Lords of the Fallen 2 Drops Epic Exclusivity, Confirms Steam Launch and Fall 2026 Window at Summer Game Fest

CI Games CEO Marek Tyminski confirmed the outcome directly, stating that the company had "regained full open distribution rights for the PC version of Lords of the Fallen" . The exact financial or strategic reasons for the separation have not been disclosed by either party .

Importantly, the separation agreement is limited to the publishing and exclusivity arrangement. CI Games and Epic Games continue to collaborate on Unreal Engine 5 licensing and other technology partnerships .

Summer Game Fest 2026: Trailer, platforms, and release window

During the main Summer Game Fest 2026 showcase on June 5, 2026, CI Games debuted a new gameplay trailer titled "The Battle for Thorngar" . The trailer showcased new environments, enemy designs, and a distinctly darker fantasy atmosphere compared to earlier marketing materials .

The most significant announcement was the official platform lineup. Lords of the Fallen II will launch day-and-date on:

• Steam (newly confirmed)
• Epic Games Store
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X|S

There is no exclusivity period on any platform . The game is targeting a fall 2026 release window, though no specific date was announced .

This represents a narrowing of the previously vague "2026" target. Earlier in the year, several retail and database listings—including GRYOnline.pl—had pegged an unofficial August 2026 date . CEO Marek Tyminski publicly cautioned against treating that August window as confirmed, urging fans to wait for an official announcement . The Summer Game Fest reveal replaced that unconfirmed leak with the broader but official fall window.

The "Battle for Thorngar" trailer and new content reveals

The Summer Game Fest trailer gave players the most detailed look yet at the sequel's world. Beyond the Thorngar setting, the footage revealed a new region called Ysiguen, described as a vast biome inspired by Asian mythology, featuring towering pagodas corrupted by demonic forces .

The trailer also confirmed the introduction of a new katana weapon class, a highly requested addition from the community . A new boss, the lightning-infused dragon Lingao the Souring Storm, was prominently featured .

First announcement and sequel timeline

Lords of the Fallen II was first revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live in August 2025 with a CGI cinematic trailer . The announcement confirmed the game as a direct sequel to Hexworks' 2023 soulslike reboot of Lords of the Fallen, which launched on October 13, 2023, for PS5, Windows, and Xbox Series X|S .

The sequel is set 100 years after the events of the 2023 game, with the Umbral ending of the first game confirmed as canon . It is built entirely on Unreal Engine 5 .

Publishing and distribution structure

With the Epic publishing deal dissolved, CI Games has taken full control of the game's commercial rollout:

• Digital publishing: CI Games is self-publishing the title digitally across all platforms .
• Physical distribution: PLAION (formerly Koch Media) has been appointed as the global physical distribution partner. The partnership was formally announced on March 6, 2026, and covers worldwide retail sales, logistics, and trade marketing for the physical edition on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC .

This arrangement extends the previous collaboration between CI Games and PLAION on the 2023 Lords of the Fallen . The physical distribution agreement was signed on February 25, 2026, with PLAION serving as the exclusive distributor across all physical retail channels .

What's still unconfirmed

Despite the wave of new information, several key details remain unknown:

• No exact release date: Only "fall 2026" is confirmed. Earlier speculation of August 2026 has been explicitly disclaimed by CI Games leadership .
• No pricing or editions announced: CI Games has not yet detailed standard, deluxe, or collector's editions.
• No reason given for the Epic separation: Neither company has explained the strategic rationale behind terminating the lifetime exclusivity deal .
• No word on other PC storefronts: While Steam and Epic Games Store are confirmed, availability on stores like GOG has not been addressed.

For players who had been following the game since its Gamescom 2025 reveal, the Summer Game Fest 2026 appearance largely closed the biggest open question. The Epic exclusivity era for Lords of the Fallen II is over before it ever began, and the sequel is now positioned for the widest possible launch across PC and consoles later this year.