Code Vein II First Look at Summer Game Fest 2025

During Summer Game Fest 2025, I got to sit in on a gameplay presentation of Bandai Namco’s upcoming action RPG Code Vein II, a follow-up to their 2019 hit Code Vein! From the looks of it, the developers have truly expanded on the first game, building on its co-op gameplay systems, character customization, weapon types, and more to create an elevated experience.

The developers began the session with an overview of Code Vein II’s post-apocalyptic narrative and lore. In this world of humans and Revenants, Revenants have held the collapse of the world at bay. However, the rise of the Luna Rapacis in the present has caused the Revenants to turn into Horrors, threatening the order and accelerating the collapse of the world. The protagonist and his Revenant companion Lou MagMell embark on a journey between the present and 100 years in the past to save the world from ruin, meeting with key Revenants to alter the course of history. Despite being a Revenant Hunter, the protagonist dies during a mission, meeting Lou when she revives him by giving him half of her heart.

The gameplay we viewed showed the protagonist and Lou’s meeting with a powerful Revenant in the past named Valentin Voda, heir to the Voda House. Valentin is researching formae to assist what remains of humanity and seeks help from the protagonist.

Gameplay-wise, the divide between the past and the present manifests in how advanced the world’s destruction is. In the past, the Resurgence has only just begun, so its impact on the environment is minimal; in the present, the world’s destruction has progressed significantly. The team noted that the player’s actions in the past will impact the present in unique ways, activating new quests and unlocking new dungeons throughout their journey.

We then saw early snippets of Code Vein II’s combat and various gameplay mechanics. Lou operates as a partner in combat, with the developers informing us that other Revenants will join the protagonist in battle throughout the story. Combat looked fast-paced and visceral, featuring brutal Jail finishers possible when successfully staggering an enemy. (Jails are devices that store a Revenant’s heart in their back, enhancing strength and defense.) We saw combat with a single-handed sword and a two-handed sword, and players will be able to choose from seven weapon types with different corresponding combos and attacks — two of these weapons being brand new to Code Vein II.

Blood Codes serve as Code Vein II’s class system, as the protagonist’s equipped Blood Code determines his base stats and more. This system will allow for highly customizable builds to reflect the player’s desired play style. The team also introduced the formae system, explaining that there are three types of formaes in the game: Combat, Defensive, and Bequeathed Formae.

The presenters showed us two examples of Bequeathed Formae. One took the form of a special bow that allowed for ranged combat, while another took the form of a motorcycle that the player could smoothly ride for quicker traversal. This seemed like a neat and stylish way of exploring the world, and the developers promised more interesting uses of Bequeathed Formae to come.

Finally, we got a look at Code Vein II’s character customization screen, and it indeed looked expansive! Plenty of outfits, color palettes, and facial and body details were available to pamper the protagonist as the player sees fit. In addition, over twenty voice lines will be available to personalize the player’s experience.

The developers noted that, beyond just being a sequel, this latest title would amount to a complete reimagining of Code Vein itself. With the glimpses I got to see, it truly seems to be amounting to an engaging experience. Code Vein II is currently scheduled for a 2026 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with wishlist links for all platforms on the game’s official website. Thank you to the team at Bandai Namco for the chance to preview this game!