Another huge PC franchise makes the jump to 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 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.
A new Xperience
CrossfireX (preorder)
$10 at Xbox (Originator's Package)$15 at Xbox (Founder's Package)$25 at Xbox (Ultimate Package)
Crossfire comes to Xbox
CrossfireX updates the legendary PC shooter with an expanded free-to-play multiplayer and an intense singleplayer campaign, and it's coming to Xbox first.
What is CrossfireX for Xbox?
CrossfireX is the follow-up to a long-running first-person shooter with incredible popularity in Asia and elsewhere; the original Crossfire has gathered a massive gathering of loyal players to its free-to-play multiplayer. CrossfireX promises to be bigger and grander than its predecessor and takes advantage of current-gen gaming technologies and power. Combining its traditional free-to-play online multiplayer with an all-new singleplayer campaign, CrossfireX aims to make an exciting entry into the current generation of gaming.
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?
When CrossfireX was revealed, it was expected to be a launch title for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, but it was delayed until sometime in 2021. With 2021 drawing to a close, interested players began to grow concerned that the updated release window would be missed.
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 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.
Preload
If you preorder CrossfireX on Xbox, you can now preload the game ahead of its release on Feb. 10.
How can I watch the trailers for CrossfireX?
CrossfireX reveal trailer
CrossfireX release date trailer
CrossfireX Beta trailer
CrossfireX "Invasion" map reveal
CrossfireX "Babylon Lab" map reveal
CrossfireX "Babylon" map reveal
CrossfireX campaign trailer
CrossfireX multiplayer trailer
What is the online multiplayer in CrossfireX?
Crossfire sees players join one of the world's two most dangerous private military factions, Global Risk or Black List, and battle it out in a variety of fast-paced game modes. Gameplay-wise, Crossfire shares some similarities with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, a tactical shooter more popular in Western markets. Crossfire does feature its own unique twists and mechanics alongside a wide selection of weapons and gear from which to choose, and CrossfireX will expand on this with a bevy of new features.
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. Players can also gain access to new Legendary Mercenaries through DLC, the Battle Pass, and more.
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, with Battle Passes featuring unique rewards. The two-part CrossfireX campaign should be available for purchase separately, but you can also grab both parts through the "Ultimate Package" which also includes numerous perks for the CrossfireX multiplayer.
Finally, we know that the CrossfireX we're getting is not the CrossfireX that existed 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?
Not a lot is known about CrossfireX's singleplayer campaign beyond the fact that it's being developed by Remedy. The campaign will be set in the same universe as Crossfire and CrossfireX's multiplayer portions, but will be functionally different in a variety of ways to support its narrative purpose.
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.
We're expecting the CrossfireX campaign to play similarly to the multiplayer portions, but the game being developed by Remedy means there will undoubtedly be a variety of differences. We know that the campaign will feature unique objectives and missions, as well as special abilities and mechanics that may not be available in the multiplayer.
Both CrossfireX campaign sections should be available for purchase separately after the game initially launches, or players can preorder the complete singleplayer experience by purchasing Crossfire X Ultimate Package. The first part of the campaign, Operation: Catalyst, will also be available through Xbox Game Pass.
What platforms are getting CrossfireX?
CrossfireX's predecessor is a PC-only title, but so far in CrossfireX's marketing lifetime, only the Xbox platform has been mentioned. Many players have been left wondering on what platforms CrossfireX is releasing, and when the game can be expected to expand to other ecosystems. Here's what we know about CrossfireX's release plans.
Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One
The Xbox Series X and Series S are here, and they've both proven to be capable and impressive entries in what is now the current-gen of console gaming. Many games are adding full support for these powerful consoles, which usher in support for a ton of new features, including hardware-accelerated ray tracing, higher refresh rates, faster load speeds, greater graphical fidelity, and more. CrossfireX has confirmed its support for the Xbox Series X|S when it launches, ensuring the game will be Optimized to take advantage of the consoles.
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 frame rate.
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
The original Crossfire became one of the biggest games of all time purely as a PC exclusive, making it easy to assume its sequel would also launch on PC. However, CrossfireX is actually entirely exclusive to Xbox consoles, meaning there is absolutely no PC support at launch and no indication of when it'll come (it's worth mentioning that in a select few markets, the CrossfireX campaign is being made available on PC under the "Crossfire HD" moniker).
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
The multiplayer for CrossfireX is free to play, so there's no reason for it to make an appearance on Xbox Game Pass. As far as the campaign is concerned, the singleplayer campaign experience isn't making an appearance in its entirety. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to play the first half of CrossfireX, Operation: Catalyst, but Operation: Spectre will need to be purchased separately.
CrossfireX also doesn't support Xbox Cloud Gaming, so players will be restricted to playing on their Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One console.
PlayStation
CrossfireX is almost guaranteed to come to PC at some point in the future, and Xbox Game Pass subscribers are at least getting one half of the campaign. The platform most mired in uncertainty is PlayStation, which boasts of a large community of first-person shooter fans. As you may expect, there's no indication CrossfireX will ever come to PS4 or PS5, and it's certainly not doing so at launch. We'll keep this section updated as we learn more.
A new Xperience
CrossfireX (preorder)
$10 at Xbox (Originator's Package)$15 at Xbox (Founder's Package)$25 at Xbox (Ultimate Package)
Crossfire comes to Xbox
CrossfireX updates the legendary PC shooter with an expanded free-to-play multiplayer and an intense singleplayer campaign, and it's coming to Xbox first.
A catalog of games
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
From $1/month at Xbox$40 at Amazon (3-month subscription)$15 at Amazon (1-month subscription)
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