Lords of the Fallen II is currently in development by CI Games. In the studio’s latest developer video, a series titled “Lifting the Veil,” CI Games showcased new gameplay with a focus on the evolution of horror in the game.
Currently in active development and available to Wishlist, Lords of the Fallen II is the next entry in the soulslike action-RPG series set in a human realm besieged by eons of malevolent gods, visceral magic, and unflinching defenders. The longling? “1,000 years after the fall of the demon god, Adyr, a lone kingdom stands against the forces of the dead realm known as Umbral and its eldritch master.”
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In our review of Lords of the Fallen, we said, “Lords of the Fallen (2023) is a massive improvement over its namesake prequel, and it provides many highs, but there are definitely some lows as well. For the masochist action RPG fan, though, there’s plenty to love, and it’s all going to hurt.”
What did we learn about Lords of the Fallen II?
Here’s what we learned from the video:
This episode of “Lifting the Veil” dove into exactly how the developers have reimagined the Umbral realm and how that is helping to define the world of Lords of the Fallen II. The video features CI Games CCO & Creative Strategist, Ryan Hill, Game Director, James Lowe, Lead Systems Designer, Daniel Regan, and Producer, Alex Harkin.
“If Umbral was once the realm of the dead, it has since become the realm of the undead; its former scab-like crust has been ripped away, revealing the raw flesh beneath — an open wound that seethes with newfound hunger,” said Chief Creative Officer/Creative Strategist Ryan Hill in a release to press.
The most important element of the video, however, is that the team discusses their approach to evolving the original game’s dual-realm mechanic into “Umbral 2.0.” Inspired by player feedback from the first game, Umbral promises to be a much more aggressive and oppressive force this time around, playing a much larger role in shaping the player’s journey.
If you’re unfamiliar, the dual-realm mechanic in Lords of the Fallen (2023) is its calling card. In the game, two unique, yet increasingly merged realities, define the world that players can traverse with the assistance of the Umbral Lamp.
The “normal” dark fantasy realm of Axiom serves as reality, and the horror of the Umbral realm, a visually grotesque, visceral mirror world, is merging more and more. Players are able to traverse the Umbral realm to help overcome obstacles and discover new areas, but at the cost of increasingly deadly and unexpected threats that force players to adapt or perish in a unique soulslike mechanic.
Watch the latest episode of ‘Lifting the Veil’ on YouTube
What to expect from Lords of the Fallen II?
Lords of the Fallen II will drop players into a reimagined otherworld with radically different environments, key storytelling moments, and a new tendency to bleed into the mortal realm, which means that Umbral has never felt more alive and oppressive. With the Umbral world’s greater importance, players will get a wider variety of biomes, which the developers have stated is intended to encourage players to explore the world.
Horror is key to Lords of the Fallen II and its Umbral realm. Instead of using a linear timer that increases the threat level of Umbral, the world is more influenced by player activity. The goal is to create a more organic, hostile sense of danger, and putting the player’s hands in is key to that.
Additionally, from what we have seen through the released Alpha footage, the enemies are getting even more horrific as CI Games doubles down on horror with the expansion of the Umbral realm. But with all the new enemies, as the Lampbearer, players get the chance to defeat them with even more bloody flair. Players will be able to rend enemies limb from limb with a brand-new dismemberment feature that adds more brutality.
What is the release date?
Lords of the Fallen II does not currently have a release date. However, it is currently available to wishlist and has a release window set for sometime in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via the Epic Games Store).
