Mortal Shell 2 console beta out on PS5 and Xbox

The sequel to the acclaimed soulslike action RPG, Mortal Shell 2, will launch worldwide on August 20, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Developer Cold Symmetry and publisher Playstack announced the release date alongside a surprise console beta test that became available on July 31, 2026, allowing players to sample the game's opening hours.

The console beta, which mirrors a version that previously launched on Steam and garnered over 500,000 downloads, offers access to the game's prologue and first major region, amounting to roughly three hours of gameplay. Players who complete the Marrow Keep tutorial section can skip it in the full release, and those who participate for more than 30 minutes will unlock an exclusive cosmetic reward, the Flayed Harbinger skin. However, currency, weapons, collectibles, and other items found during the beta will be reset at launch to preserve game balance.

Mortal Shell 2 is a standalone dark fantasy adventure where players take on the role of the Harbinger, tasked with recovering stolen eggs known as the Ova of the Undermether. The game retains the series' signature Shell system, allowing players to inhabit the remains of...