End of Abyss is a single-player, top-down twin-stick sci-fi horror game with Metroidvania progression, made by Section 9 Interactive and published by Epic Games Publishing. It launches on October 1, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Epic Games Store only) for $29.99, and you play as Cel, a young combat technician exploring an abandoned underground compound.
End of Abyss at a glance
End of Abyss is the debut game from Section 9 Interactive, a small studio in Malmö, Sweden. Epic Games Publishing is the publisher, and the game is built in Unreal Engine with the help of an Epic MegaGrant. It is a single-player experience with no announced co-op mode.
| Fact | Confirmed detail |
|---|---|
| Genre | Top-down twin-stick sci-fi horror action-adventure, Metroidvania progression |
| Developer | Section 9 Interactive (Malmö, Sweden) |
| Publisher | Epic Games Publishing |
| Release date | October 1, 2026 (12:00 UTC per the Xbox Store listing) |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Epic Games Store |
| Price | $29.99 (PS Plus members: $26.99 until launch) |
| Rating | ESRB Teen (Blood, Violence) |
| Players | 1 player |
The price is the same on every storefront. On PC the game is sold only through the Epic Games Store, so there is no Steam version. For launch timing by region, see the release date page.
Story setup and the protagonist
You play as Cel, described on the official store pages as a young combat technician. A mission to investigate disturbances of unknown origin in a mysterious underground compound turns into a descent through a broken, abandoned world. Previews add that Cel goes down as part of a team but becomes separated from it.
The store text promises that nothing you meet down there is fully human. The reveal trailer carries a single spoken line from below: "To the one who hears this message, we are waiting for you." Story details beyond that premise have not been revealed before launch.
The developers keep exposition to a minimum and let the environment tell the story. Lore comes from scanning documents and objects rather than long cutscenes. More on the character is on the Cel page.
Core systems explained
Four systems define how End of Abyss plays. Each one has been confirmed by several hands-on previews and by the developers' own behind-the-scenes videos. None of them requires experience points, because the team chose gear upgrades over grinding.
- Scanner: tags doors, weak walls, items and enemies on your map and tells you what a locked door needs. See the Scanner guide.
- Crafting: fragments from bodies and chests are spent at workbenches on ammo, consumables, new equipment and permanent upgrades. See best upgrades.
- Save points: called Save Cubes or Save Pods in previews. Resting refills health and your limited healing, but respawns most enemies.
- Metroidvania gating: keycards, explosives, a grappling hook and other tools open sealed routes as you progress. See Is it a Metroidvania?.
Death is forgiving in one way and harsh in another. You keep items, documents, ammo and unlocked doors when you die, but enemies return and you lose the distance you covered.
Weapons and tools confirmed so far
Only part of the arsenal has been shown in press demos. Game Informer's hands-on suggests there is a wider set of weapons to unlock in the full game. These are the ones confirmed before launch:
| Weapon or tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Pulse pistol | Starting weapon with infinite ammo that drains and recharges; hold fire for a charged shot |
| Shotgun | Limited ammo, heavy close-range damage and knockback |
| Grenades | Tap for a short throw, hold for a long throw |
| Flares | Light dark rooms and draw some enemies away |
| Explosive charge | C4-like device unlocked later; opens weak walls |
| Scanner, grappling hook, flashlight | Exploration tools rather than weapons |
Full details, including which weapons to lean on, are on the weapons page and the early tier list.
Enemies and bosses
The reveal and demos showed canine-like creatures, enemies that split into more enemies, centipede-type creatures and robotic foes. Previewers consistently describe the creature design as grotesque body horror. Enemy variety differs in movement, reach and damage.
Two bosses have been shown in press builds: a centipede-like creature with human limbs, and a hulking ooze creature that picks up a steel beam midway through the fight. Their names and locations in the final game are not known yet. Tactics from the previews are collected in the boss guide.
Store and technical details
The Xbox Store lists single-player play, Xbox achievements and a maximum install size of about 5.98 GB. The PC listing on the Epic Games Store requires Windows 10 at minimum and about 5.29 GB of SSD space. CPU, memory and graphics requirements have not been published yet.
The PS5 version supports DualSense vibration and adaptive trigger effects. Its accessibility options include subtitles, adjustable stick sensitivity, optional vibration and trigger effects, and pausable offline play. Platform specifics are on the PS5 and PC pages.
The Fortnite Cel outfit
Buying End of Abyss on the Epic Games Store, including a pre-purchase, adds the Cel Outfit to your Fortnite locker. It arrives on October 1, 2026 at 8 PM ET. Players who don't buy the game can get the outfit in the Item Shop for 1,500 V-Bucks.
The outfit is tied to your Epic account, so it works wherever you play Fortnite. If you already own it, you receive 1,500 V-Bucks instead, and refunding the game removes it. The full rules are on the pre-order page.
Frequently asked questions
Is End of Abyss multiplayer?
No. The PlayStation Store lists it as a 1-player game and the Xbox Store lists single-player play. No co-op or online multiplayer mode has been announced.
How big is the download?
The Xbox Series X|S version lists a maximum install size of about 5.98 GB, and the Epic Games Store listing gives about 5.29 GB of SSD space on PC. It is a small game by modern standards on every platform.
Who made End of Abyss?
Section 9 Interactive, a Malmö studio co-founded by brothers Mattias and Marcus Ottvall and Gustaf Heinerwall. All three previously worked at Tarsier Studios on Little Nightmares and Reanimal. See the developer page.
Is there a demo?
No public demo has been released. Hands-on sessions were offered only to press at events such as Summer Game Fest.
What is not confirmed yet
Several common questions have no official answer before launch. There is no official playtime, no published ending count and no full boss list. Review scores do not exist yet either, because the game has not released.
- No public demo has been released; hands-on play has been press-only.
- No Switch 2 version and no Steam version have been announced.
- No physical PS5 edition has been confirmed.
- PC hardware requirements beyond Windows 10 and storage are still listed as TBC.
This wiki only publishes details that can be traced to an official store page, a developer statement or multiple press previews. Pages will be updated with real data once the game is out on October 1, 2026.
This page only uses details from official store pages, developer statements and hands-on press previews. Anything unconfirmed before the October 1, 2026 launch is left out and will be added once verified. Last research pass: September 28, 2026.
Sources
References and further reading for this article.