In an interview with Wccftech, Bandai Namco provided new details about the upcoming CODE VEIN II. Six years after the first installment, the Souls-like franchise returns to the forefront with a slightly revamped formula, coming January 30 to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Speaking of this revamped formula, several elements may already have surprised some of you.
First of all, CODE VEIN II is presented as the sequel (numbered) to the first installment, but it doesn’t take place in the same world, so it’s not really a direct continuation of the story. Simply put, the second installment retains the basics of the series: demanding action, focused on exploration and co-op play, while introducing time travel. However, allowing players to change the past and then intervene again in the world of the first game risked distorting the characters and stories already experienced. To preserve the narrative integrity of the series, the team chose to tell a new story in a separate universe, even though it is a sequel.
What’s more, the combat system has also been redesigned. In the first game, it was possible to play without a partner. In this one, a new assimilation mechanic has been introduced: players will be able to choose between the traditional summoning system and this new option, which will incorporate new cooperative elements. In addition, Keita Iizuka, the game’s producer, adds that CODE VEIN II includes multiple story branches that will reflect the choices players make throughout their adventure.
We would also like to remind you that a 9-minute trailer was released yesterday on Bandai Namco’s YouTube channel, and that a demo of the character editor will be available on January 23, 2026.
