You may have seen my preview write-up of Closed Beta II for Arknights: Endfield. The event itself was more than just six hours of gameplay. It began with a lunch buffet, followed by a presentation that showcased details about Beta Test II as well as new information about Arknights: Endfield as a whole.
The next portion of the event featured an in-depth discussion with Light Zhong, the producer of Arknights: Endfield, and Ryan, the lead designer. The session was hosted by Fran Mirabella III.
Behind the Vision of Arknights: Endfield
Arknights: Endfield is a sequel to the ongoing mobile game Arknights. The original title will continue to run alongside this new entry, which is set many years into the future on the planet Talos-2.
Before Hypergryph began development on Arknights: Endfield, the team needed to fully align on the project’s concept. It took about a year before everyone agreed on the design and scope, and once that happened, full production began.
One of the main highlights of Beta Test II is the factory building feature. The team at Hypergryph enjoys designing systems based on automation, so creating a mechanic that allows players to automate processes was a natural fit. This inspired the creation of the factory building utility.
Map screens and minimaps have been refined since Beta Test I. Cutscenes have also been updated and expanded, with new ones added to enhance the story. Even returning testers will find new content to experience.
As revealed during the livestream announcing Beta Test II, the factory building mechanic has been expanded further. Nine new playable characters are joining the roster. Three are 6-star units: Ardelia, Last Rite, and Pogranichnik. The 5-star character is Alesh, while the 4-star characters include Akekuri, Catcher, Estella, Flourite, and Antal.
Beta Test II will feature 50 to 60 hours of content, offering plenty to explore and test. If the full game builds on this scope, it might just take over my life the way Genshin Impact did when it first launched.
The world map has also been updated to show more layers, making each area more self-contained and easier to understand. Many of these changes were directly inspired by player feedback from the first beta. The reworked prologue and updated model animations are two major examples.
Transitioning from a 2D to a 3D format presented challenges for the development team. In the original Arknights, editing story text was straightforward, but in 3D, it requires adjusting model animations, syncing lip flaps, and re-recording voice lines. Hypergryph is now using a new multilayer platform model in Unity to streamline cross-platform development, allowing for simultaneous updates and multilingual releases.
The factory building system now includes a blueprint feature to help players better understand and manage automation processes.
During the discussion on character design, Hypergryph revealed that the first character created specifically for Arknights: Endfield was Chen Qianyu. However, Perlica has since become the face of the game. To maintain Chen’s importance, the two are now paired together as key figures who guide the Endministrator throughout the story.
Characters from the original Arknights may also appear in some form within Arknights: Endfield, identified as Reconveners.
When asked about the design philosophy behind the game, the team described it as “high-quality realism mixed with anime,” the same creative principle that guided the original Arknights.
A Surprise Performance by Starset
After the first part of the media event, attendees were treated to an intimate live concert by Starset. The band opened with their song “Brave New World,” which was featured in the Beta Test I trailer. They also performed an unreleased track written specifically for Arknights: Endfield, scheduled to debut closer to the game’s launch next year. I can’t wait to add it to my Spotify playlist once it’s out. The GRYPHLINE team encouraged us to get up and dance, but space was limited, so most of us simply nodded our heads and tapped our feet along to the beat. You can still listen to “Brave New World” by watching the Beta Test I trailer.
What the Hypergryph Team Shared About Arknights: Endfield
The final portion of the event, before we played the game, was a fireside chat with the Hypergryph team. Unlike the earlier Q&A session, this was a more relaxed and conversational segment that still offered several insights.
The discussion began with a key question: who is Arknights: Endfield for? The team explained that it’s designed for both long-time fans and newcomers who are drawn to the world of Arknights but may not enjoy the tower defense gameplay. Arknights: Endfield is an open-world strategy action RPG, serving as an accessible entry point into Talos-2 without requiring prior knowledge of the series. Hypergryph recognizes that some players may love Endfield without having played the original—and that’s completely fine. Likewise, some fans of the mobile game may choose not to play Endfield because of its different gameplay style.
When asked about monetization, the producer assured attendees that all story content can be completed with the free characters. The team believes that a well-made game will stand out regardless of its gacha model. Hypergryph remains comfortable supporting Arknights: Endfield as a live-service title, just as they continue to do with Arknights.
Final Thoughts on the Arknights: Endfield Media Event
This event was an incredible experience. We enjoyed both lunch and dinner, along with six full hours of hands-on gameplay with Arknights: Endfield. While my gameplay impressions are covered in the other preview, this event stood out for its deeper insight into the game’s development. I had the chance to speak with several Hypergryph team members about their work on Arknights: Endfield and the evolution of the project since its first technical test. It’s clear the process has been long and challenging, with constant iteration and community-driven improvements. The team even mentioned that they’re still reviewing player feedback to guide future updates.
I’m genuinely excited to see how Arknights: Endfield continues to grow and can’t wait to jump into Beta Test II when it begins on November 28.
Arknights: Endfield is in active development for PlayStation 5, PC, and mobile devices. Fans can sign up for the second beta test on the official GRYPHLINE website. The game is expected to release in early 2026.
