The Ascent 2: Neon Giant confirma planes para la secuela tras 5 años

Neon Giant has confirmed plans for The Ascent 2 after speaking at gamescom 2026. The developer revealed they're working on a sequel to their 2021 hit, which gathered over 12 million players. This comes after five years of the studio focusing on their next project, No Law, but the success of The Ascent made a sequel viable.

The Ascent 2 announcement is significant for Xbox and PC gamers, especially after Microsoft's recent studio restructuring. Neon Giant creative director Arcade Berg stated they always wanted to expand The Ascent into a franchise, but team size and investment constraints prevented it until now. With Krafton as parent company providing backing, the studio has the support to take creative risks.

The original The Ascent received critical praise for its satisfying gunplay, highly detailed neon-soaked environments, and co-op-friendly gameplay. In IGN's review, they highlighted "The Ascent's satisfying gun-tastic action-RPG gameplay loop mixes with its beautiful cyberpunk aesthetic to create an overall enjoyable experience." The game's gunplay and ultra-violence in a neon-soaked world combine to craft a co-op-friendly game you don't see every day.

One of the most exciting aspects of The Ascent 2 is the franchise potential. Berg mentioned they're "moving The Ascent from a game to a franchise," with plans to expand into new genres. Will the sequel stick to the twin-stick action RPG format, go first-person, or explore something entirely different? Fans have been waiting years for this moment, especially after Krafton announced an upcoming The Ascent update due out in November 2026 that will bring "a smoother more dependable experience for solo and co-op players."

The timing is perfect for a sequel. Xbox has undergone major changes recently, with Phil Spencer retiring and Sarah Bond stepping out while Matt Booty and promote-as Microsoft AI exec Asha Sharma named new Xbox boss. The platform is focusing on expanding its game pass library and attracting more third-party titles. The Ascent 2 could be a major exclusive or day-one Game Pass title, which would be huge for the service.

For players who experienced the original's issues — encounter system stumbles toward the end, save-game reliability problems — the sequel promises a "smoother more dependable experience." The November 2026 update will address co-op teleportation, encounter system, save-game reliability and player-progression reliability. The Ascent 2 could launch with these lessons already built in.

What genre do you hope The Ascent 2 explores? Twin-stick action RPG, first-person, or something completely different? Share your hopes in the comments!