CI Games Promises Lords of the Fallen 2 Will Be Their “Empire Strikes Back” Moment, Darker Than the 2023 Reboot

CI Games is aiming high with Lords of the Fallen 2. In a new interview with MP1st, the studio’s creative portfolio strategist, David Valjalo, compared the upcoming sequel to legendary follow-ups in entertainment history, calling it the studio’s Empire Strikes Back or, for a newer generation, its Dark Knight moment.

“The sequel is looking spectacular. I have the privilege of seeing all the juicy behind-the-scenes bits and pieces—art, animation, combat—and each day there’s something that just stops me in my tracks,” Valjalo said. “It’s bloody, bold, brave… it’s a true sequel. It improves on the previous game but carries its spirit forward. It’s also a darker game, tonally, with a really unique setting and even higher stakes than the last game. It’s our Empire Strikes Back. Or for Gen Z, I suppose it’s their Dark Knight.”

Raising Expectations After a Troubled Launch

Those are strong promises, especially given CI Games’ recent history. The 2023 Lords of the Fallen reboot launched with serious technical and gameplay issues, which led many to label it “one of the most frustrating Soulslikes ever released.” The studio spent nearly two years rebuilding the title into its “2.0” update, significantly improving stability, performance, and balance before it began to win over fans.

In what was seen as both a goodwill gesture and a tacit acknowledgment of its earlier missteps, CI Games also permanently lowered the price of Lords of the Fallen and every game in its catalog. The studio framed this as part of its ongoing “player first” commitment, though it was hard not to read it as a way of regaining trust after a rocky release.

A Darker, Riskier Sequel

If Valjalo’s words are anything to go by, Lords of the Fallen 2 will double down on atmosphere and storytelling while raising the stakes both narratively and mechanically. CI Games seems determined to transform the franchise into something more ambitious and cinematic, positioning the sequel as a benchmark title in the Soulslike genre.

With higher stakes, a darker tone, and promises of innovation, the question remains whether CI Games can deliver a follow-up worthy of the bold comparisons. If successful, Lords of the Fallen 2 could not only redeem the franchise but also elevate CI Games into the upper tier of action-RPG developers.

 
Do you think Lords of the Fallen 2 can live up to comparisons with The Empire Strikes Back and The Dark Knight, or is CI Games overpromising?