Why is the forest not on Xbox?

Simply put, The Forest is not available on any Xbox platforms because developer Endnight Games focused their console porting efforts exclusively on PlayStation 4 and never created an Xbox version of the game.

The Forest‘s Console Release Strategy

The Forest spent several years in Early Access on Steam before officially launching in 2018. Around six months later in 2019, an enhanced PlayStation 4 version was released. However, according to comments from Endnight developer Anna Terekhova, the Xbox platform was never part of their console plans due to Sony getting involved early.

"Sony had first contacted us back when the initial trailer for the game was released. So we‘ve had a close relationship with them for years before we eventually released the PS4 version," Terekhova explained in an interview.

With limited resources as a small development studio, Endnight focused on perfecting the PC and PlayStation editions of The Forest rather than spreading efforts across multiple console platforms simultaneously. While disappointing for Xbox fans, this choice allowed them to deliver highly polished experiences tailored specifically to those platforms.

Will The Forest Ever Come to Xbox?

Given the game has already been available for over three years since its PlayStation 4 debut without an Xbox release, the chances of it coming to Xbox now or in the future seem extremely unlikely.

Endnight is currently hard at work on the highly anticipated sequel Sons of the Forest, set to launch February 2023 on PC. When asked about possibility of an Xbox version, Terekhova simply stated "We don‘t currently have plans to work on an Xbox version."

While Sons of the Forest could potentially see Xbox ports down the road, resources are focused on perfecting the PC launch first and foremost. As a small team, concurrent development across multiple platforms remains challenging. And with the lukewarm reception to 2018‘s The Forest on PlayStation 4 relative to its PC success, Xbox may not be in future console plans either.

Great Survival Horror Alternatives on Xbox

Though Xbox fans can‘t experience The Forest itself natively on their console, there are several great survival games available offering compelling forest adventures and horror themes worth checking out:

While none offer an identical experience to The Forest, these games provide their own compelling takes on survival gameplay along with horror elements in forest, ocean, and island environments.

For example, Green Hell channels a similar tribal, forest horror vibe with its story campaign set in the Amazon rainforest complete with traps, weapons crafting, and battles against aggressive native inhabitants looking to make you their next meal.

Subnautica offers a completely unique underwater survival adventure full of base building mechanics, crafting systems, and mysteriously dangerous ocean creatures keeping you on high alert.

And Stranded Deep drops you into a procedurally generated tropical island paradise that quickly descends into a terrifying fight to stay alive through realistic survival simulation across areas like hunger, thirst, injuries and more.

So if the absence of The Forest on Xbox has you hungering for some horrifying survival action, make sure to check out one of these worthy forest-themed alternatives bringing plenty of crafting, building, and scary surprises of their own to Xbox platforms.