Chinese game developer Hypergryph revealed the first live gameplay demo of its upcoming title Arknights: Endfield at Apple’s annual product launch event last week. The game, a new installment in the Arknights franchise, will be released worldwide in early 2026 on PlayStation 5, PC, iOS and Android.
Why it matters: First released in 2019, the Arknights mobile game has become one of China’s most popular titles, known for its tower-defense gameplay and anime-inspired art style. Apple’s choice to display a Chinese-developed title during its iPhone 17 launch underlines the rising influence of China’s game industry on the global stage.
Details: Based on the live gameplay demo at Apple’s launch event, Arknights: Endfield features a 3D real-time strategy RPG style. Built with the Unity engine, it is expected to deliver high-quality character models and dynamic lighting effects.
- Pre-registration for Arknights: Endfield has opened worldwide, with more than three million sign-ups on the website, according to the company. The game will be available for hands-on demos at the Tokyo Game Show from Sept. 25 to 28, its first large-scale public test ahead of launch.
- The gameplay scene design blends futuristic technology with post-apocalyptic elements, such as roaring Originium engines in the wilderness, integrated industrial systems powered by automated production lines, and desolate zones stretching endlessly to the horizon—all painting a world ravaged by catastrophes and constant crises.
- The combat system is built around four-member squad cooperation, where players must respond in real time to bizarre enemy forms and strategically position their units to secure resources and explore new territories.
Context: Last month, Hypergryph’s Gamescom 2025 PV revealed that players will step into the role of the “Administrator,” tasked with leading the Endfield industrial zone to rebuild civilization in the wilderness. The narrative framework extends the original title’s core theme of survival against all odds.
- According to estimates from SensorTower, Arknights generated a global revenue of around RMB 2.6 billion ($355 million) in 2024.
- According to data from ActivePlayer.io, Arknights currently has an estimated 715,400 monthly active users (MAU) across platforms including iOS and Android.
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