Publisher 11 bit studios and developer Digital Sun have announced that Moonlighter 2 will be coming to Early Access before it gets a full release, and the two studios have also revealed the release date for that launch.
As announced during today's Gamescom Opening Night Live ceremony, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault will be hitting Early Access on PC on October 23rd. Evidently, this means the console releases will come later.
The two studios say that crafting Moonlighter 2 into its "final form" will take time, and that while the game is "nearly complete", there are still "a few parts" of the experience that "need polishing".
Although Moonlighter 2 is launching into Early Access, it doesn't sound like you're getting a significantly cut-back version of the game; 11 bit and Digital Sun promise "most of the story" will be available at launch.
You'll be able to explore three biomes, gather and sell over 120 relics and items, and explore a combat system with four main weapons, "nearly 100 shop and dungeon perks", and a smoother feel.
If you're wondering exactly what Moonlighter 2 is, it's the sequel to 2018's shop management sim-slash-roguelite dungeon crawler Moonlighter. Announced back in December, the game switches its predecessor's pixel art look for a 3D visual style.
Other than that change, though, it sounds as though Moonlighter 2 will largely be business as usual if you've played the first game; 11 bit and Digital Sun say you can expect "a quest demanding plenty of dodge rolling, fighting, looting, and clever shopkeeping".
You'll be able to check out Moonlighter 2 when it launches on PC via Steam Early Access (as well as on PC Game Pass) on October 23rd. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions are also planned, so while you wait, why not check out our very own Andrew Stretch's preview of the game here?
