What was announced
Miju Games revealed Magnetaris on November 3, 2026. It is a premium DLC pack for The Planet Crafter, set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on December 8. It will cost $9.99 USD or €9.99 EUR on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Steam and GOG. Miju's Steam post says the map should be about the size of the Toxicity planet and give "multiple hours of content." That figure is a developer estimate, not a measured playtime.
The Xbox store listing for the base game shows a few things:
- It is optimized for Xbox Series X|S.
- It is a cloud-playable game included with Game Pass Premium and Ultimate.
- On Game Pass Essential, you need to buy the game to stream it.
- Console online multiplayer needs Essential, Premium or Ultimate.
So "on Game Pass" depends on your tier. The listing also shows that the earlier planet add-ons are sold separately: Planet Humble at $7.99 and Toxicity at $9.99. Magnetaris follows that pattern.
What the planet adds
Miju describes a large, unfamiliar planet hit by electrical storms and strong magnetic fields. Players use new technology and machinery to stabilize those fields while terraforming. The press release also promises new biomes, anomalies, and lore about Sentinel Corp and earlier human settlement. Base-building continues with new machines.
There are two ways in. You can travel there through the game's interplanetary system once it is unlocked, or start a new separate save and pick the planet "MAGNETARIS". Miju says it designed the planet so both routes should be equally fun. The Steam post says that for existing saves, you reach it after finishing your first planet.
Co-op: the Steam-only detail
The Steam post says you only need one copy to host a game with friends. The press release is more specific. Players on Steam only need to buy one copy of the DLC to play co-op with up to 10 friends who already own the base game. GameRant's "1 copy for a 10-person co-op game" wording comes from that Steam-specific statement.
The sources do not confirm the same sharing rule or the 10-player limit on Xbox or PlayStation. The Xbox store page lists the base game's online co-op at up to 8 players. Console groups should wait for platform-specific details before assuming one purchase covers everyone.
Can you try it early?
Only on Steam, and only in part. On November 3, Miju put out a free early playtest on the Steam development branch (v2.200).
- Content: About 50% of the final planet is available, with much of the loot, lore and surprises still missing.
- Backups: Miju says to duplicate your save files before trying it, and the preview still has many issues.
- Feedback wanted: The studio is mostly looking for feedback on the new mechanics and for game-breaking bugs.
- Staging: Miju plans to add more biomes over the coming weeks. After release, you will need to buy the DLC to continue.
- Early mechanic: Once you reach the "Magnetic Storms" terraforming stage, you need lightning rods to protect yourself from storms. This comes from an early preview, so it may change.
Xbox and Game Pass players do not appear to have an equivalent test. The sources say nothing about one.
Skeo is the free addition
Don't confuse Magnetaris with Skeo. Skeo is a free moon that arrived on September 1 and works with existing saves. You can't start there. You have to fully terraform a starting planet and build the Extraction Platform and the Interplanetary Travel Rocket. Miju's Steam post lists Prime, Toxicity, Humble and Selenea as the eligible starting planets. The press release adds Magnetaris to that list, which fits it becoming another stop in the travel progression.
Skeo's changelog (v2.102) adds an underground pod for underground bases, a Tier 2 incubator, a Tier 3 tree planter and a Tier 2 animal rocket. Patch v2.103 on September 14 fixed small issues and was described as the last Skeo patch. Miju's Skeo announcement says the update was also available on Xbox, PS5 and GOG when it launched.
Caveats and context
- Cross-play: Miju said in June that console multiplayer would not be cross-platform. You could play only with players on the same console brand, and Steam players could not play with console players. The sources show no later change.
- Sales and ratings: Miju's June 16 post claims more than 2,000,000 copies sold. The press release claims a 95% player rating. Both are developer claims, not independent audits. GameRant's "10/10" headline and "best games on Game Pass" wording are opinion.
- Open questions: Gameoneer notes that Miju has not said how many anomalies are on the map or how much of the tech tree depends on them. That will affect whether the DLC feels new or just harder.
- Date: December 8 is still a planned date, not a release.
What Game Pass subscribers should do
- Check your tier. Premium and Ultimate include the base game. Essential subscribers need to buy it to stream it.
- If you want Magnetaris, budget $9.99 on top of your subscription. Game Pass access doesn't cover it.
- Before December 8, finish your first planet if you want to reach Magnetaris from your current save. Otherwise plan a fresh start on the new planet.
- If you play on console, treat the 10-friend, one-copy offer as a Steam promise until Miju confirms it for Xbox.
For a $10 add-on to a game that already costs nothing extra on Game Pass, this is a fairly clear announcement. The main thing it doesn't settle is how co-op ownership works on consoles.