Fans of The Ascent can rejoice: developer studio Neon Giant has confirmed in an interview with IGN on the sidelines of gamescom 2026 that the cyberpunk hit is indeed getting a sequel. The statement came from Neon Giant co-founders and co-creative directors Tor Frick and Arcade Berg – and it leaves no room for interpretation.
What Did Neon Giant Say About The Ascent 2?
In the interview, Arcade Berg was specifically asked if a second installment was planned. His answer: “It’s something we always wanted to do. We’re moving The Ascent from a game to a franchise. And we’ll be dropping more news as we figure things out, because it’s a longer-term plan.” The Ascent is to be expanded from a single game into a full-fledged brand. However, the studio explicitly did not mention a release window or even a date – Neon Giant itself speaks of a “longer-term plan.”
Why is the Studio Working on No Law First Instead of Directly on The Ascent 2?
Before The Ascent 2 arrives, Neon Giant has another project on its plate: No Law, a more grounded cyberpunk game that focuses entirely on a single city – unlike The Ascent's space-faring setting. Frick and Berg explained that they both originally come from the first-person shooter genre, and The Ascent, as a twin-stick action-RPG, was “uncharted territory” for them at the time. With No Law, the team is now deliberately returning to its roots before dedicating itself again to the Ascent universe.
How Successful Was the First The Ascent Game Anyway?
The fact that Neon Giant is even considering a franchise is no coincidence: The Ascent launched in 2021 as one of the most striking highlights on Xbox Game Pass and has since surpassed the 12 million player mark, according to the studio – an enormous success for a debut work from a team that consisted of just twelve people at the time. These very numbers are likely the reason why publisher Krafton, which acquired Neon Giant in 2022, is giving the green light for the brand's expansion.
For fans, this specifically means patience is key. Those hoping for quick news on The Ascent 2 will, according to the studio, have to wait a while longer, as No Law is being developed concurrently. However, it's clear: The Ascent universe is far from fully told, and further announcements are likely to follow once Neon Giant itself has more clarity on the plans.
Source: IGN
What do you wish for from The Ascent 2? Let us know in the comments – we'll keep an eye on the story for you and report as soon as Neon Giant reveals more.
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