Is How to Fish (Dazed Games) Coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S?
When I first saw clips of How to Fish, I honestly assumed it was another cozy indie fishing simulator that would disappear after a weekend. Five minutes later I was watching someone uppercut a giant salmon into the sky before sniping it with a rifle while a seagull stole another player’s catch. That was enough to understand why this game suddenly became one of Steam’s biggest viral multiplayer releases.
Dazed Games managed to create something that feels ridiculous in the best possible way. It’s a fishing game, a physics sandbox, and a party shooter all mashed together into pure chaos. Naturally, after the game launched on PC, console players immediately started asking the same question everywhere: Is How to Fish coming to PS5 or Xbox Series X/S?
Right now the answer is simple. There is no official console version. But after looking at the game’s design, controller support, publisher involvement, and the way similar indie hits have expanded to consoles, I think there’s a very real chance this game doesn’t stay PC-exclusive forever.
Let’s break down where things stand.
The PC Launch Proved This Game Is More Than a Meme
How to Fish launched on Steam on August 20, 2026, and it didn’t take long before clips flooded TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Twitch streams.
Instead of realistic fishing mechanics, the game turns every catch into an action sequence.
You’re stranded on an island after wrecking your boat during what was apparently a terrible night of drinking. The only way home is earning enough money through fishing. Except “fishing” means using increasingly ridiculous weapons to catch, launch, and destroy aquatic wildlife while trying not to accidentally eliminate your friends.
That’s exactly the kind of multiplayer nonsense that people love playing together.
Why it became popular so quickly
- Physics-based combat creates different moments every match.
- Four-player online co-op is hilarious with friends.
- The progression system constantly unlocks crazier weapons.
- Every successful trick shot feels shareable on social media.
It feels less like a traditional simulator and more like Content Warning meets Gang Beasts with fishing rods.
Can You Play How to Fish on PS5 or Xbox Right Now?
Unfortunately, no.
At the moment, the game is available only on PC through Steam.
| Platform | Status |
|---|---|
| Steam (PC) | Available Now |
| Steam Deck | Playable |
| PlayStation 5 | Not Available |
| Xbox Series X/S | Not Available |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Not Announced |
The good news is that the game already supports controllers on PC, which is a surprisingly important detail. It means the developers already designed gameplay around gamepads rather than mouse-and-keyboard controls only.
That doesn’t guarantee a console version, but it removes one obstacle.
What Dazed Games Has Actually Said
This is where expectations need to stay realistic.
Dazed Games has not announced a PlayStation or Xbox version.
Since launch, the studio has kept almost every public update focused on improving the PC release. That’s completely understandable considering they’re a relatively small indie developer handling multiplayer servers, bug fixes, balancing, community feedback, and post-launch updates.
Whenever fans ask about consoles on social media, the team usually redirects attention toward the Steam version rather than teasing future platforms.
That isn’t confirmation.
It also isn’t a “no.”
From my perspective, it looks like they’re avoiding promises until they know the PC version is stable enough to support another platform.
Why Landfall Games Makes Me More Optimistic
This is probably the biggest reason I wouldn’t rule out consoles.
Landfall Games helped fund the project, and they’ve been involved with several indie games that started life on PC before expanding elsewhere.
If you’ve followed Landfall for a while, you’ve probably noticed a pattern.
| Typical Landfall Strategy | Result |
|---|---|
| Launch on PC first. | Build community quickly. |
| Let viral content spread. | Increase sales through creators. |
| Support updates after launch. | Improve long-term retention. |
| Consider console ports later. | Expand audience once stable. |
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator followed a similar path before eventually arriving on consoles.
That history doesn’t guarantee anything, but it definitely makes a console port feel more believable than if Dazed Games were completely independent.
This Feels Like a Perfect Console Party Game
Honestly, this might be the strongest argument for a PS5 or Xbox version.
Some multiplayer games just feel designed for sitting on voice chat with friends after work. How to Fish absolutely belongs in that category.
The gameplay loop is pure chaos
You start with almost nothing.
Then suddenly your group is doing things that make absolutely no sense, but somehow work perfectly inside the game’s world.
- Punching fish.
- Shooting sharks.
- Launching explosives underwater.
- Fighting aggressive seagulls.
- Accidentally blowing up each other’s boats.
Every mistake becomes funny instead of frustrating.
That style of gameplay has been incredibly successful on consoles because it’s easy to understand but constantly creates unexpected moments.
I could easily imagine this becoming one of those Game Pass or PlayStation Plus games everyone downloads for a weekend.
Controller Support Is Already There
One detail many people overlook is controller compatibility.
How to Fish already includes a complete controller layout on PC.
That matters because developers usually spend significant time adapting aiming, inventory management, radial menus, interaction prompts, and vehicle controls.
Most of that work already exists.
Why this is important
- Twin-stick aiming already feels natural. Weapons don’t require mouse precision to function.
- Boat controls translate well. Driving and steering work comfortably with analog sticks.
