Magical 4X game Endless Legend 2 is delayed, but there's a way to play it early

Firaxis is still hard at work on fixing Civilization 7 after a rocky launch. Paradox is taking a summer break after the busy launch of Stellaris Biogenesis. My most-anticipated 4X game right now, though, is Endless Legend 2. Over a decade after the original launched, Amplitude Studios is preparing to deliver a sequel that looks every bit as creative and distinctive as its predecessor. But there's some bad news; the Endless Legend 2 release date is delayed, although we'll still get the chance to try it soon thanks to a new demo.

Endless Legend 2 transports the action across to a new world, the ocean-strewn land of Saiadha, where dramatic tide shifts and gradually receding waters will transform the map as you play. Its early-access launch is set to feature five factions; a smaller count than you'll find in many of our best 4X games, for sure, but there's good reason. Much like the first game, each playable group handles entirely differently from the others, meaning that your experience will vary dramatically more than swapping from Egypt to America in Civ 6, for example.

While it was originally set to arrive on August 7, Amplitude and publisher Hooded Horse have made the decision to push this back. The team has been running tests through its 'Insiders Program,' and now says it wants to act on this to ensure the launch "is as strong as it can be." It cites its main areas of focus as extra consideration towards onboarding, improved polish and momentum in the early game, map generation and balance changes, and some quality-of-life upgrades.

"The feedback we've received through the Insiders Program has been incredibly valuable, and we want to make the most of it," Amplitude CEO Romain de Waubert de Genlis explains. "Taking this extra time means we can keep refining the game and make sure we're delivering the best possible experience to players on September 22."

While I'm a little sad, I'll always take a delay that allows the developer to deliver their game in a form they're truly happy with. The good news is that there will still be a way to play Endless Legend 2 very soon. Amplitude confirms that it plans to release a demo version in "early August," meaning you can have a taste of what's to come at around the same time as the originally planned launch.

Endless Legend 2 will now launch into Steam Early Access on Monday September 22. The demo is scheduled to arrive in early August; you can wishlist the game on Steam to stay up to date with when it arrives.

For more wondrous worlds that'll take your breath away, we've rounded up the best fantasy games on PC, along with the best strategy games in 2025 to ensure your tactical brain has plenty to ponder.

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