Amplitude Studios and publisher Hooded Horse have announced that Endless Legend 2 will officially launch its 1.0 version on September 17th. The early access period for the oceanic, asymmetric faction war strategy game will conclude with this release, which will also introduce a sixth major faction and several smaller "Rogue Factions."
The new major faction, the Sandshapers, are described as an ancient empire that seeks to terraform the game's currently water-dominated world back into its desert state. This faction joins the existing major powers, bringing a unique objective and gameplay approach to the 4X strategy title.
Rogue Factions will appear as splinter groups from established major factions, each featuring their own distinct quests and strategic roles. The announcement specifically highlights two such groups: the Order of Zelevas, a "conquest-focused" offshoot of the Kin of Sheredyn, and the Severed Claw, a variant of the Necrophage that can only replenish lost units by enslaving defeated enemies. Hooded Horse has indicated that these are the first two planned Rogue Factions, suggesting more could be added post-launch.
Version 1.0 will also include the Mangrove of Harmony, a new minor faction. Developed with input from Endless Legend 2 players, this faction provides bonuses to Dust and Food, alongside defense. Their units are characterized as slow-growing but exceptionally durable, with a unique unit concept for a "walking fortress" called the Colossus of Harmony.
Alongside the 1.0 launch announcement, Amplitude Studios has also released an updated demo for Endless Legend 2 on Steam. This demo, which had been absent from the platform for some time, includes the Kin of Sheredyn and the Last Lords as playable factions, allowing players to experience a portion of the game before its full release.