Ashen Comes Back To Steam After Its Last-Minute Epic Exclusivity Deal Expires

Ashen, the action RPG inspired by Dark Souls and Journey, was released on Xbox One and the Epic Games Store back in December 2018. Now, just over a year after its initial release, the A44 developed game is coming to PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and GOG on December 9.

The broody Souls-like was one of the first games announced as an Epic Games Store exclusive, despite already having a Steam listing at the time. With that exclusivity period ending in December, Ashen is set to make its belated way to Steam and GOG, giving PC players various ways to own the game.

On console, Ashen's exclusivity on Xbox One is also coming to an end, with both PS4 and Switch releases on the horizon. However, there's still no word on Ashen's status as an Xbox Play Anywhere title. In a blog post during the game's initial launch weekend, A44 said Ashen would eventually make its way to the Microsoft Store on Windows 10. "We wholeheartedly agree that this would have been better available day one", the blog post explains. "We are a small studio that just shipped a very big game, but have been actively working to get it there. Rest assured, it is coming." This was followed by a tweet in May saying that the developer is still working on bringing Ashen to Windows 10 with Xbox Play Anywhere functionality.

Beyond its arrival on other platforms and storefronts, there may also be some new Ashen content on the way. The Accolades trailer revealing its upcoming releases also features a stinger that hints at possible DLC, showing a small wooden boat sailing towards craggy mountains that aren't featured in the main game.

Jordan Ramée reviewed Ashen for GameSpot, awarding it 9/10. "Ashen does more than enough to differentiate it from other Souls-like games," the review concludes. "Although its combat utilizes the same stamina-focused mechanics, the inclusion of features that promote a sense of community with the game's characters makes for a wholly different experience. It's frustrating to spawn and see that your computer-controlled partner has a weapon that doesn't complement the one you're using. However, even when playing with NPCs, your allies' efforts to assist you in battle cause you to care about the fates of the colorful cast of people you meet on your journey. The relationships you forge define your adventure through Ashen, and helping your new friends is a powerful motivator that drives you forward through the game's beautiful world."

Ashen releases on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and GOG on December 9 2019.