Independent developer CI Games, creators of the upcoming soulslike action-RPG Lords of the Fallen II, today debuted a brand-new episode of their ongoing development series ‘Lifting the Veil,’ detailing a major overhaul to the game’s combat system. Incorporating player feedback from Lords of the Fallen (2023) and the studio’s community-oriented development process, the team – led in conversation by Ryan Hill, Chief Creative Officer – discuss a wealth of upgrades and new abilities, including almost 30 fully distinct weapon movesets (up from 15 in the original game). Each weapon class includes unique maneuvers – including repositioning strikes, infinite combo chains, and area-of-affect assaults – to provide players with significantly greater tactical expression.
CI Games has substantially expanded the depth and diversity of all combat systems – melee, magic and ranged – for the upcoming sequel, with a far greater focus on hybrid builds, all in service of encouraging players to not only experiment in their approach to combat, but delight in doing so.
“We want players to feel like a Swiss Army sword, ready to draw from an arsenal of combat options at any moment,” said Ryan Hill, Chief Creative Officer. “From Quickfire projectiles to mid-combo weapon swapping, players will be spoilt for choice when it comes to ripping their foes limb from limb. And there’s plenty more yet to reveal…”
Accompanying Ryan in the episode is Lead Combat Designer, Mike Vermeulen, alongside two members of the Launch Creative Team (LCT) team: Popular soulslike and RPG content creator, Travis “Pastorgainz” Hughlett, and Chandler Huddleston. Recruited directly from the Souls community – with the caveat of having at least 1000 hours experience in soulslikes – LCT members are fully integrated into the game’s development, working closely with devs on a daily basis to review and refine everything from combat and exploration to narrative and character progression.
Titled ‘Steel & Sorcery’, episode 11 of ‘Lifting the Veil’ is a showcase of the many improvements being made to the game thanks in part to additional development time as it continues towards its Q1 2027 global release. It delivers the most extensive reveal of new gameplay details to date, with all-new footage demonstrating the expanded arsenal of weapons, more expressive and aggressive combat, and sweeping improvements to both magic and ranged playstyles. CI Games has also published a separate montage video of new combat gameplay on YouTube.
