Mortal Shell II set for August 20 release on PC, PS5, Xbox

The action-RPG sequel Mortal Shell II will launch on August 20, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, developer Cold Symmetry and publisher Playstack have announced. Preorders are now available across all platforms.

The release follows a successful open beta period that began in early June, which was downloaded by more than 500,000 players and garnered millions of views across streaming platforms. The game is a standalone sequel to the 2020 Soulslike title Mortal Shell, described by its creators as featuring faster, more unforgiving combat, deeper weapon customization, and a compact open world designed for free exploration.

A significant gameplay change in the sequel is the complete removal of the stamina bar, allowing the player character to attack and dodge without meter restrictions. Developers state this increases the pace of combat, though enemies are more aggressive and precise timing for parries and finishing moves remains critical. The game will feature eight distinct playable Shells, each with unique abilities and combat styles, a progression system tied to discovering lost memories, and over 60 dungeons to explore.

Players can choose from several editions....