crime fiction and modern investigative games. Explore an imposing manor, examine evidence, interrogate suspects, and connect clues across multiple branching narrative paths. Every conversation, every alliance, and every accusation shapes the investigation and determines how the story ends.


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Guess the Flag! – World Flags Quiz

    Source Byte

    Guess the Flag! – World Flags Quiz – February 13
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

    Test your knowledge of 255 countries, islands and international organizations in 6 addictive modes. Test your memory by matching the flag to the name of a country or play the reverse mode. If you are already an expert in flag knowledge, you can try the mode in which you have to write the name of the country yourself. Feel the thrill of matching locations to a country and, for a change, immerse yourself in the unpredictable random mode that combines all the challenges.


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Revenge On Gold Diggers

    NiuGamer

    Revenge on Gold Diggers – February 13
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

    Brought to life by director Hu Yaohui and a team of film industry veterans. In this entirely fictional story, step into the role of a hunter of hearts and infiltrate a shadowy organization deep in emotional deceit. The game features 472 minutes of cinematic footage. Comes with both Standard and Master modes. One purchase gives you the full experience. You play as Wu Yulun, a man once shattered by betrayal, who deliberately turns himself into bait to strike back at a ruthless gold-digger ring. Step into the murky depths of love and deceit, navigating a perilous game against dazzling women, each one a force to be reckoned with.


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Puzzle Book

    QubicGames S.A.

    Puzzle Book – February 13
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Puzzle book offers 35 different puzzles to solve, divided into themes – from fantasy to dinosaurs. Art for this game was made by artists specialized in various styles. They are beautiful paintings of creatures and landscapes or simpler drawings for kids. There is something for everyone! Speaking of everyone, you can adjust the difficulty by selecting the number of fragments per puzzle – from 6 to as many as 150! It’s a great title for both children and adults. Add peaceful music that plays in the background and you’ve got a great, relaxing afternoon.


    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Real Cake Maker

    QubicGames S.A.

    Real Cake Maker – February 13
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Become the best cake baker in town and create the yummiest cakes in this delicious cooking adventure! What kind of cake do you love? Whatever it is, you can bake it! From dreamy frosting to delightful decorations, design cakes that look as good as they taste. Show off your creations to friends, throw a fabulous cake party, or compete in exciting baking contests for the chance to be crowned the cake champ!


    Zumba World – The Crazy Marble Dimension

    EpiXR Games

    $6.99

    Zumba World – The Crazy Marble Dimension – February 13
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Zumba World – The Crazy Marble Dimension marries classic marble-shooter thrills with an explorable hub world! Dash your marble-loaded avatar across a vibrant central plaza dotted with portals to four zany realms. Discover hidden shortcuts, unlock bonus challenges, and collect special tokens that reveal the Crazy Marble Dimension’s secrets. With each realm offering unique marble colors, path shapes, moving obstacles, and escalating speeds, no two expeditions are the same!


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    Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • High On Life 2: Why Squanch Added a Whole New Hub-Based Design – Xbox Wire

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    High On Life 2 is doing the things you’d expect this sequel to do – it’s bigger, more packed with jokes, even more experimental than the first game, and now has a skateboard you can use at any time (naturally). But it’s also doing something we didn’t expect: changing the first game’s structure fundamentally. High On Life 2 is taking cues from Metroidvania games, but using them to its own ends.

    In an episode of the Official Xbox Podcast, Squanch Games’ COO & Executive Producer, Matty Studivan, and Creative & Art Director, Mikey Spano explained – among many other things – about how the team changed their thinking to offer a whole new hub-based design for the game.

    “Our Design Director, Erich Meyr, and I early on decided we wanted to do something that had Metroidvania elements to it, but we also wanted to support telling really tight stories,” explained Spano. “So, this time around, we tried to keep all of the Metroidvania elements in the hubs.”

    While the original High On Life was built around a single hub, Blim City, the sequel will take you to three different hubs, each with a lot more to them and, in classic Metroidvania style, offering more and more interactions the more you play and earn.

    “It’s a big step up for us from the first game,” said Studivan. “If you played it and you know Blim City, it’s a really cool spot, but pretty small geographically.”