- Menus are gamepad-friendly. The UI already recognizes controller inputs.
That doesn’t mean certification is finished, but it’s one less major development task.
Can PS5 and Xbox Series X Run It?
Absolutely.
The game isn’t trying to compete visually with blockbuster AAA releases.
Its stylized art direction is relatively lightweight compared to modern Unreal Engine showcases.
Hardware expectations
| Console | Expected Performance |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | 1080p to 4K at around 60 FPS should be realistic. |
| Xbox Series X | Very similar performance expectations to PS5. |
| Xbox Series S | Likely lower visual settings while targeting 60 FPS. |
The real challenge isn’t graphics.
It’s multiplayer synchronization.
Physics Are the Biggest Technical Challenge
Every object in How to Fish seems determined to fly somewhere unexpected.
That’s hilarious for players.
It’s much harder for developers.
The game constantly synchronizes
- Fish movement.
- Projectiles.
- Explosions.
- Ragdolls.
- Boats.
- Floating objects.
Keeping four players synchronized without weird desync bugs takes serious networking work.
A console port has to pass certification while maintaining stable online performance across different hardware.
That’s probably the biggest reason I think Dazed Games isn’t rushing announcements.
What Needs to Happen Before a Console Release?
If I were guessing based on other indie multiplayer launches, I’d expect this order.
Phase 1 — Stabilize PC
- Fix launch bugs.
- Improve matchmaking.
- Balance weapons.
- Optimize servers.
Phase 2 — Expand Content
Players are already asking for more reasons to keep returning after launch.
- New fish species.
- Boss encounters.
- Additional weapons.
- Cosmetic rewards.
- More islands and maps.
Keeping PC players engaged is probably priority number one.
Phase 3 — Console Development
Only after the core game feels stable does a console version become much easier to manage.
That means certification with Sony and Microsoft, platform-specific optimization, achievements, trophies, multiplayer services, and long QA testing sessions.
My Prediction for a PS5 and Xbox Release Window
Nobody has announced one.
This section is speculation based on typical indie development timelines.
| Time Period | What Seems Most Likely |
|---|---|
| Late 2026 | PC patches and content updates. |
| Early 2027 | Possible internal console development. |
| Summer 2027 | Potential announcement window if development is underway. |
| Late 2027 | Most realistic launch period for PS5 and Xbox, in my opinion. |
Six to twelve months after a successful Steam launch is fairly common for indie multiplayer ports.
That timeline feels believable.
It also gives Dazed Games enough time to learn what players actually want before committing resources to another platform.
Could It Launch on Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus?
This is another interesting possibility.
Games with strong viral momentum often attract subscription deals because they already have community awareness, multiplayer games benefit from bigger player counts, and subscriptions help revive interest months after launch.
I’m not saying this is happening.
But if a console port eventually exists, Game Pass feels like a platform that matches the game’s audience extremely well. PlayStation Plus Extra would also make sense if Sony wants another fun multiplayer indie title in its catalog.
What Console Players Should Watch For
If you’re waiting instead of buying the Steam version, these are the signs I’d pay attention to.
Good signs
- Controller improvements in patch notes.
- Cross-play discussions from developers.
- Console-related job listings or testing mentions.
- Landfall publishing announcements.
Neutral signs
- Silence about consoles.
- Continued PC-only updates.
Silence isn’t necessarily bad for a small studio. Many indie teams avoid talking about ports until certification is nearly complete.
How to Fix How to Fish (Dazed Games) Crashing on Startup on PC: Complete 2026 Troubleshooting Guide
Should You Wait or Play It on PC?
Here’s my honest opinion.
Buy it now if you have:
- A gaming PC.
- Steam Deck.
- Friends who already own it.
The price is low enough that it feels like one of those multiplayer games that easily pays for itself after a couple evenings of laughing with friends.
Wait if:
- You only own PS5.
- You only own Xbox Series X/S.
- You prefer couch gaming.
At the moment, waiting is the only option because there simply isn’t a console version available.
If Dazed Games announces a port later, you’ll probably be getting a more polished experience with months of balancing and content updates already included.
How to Fish Multiplayer Guide: How to Play Co-Op With Friends Online (2026)
Final Thoughts: I Think the Chances Are Better Than Most Indie Games
Right now the official answer is straightforward.
How to Fish is not available on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S, and Dazed Games hasn’t announced a console release date.
But I also don’t think this is the end of the story.
The ingredients are all there: a strong viral launch on Steam, built-in controller support, online co-op that fits console audiences perfectly, and Landfall Games providing publishing support and industry experience.
If the game continues attracting players through the rest of 2026 and Dazed Games successfully delivers post-launch updates, I think a console version becomes much more likely than unlikely.
For now, PC remains the only place to experience one of the strangest multiplayer games released this year. And if you’re a console player, this is definitely one indie title worth keeping on your wishlist until Dazed Games finally decides it’s time to bring the chaos to PS5 and Xbox.