Rivals of Aether 2 has been officially announced with a release date planned for 2024.
A trailer for the sequel made its debut on April 1st, sporting a switch from 2D to 3D visuals. Initially, fans may have been scratching their heads, suspecting an April Fool’s prank though it soon became clear that Rivals of Aether 2 is real and definitely happening.
The original game is a platform fighter on PC, Xbox One, and Switch that’s widely considered the best alternative to Nintendo’s own Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Rivals of Aether is one of several games now set within this universe alongside card battler, Creatures of Aether, and roguelike RPG, Dungeons of Aether.
Rivals of Aether 2 – everything we know
In a lengthy FAQ, Aether Studios outlines its vision for the new game. Here’s a quick summary of what’s been confirmed so far:
- Rivals of Aether 2 is targeting a 2024 release.
- There will be complete switch from 2D visuals to 3D.
- Competitive play will still be the number one focus. There will be heavy support for the game’s esports community. As the developer says, “if Rivals 2 is not a mainstage game at Evo 2025, then we will have failed you all.”
- No platforms announced though the team wants to release it on as many systems as possible.
- There’s no confirmation on price, or whether it will be free to play. The team are still exploring potential business models.
- No plans for mod support yet. If it happens, this will be post-launch.
- There will be a much bigger focus on the single player portion of the game. Will include “single player designs that would offer new experiences for the fighting game genre as a whole”.
- Shields will add a new layer to defensive gameplay. Grabs are also being added. Oh, and there are ledges too. All of these design changes will make Rivals of Aether 2 feel more familiar to fans of the genre, while also making it more approachable to new players.
- That said, “hitfalling” and the Rivals parry system are making a return.
- The sequel will offer its own unique take on familiar systems, such as the pummel grab system and certain moves such as the getup special and ledge special.
Source: Rivals of Aether 2
