Here’s everything we know about CrossfireX for Xbox
Crossfire is an incredibly popular first-person shooter franchise predominantly played in Asian markets. The game is known for intense free-to-play online multiplayer that pits two teams against each other and has amassed over hundreds of millions of unique players, making it one of the most played games and successful games of all time. Now, Crossfire is transforming into a fully fledged franchise with the arrival of CrossfireX, which shakes up the original’s formula in several ways. With the classic multiplayer returning from Smilegate Entertainment and an all-new singleplayer campaign coming from Remedy Entertainment, here’s everything you need to know about CrossfireX for Xbox.
What is CrossfireX for Xbox?
Source: Smilegate Entertainment
First introduced back at E3 2019, CrossfireX’s legendary free-to-play online multiplayer is being developed by Smilegate Entertainment, the studio behind the original Crossfire. The singleplayer campaign portion of CrossfireX is being co-developed by Remedy Entertainment, the studio behind games like Control and the upcoming Alan Wake 2. Both portions of CrossfireX will be published in a partnership between Smilegate and Xbox Global Publishing at Microsoft, as the title lands on Xbox consoles ahead of any other platforms.
While set in the same overarching universe, CrossfireX’s campaign and multiplayer will be separated in a way, similar to many other shooter titles like Call of Duty: Vanguard and Halo Infinite. Crossfire fans and newcomers alike will be able to enjoy the classic multiplayer action that made the original Crossfire famous, spruced up for a modern era of gaming, while also being able to jump into a first-ever peek behind the scenes into the world of Crossfire in a singleplayer campaign.
What is the release date and price for CrossfireX for Xbox?
Source: Smilegate Entertainment
During The Game Awards 2021, Smilegate finally broke its silence and announced a definitive release date for CrossfireX: Feb. 10, 2022. The game has been delayed again, but at least players have a set date to look forward to (and the multiplayer and campaign are also releasing at the same time). CrossfireX has been delayed twice now, and once experienced months of silence from the team with no new info for players, but it seems likely that this release date is here to stay.
CrossfireX’s multiplayer will be free to play exactly like its predecessor (there will probably be in-game purchases and microtransactions), while the campaign will be a separate premium paid experience that players can purchase if they desire. CrossfireX is aiming to become one of the best Xbox shooters you can play, but there’s still a decent wait ahead before it can prove itself to players.
How can I watch the trailers for CrossfireX?
CrossfireX reveal trailer
CrossfireX release date trailer
What is the online multiplayer in CrossfireX?
Source: Smilegate Entertainment
We do know that CrossfireX will feature Legendary Mercenaries, high-powered operatives with unique abilities and powers. Players can play as these Legendary Mercenaries with exemplary performance in CrossfireX matches, as rewards at the end of kill or death streaks. This is all part of the Tactical Growth System, a series of in-game mechanics that lets players evolve over the course of matches.
It’s not clear exactly how CrossfireX will be when it comes to progression, customization, and monetization. There will be a customization system in place that will likely let players personalize their operatives and weapons, but we have yet to see it in action. We do know that CrossfireX will feature multiplayer seasons that will add new content, likely capped by Battle Passes to reward you for playing. The CrossfireX campaign will be available as part of a Premium Battle Pass when CrossfireX initially launches.
Finally, we know that the CrossfireX we’re getting is not the CrossfireX that was before the game’s delay. After the long hiatus separating CrossfireX’s reveal and beta, Smilegate revealed the improvements it made to CrossfireX’s graphics and maps through a series of comparison images and trailers (that you can see above). It’s clear the studio made substantial improvements and has probably continued to do so since then.
What is the singleplayer campaign in CrossfireX?
Source: Smilegate Entertainment
CrossfireX will further explore the “why” behind the Global Risk and Black List conflict and let players dive into the global war between the two factions. CrossfireX’s campaign will feature two major halves, Operation Catalyst and Operation Spectre, each of which includes unique missions and stories from both sides of the war.
Hopefully, as we get closer to launch, we’ll continue to learn more about how CrossfireX will tackle the momentous task of breaking down its storied world. If you want to play the CrossfireX campaign, it’ll be available as part of a Premium Battle Pass when the free-to-play multiplayer portion releases (although prices are unknown at the moment).
What platforms are getting CrossfireX?
Source: Smilegate Entertainment
Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One
Source: Smilegate Entertainment
We don’t have exact information, as it hasn’t been revealed yet, but we can make some educated guesses based on precedent and the capabilities of these machines. The more powerful Xbox Series X targets a crispy 4K resolution at 60 FPS, which seems very likely for CrossfireX’s campaign. In contrast, the more affordable Xbox Series S targets a lower 1440p or 1080p resolution at the same 60 FPS. It’s reasonable to assume that CrossfireX’s campaign will be more of a visual showcase than the multiplayer, and may utilize ray tracing, better textures, visuals, and push for higher resolutions at that 60 FPS framerate.
As far as the multiplayer is concerned, games like Gears 5 and eventually Halo Infinite push for up to 120 FPS to offer a truly competitive and lightning-fast gaming experience. It’s very possible that CrossfireX will do the same, possibly dialing back things like ray tracing and densely packed details from the campaign to prioritize performance in the multiplayer.
CrossfireX will undoubtedly benefit from the incredibly speedy SSDs in both consoles, however, leading to reduced load times and a whole lot less waiting for players. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about how exactly CrossfireX will be Optimized for Xbox Series X|S as we get closer to launch. There’s a good chance it’ll look great on any of the best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X|S, though, especially when you consider the various graphical improvements Smilegate advertised for multiplayer maps above.
CrossfireX will also be cross-generational, meaning it’ll be available on Xbox One at the same time as Xbox Series X|S. Thanks to Smart Delivery, players will always be able to play the best version of CrossfireX for their console for free, without any additional cost for upgrades.
PC
Source: Smilegate Entertainment
It’s probably safe to say CrossfireX will come to PC in the future, but we currently don’t have a timeframe. CrossfireX appears to be a timed Xbox exclusive, so the title may head to PC platforms after a few months or years. After the game is out, we may hear more from Smilegate about its future plans for CrossfireX on other platforms.
Xbox Game Pass
Source: Smilegate Entertainment
CrossfireX not appearing on Xbox Game Pass of course means no support for Xbox Cloud Gaming or PC Game Pass, as well. There’s always a chance CrossfireX will come to Xbox Game Pass in the future, but we won’t know for sure until it’s announced by Xbox or Smilegate.
PlayStation
Source: Smilegate Entertainment
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