If you thought the Umbral realm couldn’t get any more terrifying, Hexworks just proved you wrong. At The Game Awards 2025, CI Games finally dropped the first proper gameplay trailer for Lords of the Fallen 2, and it was a sensory overload of dark fantasy violence. Set to a haunting cover of “It’s a Sin” by the rock band Ghost, the trailer didn’t just show us the world; it showed us exactly how we’re going to tear it apart.
Following its initial reveal at Gamescom, this new look confirms that the sequel is doubling down on everything that made the reboot a hit, while fixing the pacing issues that plagued the original. We are talking faster combat, seamless co-op, and some of the most grotesque boss designs we have seen in years.
New Bosses and Brutal Dismemberment
The highlight of the trailer was undoubtedly the gallery of horrors waiting for us in 2026. Hexworks showed off three distinct major bosses that look like nightmare fuel brought to life in Unreal Engine 5:
- The Heartroot Warden: A hulking, metal-encased juggernaut wielding a massive chain-wrapped greatsword.
- Koydreth: A winged monstrosity that strikes from within a rune-etched mirror, playing with reflections and reality.
- Lingao the Souring Storm: A colossal dragon that seems to control wind and lightning, hinting at much larger arenas than the previous game.
But it’s not just about what you fight, it’s how you fight them. The trailer emphasized a new dynamic dismemberment system. You can now “rend enemies limb from limb,” adding a visceral layer to the combat that feels more Ninja Gaiden than Dark Souls. The executions look faster and more fluid, suggesting a shift away from the floaty combat of the predecessor.
Two Worlds, One Seamless Experience
The dual-world mechanic—swapping between the living realm of Axiom and the dead world of Umbral—is back, but it looks far more integrated this time. The developers have promised a “more commercial” art style, which seems to translate to clearer visual readability without losing the grimdark atmosphere. The transition between worlds appeared instantaneous in the footage, likely taking full advantage of the current-gen SSDs.
For co-op fans, the “shared progression” feature is a game-changer. Unlike other Soulslikes where being a summon feels like a temporary gig, Lords of the Fallen 2 allows you and a friend to play the entire campaign together with progress counting for both. No more replaying levels just to catch your buddy up.
Release Date and Platforms
Lords of the Fallen 2 is officially targeting a 2026 release. It will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Notably, the PC version is confirmed as an Epic Games Store exclusive, which might ruffle some feathers among the Steam crowd.
Conclusion
Hexworks has clearly listened to the feedback from the first game. The combat looks tighter, the bosses look bigger, and the heavy metal aesthetic fits the series perfectly. If the actual game feels as good as this trailer looks, 2026 is going to be a great year for masochistic gamers.
FAQs
When is Lords of the Fallen 2 coming out?
The game is scheduled for a 2026 release.
Is it coming to Steam?
Currently, the PC version is announced as an Epic Games Store exclusive. A Steam release has not been confirmed.
Does it support co-op?
Yes, it features full shared-progression co-op, meaning both players keep their loot and story progress.
What engine is it running on?
The game is being built on Unreal Engine 5.
Is it a direct sequel?
Yes, but the developers have stated it features a standalone story that is accessible to new players, set in a vast new kingdom.