Trending
Developer and publisher CI Games are continuing to show and talk more about their upcoming action RPG Lords of the Fallen II, which got its ninth Lifting the Veil episode, running for 37 minutes and is entirely focused on Umbral 2.0, the redesigned version of the dual-realm mechanic that defined the first game.
The short version: Umbral is no longer a passive threat that ramps up on a timer. It is now reactive to player behaviour, creating a more organic sense of danger rather than a predictable countdown. The realm also bleeds into the mortal world more aggressively than before, making it a constant presence rather than something players can dip into and retreat from cleanly. I have to say that I'm not particularly happy about this second part since Umbral in the first game was frankly terrifying and quite stressful.
"If Umbral was once the realm of the dead, it has since become the realm of the undead," Hill said in the video. "Its former scab-like crust has been ripped away, revealing the raw flesh beneath, an open wound that seethes with newfound hunger."
Beyond the tone, the changes are structural. Umbral now features a wider variety of biomes, giving it more distinct identity across the game world, which is great since the constant "everything is dead" style in the first game was a bit tiring after a while.
Also, new enemy types can morph into deadlier forms mid-encounter. And key story moments are now woven directly into Umbral, giving players more reason to engage with it rather than run away from it.
The episode includes new alpha gameplay footage, so it is worth watching in full if you are following the game. Lords of the Fallen II is targeting a 2026 release on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
