Axiom Verge 2 - What We Know So Far

If you've never played Axiom Verge, then you missed out on an incredibly awesome game that was made entirely by one person. To make a hit game with a small team is impressive enough on its own, but when it's one individual? You might assume an accomplishment of that caliber would be satisfying enough for such a developer. Considering how much work was likely involved, it would seem doubtful that said developer would dare attempt an undertaking of that kind a second time.

For those who have played the game before and are Axiom Verge fans, the good news is that the original game's sole developer, Tom Happ, is at it again. In 2019, he revealed that he was following up his breakout indie Metroidvania with Axiom Verge 2. 

Since he works alone, it's safe to assume that patience will be a virtue when it comes to waiting for the sequel. However, that doesn't mean you won't be curious to know when you can get your hands on this highly anticipated follow-up. This is what you need to know about Axiom Verge 2.

A casual jaunt over to the Axiom Verge 2 website offers something of a vague promise. The sequel is slated for a 2021 release for the Nintendo Switch and the Epic Games Store.

When a tentative launch lacks a specific date, it can leave room for delays. Since it's one person working on the project, delays could be inevitable. In fact, the game has already been delayed once before.

In the Axiom Verge 2 announcement trailer, gamers were teased with a "fall 2020" launch date. By the time fall 2020 arrived, Tom Happ realized he boxed himself into a corner by making such a promise, so he shared on his blog that he had to push its release to 2021. He went on to say "the closest I'll go to making another prediction is that it will be out in the first half of 2021." 

While Happ was hopeful that he could wrap it up sooner rather than later, he opted to leave the date vague so as to not disappoint fans. Later in the post, he dove into how the pandemic affected his development schedule, making this yet another video game delayed by the Coronavirus.

The Axiom Verge 2 announcement trailer begins with that signature Switch click that makes Nintendo fans everywhere jump for joy. From there, it opens on a light blue pixelated static, followed by an ominous message: "You are not in control. You are not yourself. You belong to us now." You are then immediately taken to a snowy mountaintop location, where your pixelated hero manifests from a swirling collection of particles. 

The trailer then says, "Once more into the breach," leading to a display of the white-haired protagonist's abilities. You see basic moves like ledge-grabbing, melee attacks, and ranged weapons, and then some more advanced actions like wall-climbing, tossing a small robot, and becoming a bomb to decimate a wall. The main character battles two impressive mechanical beasts — one flying opponent equipped with a turret and various other projectiles, and another worm-like robot creature. It's an enticing sneak peek into the game's basic presentation, though it's rather brief. 

With that in mind, you may be wondering what more you can expect from Axiom Verge 2.

During the 2021 Future Games Show, Tom Happ presented the first bit of real gameplay footage since Axiom Verge 2 was announced in 2019.

He started off with a recap of the first game, explaining how he originally envisioned an intricate story that would be divided into parts. As such, the sequel follows a new protagonist named Indra, who explores an "ancient, alternate earth."

Happ explained that the sequel will be very different from the first in terms of how it plays, though "fans of the first game will definitely feel right at home." In the interest of remaining spoiler-free, however, he did not go into specifics, but he did assure viewers that there will be plenty of secrets to uncover in the new game.

From the footage, the game looks to have instense combat, intriguing abilities, and a handful of weapons available through assigned buttons. Considering Happ's reluctance to spoil anything major, this may be the most that is revealed until Axiom Verge 2 is available for purchase.