Mortal Shell II Begins Advanced Access as August 20 Release Approaches

Mortal Shell II, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2020 Soulslike action RPG, has launched its advanced access period for owners of the Devout Edition, with the standard release scheduled for August 20, 2026. Developed by Cold Symmetry and published by Playstack, the game is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

The advanced access, which began on August 17, coincides with the release of the game's launch trailer. Early player engagement on Steam has been strong, with the title nearly reaching a peak of 20,000 concurrent players. This figure significantly surpasses the original game's peak of 1,931 players, though it is noted that the first title launched exclusively on the Epic Games Store before coming to Steam. As of its launch, Mortal Shell II holds a "Very Positive" rating on Steam based on approximately 120 user reviews, with about 80 percent of players recommending the title.

The sequel expands upon the original with a larger, interconnected open world to explore. Players take on the role of the Harbinger, a formless being who inhabits various "Shells," which are husks of fallen heroes that determine available skills and abilities. The core combat has...