Ascend to Zero launches July 13, 2026 on PC (Steam) and Xbox Series X|S.
Release date and platforms
The game releases on July 13, 2026. Regional unlock times:
| Region | Unlock Time |
|---|---|
| US Eastern | 3:00 a.m. July 13 |
| US Pacific | 12:00 a.m. July 13 |
| UK | 8:00 a.m. July 13 |
| Central Europe | 9:00 a.m. July 13 |
| Japan | 4:00 p.m. July 13 |
| Australia (East) | 5:00 p.m. July 13 |
Available on Steam (wishlist open now) and Xbox (wishlist open now). No PS5 or Nintendo Switch versions have been announced. Developer and publisher information have not been publicly disclosed.
What is Ascend to Zero?
Ascend to Zero is a sci-fi action roguelite with a defining mechanic: time bends according to the player's will. The game is built around a hostile, collapsing vertical environment where each run pushes you further upward toward a central mystery — the "zero point."
It's a systems-first game. Each attempt feeds into the next, and the design rewards understanding how the game's mechanics interact rather than just reacting. The sci-fi framing gives the time-manipulation elements a grounded in-universe logic.
The game has been in development for a while — it first appeared publicly in November 2024 and had a Steam demo by March 2025.
Gameplay
The core structure: you start a run, ascend through a vertically layered environment, fight through what's in the way, and die or push further toward zero. The time-bending mechanic lets you manipulate the flow of combat in ways that aren't yet fully detailed, but it's positioned as the central thing that makes each run feel different.
An open playtest ran in December 2025, giving a wider group of players early access before the July launch. The Steam demo from March 2025 is the other way to try it ahead of release.
Is Ascend to Zero on Xbox Game Pass?
Not confirmed yet. No subscription service availability has been announced for Xbox Game Pass or any other service.
Announcement timeline
- November 18, 2024: First public reveal via announcement trailer.
- March 10, 2025: Demo launches on Steam.
- December 5, 2025: Open playtest announced and opened.
- March 26, 2026 (Xbox Partner Preview): July 13, 2026 release date officially announced.