Over the years, several video game franchises have successfully made the leap from PC or console to mobile.Call of Duty: Mobilehas proven to be so popular that Activision recentlyannounced that a mobile version ofCall of Duty: Warzoneis in the works as well. Fewer companies have managed to make the move in the opposite direction, however. MiHoYo kind of accomplished the feat in 2020 by simultaneously releasingGenshin Impacton console and mobile, and now developer Hypergryph hopes to do the same withArknights: Endfield.
The originalArknights,a free-to-play mobile tower defense game with RPG elements, released on mobile devices in 2020 and was immediately a hit. Even before launching outside of China, Hypergryph announced that there were over one millionpre-registrations for the mobile game.Arknightsproved to be popular due to its addicting gameplay, detailed storyline, impressive graphics, and gacha mechanics that weren’t too obtrusive.
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On March 17, Hypergryph announced thatArknightswould be a franchise, with the next entry calledArknights: Endfield.The new game will be a 3D real-time RPG that retains some of the strategy elements that fans enjoyed in the first game. WhileEndfieldwill possess the same “worldview” asArknights,it will take place on an entirely new planet, introduce a new cast of characters, and feature a unique storyline. The game is currently in the early stages of development forPCand mobile devices, and there is no word of a planned release date yet. There has also been no mention of a possible next-gen console launch.
So far, Hypergryph has shared some concept art, a trailer, and a gameplay demo ofArknights: Endfield,and from the footage so far, the game feels reminiscent of some of the locations inPlatinumGames' groundbreaking action RPGNier: Automata.The gameplay video gives viewers a glimpse of the map interface, which seems to feature the same futuristic aesthetic as the UI ofArknights.Then the video cuts to two characters running through various locations in a desert locale before reaching a vibrant oasis. Manmade items in the demo seem to be long abandoned, giving the area a post-apocalyptic feeling, which matches the theme ofArknights.
Arknights: Endfieldtakes place on a planet called Talos-II, and players set out on a dangerous journey to establish a new home on this inhospitable world. Outside of the colonies, there are vast stretches of uninhabited land that haven’t yet been explored, and players work with a company called Endfield Industries to uncover the secrets of the abandoned planet that clearly once supported human life.
The game will feature new gameplay mechanics, though players will still control a party, have missions to complete, and unlock chapters to progress the story. Unlike theturn-based combatinArknights,battle inEndfieldwill take place in real time, and players will encounter a variety of enemies and factions to defeat.
Arknights: Endfieldis currently in development for Mobile and PC.
