Lords of the Fallen II Delayed to Q1 2027 as CI Games Avoids the GTA 6 Holiday Rush
CI Games has officially delayed Lords of the Fallen II from its planned Fall 2026 release window to Q1 2027, giving developer Hexworks additional time to refine the dark fantasy action RPG while moving the game away from one of the most competitive holiday periods in recent gaming history. The revised window was confirmed by CI Games chief executive officer Marek Tyminski through an official statement published on his personal X account. Tyminski explained that the decision followed continued evaluation from the Gameplay Feedback Team, an internal group composed of experienced Soulslike players working within the company’s Launch Creative Team.
Lords of the Fallen II Development Update.
— Marek Tyminski (@tyminski_marek) June 23, 2026
Lords of the Fallen II is now set for a Q1 2027 release window.
As development progresses, we have worked closely with the Gameplay Feedback Team, a dedicated group of seasoned Souls-like veterans within our Launch Creative Team. Their… pic.twitter.com/aBZruTQ72X
According to Tyminski, the group’s feedback identified several areas where the gameplay experience could be further strengthened. The studio now plans to use the additional development time for integration, iteration, and polish before the sequel reaches players.
"Their valuable ongoing input, combined with the team’s vision, has identified meaningful opportunities to further refine and strengthen the overall experience."
— Marek Tyminski
Although development quality was presented as the primary reason for the delay, CI Games also openly acknowledged the commercial value of leaving the crowded 2026 holiday schedule. Tyminski said the new window would place Lords of the Fallen II outside a period filled with major releases, allowing the game to receive more focused attention from players and the wider gaming media.
"This updated release window also strategically positions Lords of the Fallen II outside of a highly competitive holiday period."
— Marek Tyminski
That holiday competition includes Grand Theft Auto VI, which remains scheduled for November 19, 2026. Rockstar’s next open world blockbuster is expected to dominate player attention, marketing activity, hardware sales, streaming platforms, and social media discussion throughout the final weeks of the year.
For CI Games, moving Lords of the Fallen II into early 2027 reduces that risk while providing Hexworks with a longer production runway. A Soulslike action RPG depends heavily on combat responsiveness, enemy balance, boss design, level flow, technical stability, and consistent performance. Additional development time could therefore have a meaningful impact on the final experience, especially after the original 2023 release faced criticism related to performance and balance. The studio has already demonstrated that community feedback is influencing the sequel, CI Games reworked the Umbral realm following player feedback, while also confirming full shared progression cooperative play, the new katana weapon class, and the Japanese inspired Yisugen region.
CI Games has also changed the commercial structure surrounding the sequel. The publisher previously ended its agreement with Epic Games, allowing Lords of the Fallen II to move beyond its original Epic Games Store exclusive position. As explored in our previous Lords of the Fallen II publishing report, the title is now positioned for a broader PC launch through both Steam and the Epic Games Store.
The sequel is currently planned for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2. No specific release date has been announced beyond Q1 2027, which places the potential launch between January and March.
Moving into early 2027 does not guarantee an uncontested window. Major publishers are already building release schedules for the new year, and several games delayed from 2026 could eventually target the same period. However, CI Games now has greater flexibility to select a date based on development readiness rather than forcing the game into a difficult holiday battle.
Tyminski said the development team remains energized by the response to recent gameplay reveals and is focused on delivering a strong successor to the franchise. CI Games plans to share more updates during the coming months as development continues.
Delaying Lords of the Fallen II is a commercially sensible decision and potentially the right creative move. Competing directly with GTA 6 during the 2026 holiday season would create a major visibility problem, even for an established Soulslike franchise with a dedicated audience.
The additional development time may also prove more valuable than maintaining the original release window. The first Lords of the Fallen developed by Hexworks had strong ideas, memorable art direction, and an ambitious dual realm system, but its launch demonstrated how technical issues can overshadow creative strengths.
CI Games now has an opportunity to avoid repeating that situation. The move to broader PC storefront availability, increased community involvement, and additional polishing time gives Lords of the Fallen II a cleaner path toward launch. The challenge will be using those extra months effectively and ensuring the final product feels meaningfully improved rather than simply delayed.
Was delaying Lords of the Fallen II to Q1 2027 the right decision, or would you have preferred CI Games to release it before GTA 6?