    “We have three decent-sized hubs in [High On Life 2],” adds Spano, “and each one of those hubs has a lot of little side things you can do, NPCs you can find, tons of collectibles, tons of unlockable things. And obviously with the skateboard; there’s a lot of cool stuff related to the skateboard that you can do in the hubs.”

    The change is effectively about letting Squanch have their cake and eat it – the new structure means that the team can pack in the stupendously weird moments that made High On Life beloved, without needing to derail the core story to get non-sequitur jokes in there. It’s an elegant mix:

    “In terms of how it all flows together, you’ve got your home base that you’re always returning to,” explained Spano. “And in there, you’re talking to your crew about what you’re going to do next. And then, you’ll be dropped down into the hub. And then from there, you’re navigating to a target that you’re following. But once you get to a certain point, it triggers a more linear experience where we can tell the story in a tighter way. We still always have choices that you’re making and stuff like that.

    “But in terms of finishing a level and then coming back with new power-ups, we try to keep all that in the hub so that we can tell a complete story without needing players to come back and hear the same things over and over again.”

    The upshot is that Squanch can tell the story they want to, but give players the freedom to step away and explore just how odd the surrounding world is at their leisure. To help create all that side content, Squanch took a very fun approach:

    “One of the ways we were able to do that is that we do game jams at the studio, because the entire team is so creative,” added Studivan. “And so, we had eight or nine teams [jam] for a week – and I think like seven of the game jams are in the hubs in this game.”

    It should make exploring the hubs rewarding in itself – with entire other game types hidden away, every discovery can become something new. We’ll get more of what we learned to expect from the first game, too – High On Life included entire, real-life movies to watch, and that will return (with a movie theater to watch them in). We also know that Squanch has licensed full games (NES game Bible Adventures formed a pivotal part of the demo we recently played) that will appear along the way.

    “We’re spending a lot more resources and time on [side content]. It really makes the world feel like you’re somewhere lived-in,” said Studivan.

    The big changes to structure are also about catering to different kinds of players. Those who just want the story can jump from main mission to main mission without friction. Those who want to do everything can do so without having to repeat missions, and at their own pace. And there are also those who might waver between quick blasts and marathon sessions:

    “So, with the missions, we try to keep them at a certain length so that if you’re like, ‘I’m going to go take down this bounty,’ you actually can finish it in a night and then get back to putting your kids to bed or whatever it is that you have to do,” said Spano. “And then for the gamers that want a more free-form experience, they know they can just hang out in the hub for a while and do whatever they want and take on missions whenever they want.”

    For a game that presents itself as unabashedly dumb, there’s a core of smart, classic game design thinking sitting beneath all the madness. With that design in place, it allows Squanch to go as wild as they want with the ideas we, as players, will interact with.

    Even in the earliest looks at the game, we’re seeing how far they can push this – one boss fight suddenly sees your enemy hack your game, sending you navigating your own menu screens to fight him off. And, best of all:

    “That’s one of the more normal parts of the game,” Spano said. “This demo is early in the game. By Act Three it’s just so off the rails and insane. I think people are going to be really surprised.”

    I’m very much looking forward to seeing how much weirder this can get – High on Life 2 arrives for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC on February 13, 2026, and will be available on day one with Game Pass Ultimate.

    If you want to hear much, much more about the game, make sure to check out the full Official Xbox Podcast episode, which dives into how Squanch turned around a sequel so quickly, the difficult art of writing comedy for games, the benefits of switching to Unreal Engine 5 and… the wonder of Microsoft Excel.

    Xbox Play Anywhere

    High On Life 2

    Squanch Games, Inc.




    You’ve done it. You’ve taken down an intergalactic cartel, brought humanity back from the brink of extinction, and hunted dangerous bounties to the far corners of the galaxy. Bounty hunting has brought you fortune, fame and love; but when a mysterious figure from your past reappears and puts a price on your sister’s head, your cushy life gets thrown into chaos.

    Do you have what it takes to risk it all and bring down an intergalactic conspiracy that once again threatens your favorite species (humans)?

    High On Life RETURNS as you and your beloved rag-tag team of alien misfits shoot, stab, and skate your way through gorgeous, dangerous worlds all across the galaxy to blow up the EVIL pharmaceutical conglomerate hell-bent on putting price tags on HUMAN LIFE!

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    Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

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