Players looking to experience the challenging world of Mortal Shell 2 can now jump into a surprise beta available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. This testing phase offers a glimpse into the game's deconstructed soulslike mechanics, with the full release just over two weeks away.
The beta allows players to explore the first three hours of the game. Any progress made in the beta can be carried over to the full release, enabling players to skip the prologue section if they have purchased the main game. This console beta mirrors the version that has been available on Steam, which has seen significant traction with over 500,000 downloads.
Players who engage with the console beta for more than 30 minutes will also receive an exclusive cosmetic reward, the Flayed Harbinger, which can be redeemed in the full game upon its launch.
Mortal Shell 2 is set to release worldwide on August 20th for Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game's predecessor garnered attention for its unique approach to the soulslike genre, and early previews suggest Mortal Shell 2 continues this trend. Early impressions highlight its weighty combat system, where deliberate animations reward precise timing and punish overextension. The familiar risk-and-reward loop of dropping level-up currency upon death and needing to retrieve it in a subsequent life is present, alongside a mechanic serving a similar function to the bonfires found in FromSoftware's titles. Beneath these surface-level similarities, the game appears to be shaping into a distinct and engaging experience.