Offering a blend of frantic swordplay, fast-paced free-running, and dystopian sci-fi storytelling, Ghostrunner was a huge hit when it launched last year. It was such a success that the game's publisher, 505 Games acquired the IP last March, claiming it was incredibly impressed with the game's sales. Today, it was announced that production on a sequel has begun, with Ghostrunner 2 confirmed to be on its way.
The game will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, while it's been confirmed that 505 Games has invested €5 million into the sequel's development as an "initial budget." Little about the game's direction has been revealed, although it's clear 505 Games has a lot of interest in expanding the IP into a long-running franchise, revealing in a press release that it feels Ghostrunner is "capable of contributing for a long time to the 505 Games product portfolio."
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505 Games also confirms that developer One More Level will return for the follow-up, renewing its collaboration with the Polish studio. Ghostrunner sold over 600,000 copies since its debut last year, so it's easy to see why 505 Games is so eager to get the ball rolling on a new addition to the series. It'll be interesting to see where the studio takes a sequel, especially with it now having access to next-generation hardware.
For those new to Ghostrunner, the original game was a first-person, sword-based action game set in a cyberpunk world, with players taking on the role of a "Ghostrunner" who must recover his lost memories. Ghostrunner was praised for its compelling gameplay loop, which saw players use the protagonist's agility to take out large groups of enemies while wall-running, dodging bullets, and slicing up opponents. Getting hit would instantly return the player to a nearby checkpoint, encouraging them to repeat sections over and over until they devised a perfect strategy to clear out an area.
Luckily for those who missed out on the original game, Ghostrunner is coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S very soon, with a recent road map for the game teasing that the port is launching sometime this fall. For those who already own a copy of the game on Xbox One or PlayStation 4, upgrading to the enhanced copy will be free. 505 Games and One More Level haven't revealed exactly what will change in the next-generation version just yet, but it's wise to imagine it'll include improved visuals, higher frame rates, and faster loading times. In the meantime, the game is getting a ton of additions through subsequent updates, including new game modes, vanity packs, and more.
Ghostrunner 2 is currently in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.