Shard Squad is now available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Xbox Play Anywhere. The bullet heaven roguelite from Brazilian developer The Root Studios and publisher Nuntius Games puts a squad of colorful monsters against waves of enemies. The Xbox Wire announcement also shared details about the studio’s first game and its move to Xbox.
Each run centers on recruiting Shards, defeating bosses, and combining traits to build stronger effects. The game features more than 20 playable creatures, with Shards tied to Fire, Electric, Water, Nature, and Crystal elements. Their relationships, designs, and personalities are part of the game’s world, with some characters inspired by the developers’ pets.
Build a Squad That Fits Your Run
Shard Squad gives every creature three synergies based on factors such as its element, appearance, or connections to other Shards. Pairing creatures with shared synergies can unlock bonuses, so the team is not only about picking the strongest individual monster.
There are also more than 90 relics with different effects. Relics, Shard combinations, and random events give each run room for a different build as enemy groups grow more intense.
The Xbox version includes the Prime Evolution system for every monster. During a run, a Shard can evolve to gain a new look and stronger techniques. Special events can also offer extra rewards, while bosses provide another test for the squad.
The Root Studios Reaches Xbox
The Xbox launch marks the first release on the platform for The Root Studios. Director Rennan Costa described the milestone as the fulfillment of a long-held dream, especially since Shard Squad is the studio’s first released game.
The team hopes new players will connect with the Shards as they unlock their designs, abilities, and stories. That character focus gives the monster-collecting loop a softer side, even when the screen is packed with enemies and projectiles.
Shard Squad is available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support. Tell us which Shard you would put on your first squad, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.
