As part of the November Xbox Partner Preview, developer Cybernetic Walrus announced that Roadside Research is coming to Xbox and will be a day-one release for Game Pass. What is Roadside Research? Few things in life are certain, but I feel confident in saying you probably won't guess the hook for this game.
Roadside Research is a 1-4 player co-op gas station simulator. Simulator-type games are everywhere these days, but this one differentiates itself because you play as an alien. More specifically, you're an undercover alien who tries to act like a human and do human-like things that a gas station attendant would do like stocking shelves and assisting customers. "Just don't get caught," reads a line from the description.
All the while, players are trying to gather intelligence on humans in preparation for an upcoming alien invasion. "If you arouse too much suspicion, the government will show up, jeopardizing your Earthly mission," the description adds.
This is a comedic game, as you can immediately tell by watching the trailer. The aliens in the game are the classic little green men, and to blend in, you must create what you deem to be a human-looking face mask--but it doesn't have to be any good, really.
Game Pass gets a lot of big-name launches, and one of the perks of a subscription service is that you can sample titles you might not otherwise rush to buy outright. If you're curious about Roadside Research but not sure you want to buy it, Game Pass seems like a pretty good avenue.
Nailed it.
During the daytime, players will work as gas station attendants and do their best to blend in and be "normal." At night, players will take what they learned about humans and use that information to upgrade the gas station to attract more humans, and thereby gather even more intelligence about them.
Roadside Research is set for release in Q1 2026 (January 1-March 31, 2026) and will come to Game Pass Ultimate at launch for Xbox and PC. It's not immediately clear if the game is also coming to PlayStation.
A free demo is available already on Steam. It's attracted a lot of interest and attention on Steam, where it's landed on more than 300,000 user wishlists, with more than 260,000 people playing the demo as of early October.
Cybernetic Walrus is an independent developer that aims to "redefine how players connect with virtual worlds," and specifically mentions on its website that it makes simulation-type games. Before Roadside Research, the studio made the horror game Order 13, in which players must navigate a dark and scary warehouse as they take on packing orders and try to keep their cat alive. The team also made Does It Stack, a physics-based mixed-reality puzzle game for Meta Quest VR. Additionally, Cybernetic Walrus developed the futuristic anti-gravity racing game Antigravitator.
In October, Microsoft announced a dramatic Xbox Game Pass price increase for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, along with some changes to the other tiers. The new price for Game Pass Ultimate soared by 50% to $30/month. However, most major retailers are not going with the new price, at least not yet, so you can still get Game Pass Ultimate for $20/month or $60 for three months on Amazon and many other stores.
Source
What even is Roadside Research?
Roadside Research is a 1-4 player co-op gas station simulator. Simulator-type games are everywhere these days, but this one differentiates itself because you play as an alien. More specifically, you're an undercover alien who tries to act like a human and do human-like things that a gas station attendant would do like stocking shelves and assisting customers. "Just don't get caught," reads a line from the description.
All the while, players are trying to gather intelligence on humans in preparation for an upcoming alien invasion. "If you arouse too much suspicion, the government will show up, jeopardizing your Earthly mission," the description adds.
This is a comedic game, as you can immediately tell by watching the trailer. The aliens in the game are the classic little green men, and to blend in, you must create what you deem to be a human-looking face mask--but it doesn't have to be any good, really.
Game Pass gets a lot of big-name launches, and one of the perks of a subscription service is that you can sample titles you might not otherwise rush to buy outright. If you're curious about Roadside Research but not sure you want to buy it, Game Pass seems like a pretty good avenue.
Nailed it.
During the daytime, players will work as gas station attendants and do their best to blend in and be "normal." At night, players will take what they learned about humans and use that information to upgrade the gas station to attract more humans, and thereby gather even more intelligence about them.
Roadside Research is set for release in Q1 2026 (January 1-March 31, 2026) and will come to Game Pass Ultimate at launch for Xbox and PC. It's not immediately clear if the game is also coming to PlayStation.
A free demo is available already on Steam. It's attracted a lot of interest and attention on Steam, where it's landed on more than 300,000 user wishlists, with more than 260,000 people playing the demo as of early October.
What else has Cybernetic Walrus made?
Cybernetic Walrus is an independent developer that aims to "redefine how players connect with virtual worlds," and specifically mentions on its website that it makes simulation-type games. Before Roadside Research, the studio made the horror game Order 13, in which players must navigate a dark and scary warehouse as they take on packing orders and try to keep their cat alive. The team also made Does It Stack, a physics-based mixed-reality puzzle game for Meta Quest VR. Additionally, Cybernetic Walrus developed the futuristic anti-gravity racing game Antigravitator.
You don't have to pay extra for Game Pass... for now
In October, Microsoft announced a dramatic Xbox Game Pass price increase for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, along with some changes to the other tiers. The new price for Game Pass Ultimate soared by 50% to $30/month. However, most major retailers are not going with the new price, at least not yet, so you can still get Game Pass Ultimate for $20/month or $60 for three months on Amazon and many other stores.
Source