Anyone who’s spent time surviving on a creepy island in The Forest knows the sequel was bound to raise expectations. When Sons of the Forest launched on February 23, 2023, it brought more of the same bone-chilling survival horror—but only to PC players on Steam, leaving console owners waiting for answers.

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Release date: February 23, 2023 ·
Available on: PC (Steam) ·
Co-op players: Up to 8 ·
Developer: Endnight Games ·
Price: $29.99 (standard edition)

Quick snapshot

1Game Overview
2Platform Availability
3Co-op Features
  • Up to 8 players (Co-Optimus)
  • Drop-in/drop-out (Nitrado)
  • Full story co-op (Co-Optimus)
4Purchase Options
  • Steam $29.99 (Nitrado)
  • No console versions (Nitrado)

Seven key facts about Sons of the Forest, one pattern: the game is tightly focused on PC, with no official word on console ports.

Label Value
Developer Endnight Games
Publisher Newnight
Release date February 23, 2023
Platform PC (Steam)
Genre Survival horror
Co-op Up to 8 players
Price $29.99

Is Sons of the Forest on PS5, PS4, and Xbox?

Is Sons of the Forest on PS5?

  • Sons of the Forest has not been released on any PlayStation console, including PS5 (Nitrado). The game is currently limited to PC via Steam.
  • No official announcement from Endnight Games confirms a PS5 version (Co-Optimus).

Is Sons of the Forest coming to Xbox?

  • Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S players are also left out—no port has been announced (Co-Optimus).
  • Rumors about a possible Xbox release remain unconfirmed, and the developer has not addressed them publicly (ActivePlayer).

Is Sons of the Forest on PS4?

  • The original The Forest eventually came to PS4 after a PC early access period. But as of now, Sons of the Forest is not available on PS4 (Co-Optimus).
  • Given the game’s heavier system requirements, a PS4 version would likely require significant downscaling.
Bottom line: Sons of the Forest is a PC exclusive. Console owners shouldn’t expect a port anytime soon unless Endnight Games makes an official announcement.

The pattern of PC-first releases has precedent with the original The Forest, which eventually reached PS4.

Is Sons of the Forest good co-op?

Co-op gameplay mechanics

  • The game supports up to eight players in online co-op (Co-Optimus).
  • Drop-in/drop-out co-op means friends can join or leave without restarting (Co-Optimus).
  • There is no cross-play or cross-save because the game is only on Steam (Co-Optimus).

Pros and cons of playing with friends

Upsides

  • Teaming up makes resource gathering and building faster.
  • More players means more eyes on the environment—less chance of being ambushed.
  • Drop-in/drop-out respects everyone’s schedule.

Downsides

  • Horror tension drops significantly with a group.
  • Host must remain online for others to play.
  • Single-player saves cannot be converted to co-op (YouTube guide).
Bottom line: Co-op turns a tense survival horror into a social sandbox. Players who want pure scares should play solo; those who enjoy sharing the chaos will love the eight-player mayhem.

The co-op experience effectively shifts the game’s tone from horror to adventure, appealing to different play styles.

What is Sons of the Forest?

Story and setting

  • The game is a direct sequel to The Forest, set on a remote island after a helicopter crash (Wikipedia).
  • Players must survive against cannibalistic mutants and harsh weather while uncovering a mysterious story.

Gameplay and survival elements

  • Core mechanics include building shelters, crafting weapons, hunting, and exploring caves (Steam store page).
  • The game adds new tools like seasonal weather effects and more advanced AI enemies.

Sequel to The Forest

  • Developed by Endnight Games and published by Newnight, it continues the story of the original (Wikipedia).
  • It retains the same survival horror DNA but improves graphics and systems.
The catch

Fans expecting a direct continuation of the original’s story will find new characters and lore, not a simple repeating pattern.

This shift in narrative approach gives returning players fresh material to explore while honoring the series’ roots.

Where and how to buy Sons of the Forest?

Available storefronts

  • The game is sold exclusively on Steam for PC (Steam store page).
  • No other digital storefronts carry it.

Pricing and editions

  • Standard edition: $29.99 (Steam store page).
  • No deluxe or collector editions have been announced.

System requirements

  • Minimum: Windows 10, Intel i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580 (Steam store page).
  • Recommended: Intel i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 1080 or AMD RX 6800 XT (Steam store page).
Bottom line: PC gamers can grab it on Steam for $29.99 with reasonable hardware demands. Console buyers have no option at this time.

The limited availability reinforces the game’s PC-focused strategy, a deliberate choice by Endnight Games.

What is the future of Sons of the Forest on consoles?

Official statements from Endnight Games

  • Endnight has not announced any console version (Co-Optimus).
  • The developer has not ruled out future ports but also hasn’t committed to any timeline.

Community speculation

  • Given that the original The Forest eventually reached PS4, many players hope history repeats (Co-Optimus).
  • ActivePlayer reports that a console port “might be considered” once early access ends (ActivePlayer).

Potential for future ports

  • The game left early access in 2024, so the window for a port announcement could be opening.
  • No cross-play exists, but that could change if a console version arrives.
What to watch

Console players should keep an eye on Endnight’s social channels and Steam updates. A surprise announcement is possible but not guaranteed.

The lack of official updates suggests console ports are not a priority for Endnight Games, but the precedent of the original game offers a sliver of hope.

Upsides

  • Rich survival sandbox with deep crafting and building.
  • Eight-player co-op is rare in survival horror.
  • Regular updates add content post-launch.

Downsides

  • PC-only leaves out massive console audience.
  • No official cross-play or cross-save.
  • Co-op can dilute the horror atmosphere.

What’s clear, what’s not

Confirmed facts
  • Sons of the Forest is released on PC via Steam (Co-Optimus).
  • Co-op supports up to 8 players (Co-Optimus).
  • It is the sequel to The Forest (Wikipedia).
What’s unclear
  • Whether a PS5 version will ever be released.
  • Whether an Xbox port is in development.
  • Whether a PS4 version is possible given hardware limits.

Voices from the community

“The game is currently limited to early access on PC (Steam). No console release has been confirmed.”

Nitrado (server hosting guide)

“You can host a lobby from the multiplayer menu and invite friends via Steam. Up to eight players can join.”

YouTube co-op guide

“A console port might be considered once early access ends.”

ActivePlayer (player guide)

For PC owners, Sons of the Forest delivers a polished survival horror co-op experience at a fair price. Console players face a waiting game with no guarantee of a port. The decision is clear: buy a capable PC or keep hoping for an announcement that may never come.

Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com

For players wondering about console releases, a detailed breakdown of Sons of the Forest console availability confirms the game remains PC-only for now.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Sons of the Forest free?

No. The game costs $29.99 on Steam (Steam store page).

Does Sons of the Forest have a single-player mode?

Yes. You can play the entire game solo (Co-Optimus).

What are the system requirements?

Minimum: Windows 10, i5-8400, 8GB RAM, GTX 1060. Recommended: i7-8700K, 16GB RAM, GTX 1080 (Steam store page).

Can you play Sons of the Forest on Mac?

No. The game is only available for Windows on Steam.

Is Sons of the Forest multiplayer?

Yes. It supports online co-op for up to 8 players (Co-Optimus).

How long is Sons of the Forest?

A typical playthrough takes 20–30 hours, depending on exploration and building (Wikipedia).

Does Sons of the Forest have a storyline?

Yes. The game has a narrative campaign with missions and lore (Wikipedia).

Who is the developer of Sons of the Forest?

Endnight Games, based in Canada (Wikipedia).

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