Arknights: Endfield

Presentation

Arknights: Endfield is a real-time 3D strategy RPG developed by Hypergryph, through its Mountain Contour team, and published internationally by GRYPHLINE. Set in the Arknights franchise's universe, it moves away from the original game's tower defense battles in favor of an adventure combining exploration, team-based combat and industrial management.

The story takes place on Talos-II, a planet colonized several generations ago, where human communities occupy territories still surrounded by dangerous regions. Players assume the role of the Endministrator, a central figure at Endfield Industries responsible for coordinating operations and supporting the development of new infrastructure. Returning after a long period of stasis, the Endministrator becomes involved in an adventure combining conflicts, mysterious phenomena and the discovery of their own past.

Exploration is one of the game's main features. The regions of Talos-II offer distinct environments, from the industrial facilities of Valley IV to the landscapes of Wuling. Players travel through these territories to complete missions, discover resources, solve puzzles and confront various threats, particularly the Blight and Ankhors. The world is organized into large explorable regions rather than a single, fully connected open world.

Combat takes place in real time, with a party of up to four Operators. Players directly control one fighter while their companions participate in battles. They can switch between characters and coordinate their attacks, combat skills, combo abilities and ultimate abilities. Party composition relies on complementary roles and the interactions between different techniques.

The combat system distinguishes between physical damage and Elemental Arts, including Heat, Electric, Cryo and Nature. Applying certain effects in succession can trigger reactions, weaken enemies or enhance subsequent attacks. Managing skill resources and triggering combos therefore adds a tactical dimension to encounters.

One of Arknights: Endfield's defining features is its Automated Industry Complex (AIC). This system allows players to construct production facilities and organize their operations using machines, conveyor belts and supply networks. Resources gathered from the environment can be used to automatically manufacture materials, equipment, batteries and items useful for exploration and combat.

Industrial construction is more than a secondary activity. Players develop production chains, establish connections between facilities and help supply different regions. Automated manufacturing and trade contribute to the development of local infrastructure, creating a direct connection between exploration, territorial development and progression.

Each Operator has their own weapons, abilities and attributes. Character development involves upgrading levels, skills and equipment. The game also follows a free-to-play model with randomized recruitment, allowing players to obtain new characters and certain weapons through a gacha system. This acquisition method complements resources and rewards earned throughout the adventure.

Designed as a live-service game, Arknights: Endfield receives updates that extend its story and expand its regions, Operator roster and activities. This ongoing development combines new narrative missions with improvements to combat, construction and industrial management systems.

Key points

• A real-time 3D strategy RPG set in the Arknights universe.
• An adventure on Talos-II, a planet combining science fiction, exploration and industrial development.
• The Endministrator, responsible for Endfield Industries' operations.
• A world organized into large explorable regions, featuring missions, resources and puzzles.
• Parties of up to four Operators with complementary abilities.
• Real-time combat based on skills, combos and ultimate abilities.
• A system of physical damage and Elemental Arts enabling different reactions.
• The Automated Industry Complex (AIC), dedicated to construction and automation.
• Production chains combining resource extraction, processing and transportation.
• Regional development connected to infrastructure and trade.
• Progression based on Operators, weapons, skills and equipment.
• A free-to-play model featuring a character recruitment system.
• Regular updates introducing new stories, regions and activities.

Conclusion

Arknights: Endfield brings the Arknights franchise's universe into an adventure combining science-fiction exploration, real-time tactical combat and industrial construction.

Building parties of Operators and using elemental interactions shape combat encounters, while the Automated Industry Complex connects resource gathering, equipment manufacturing and territorial development. These mechanics directly link production activities to progression across Talos-II.

Its free-to-play model and evolving structure support the addition of new chapters, characters and regions. The overall experience combines narrative adventure, combat strategy and industrial automation, distinguishing Endfield from its predecessor's tower defense gameplay.

Good to know

Arknights: Endfield is developed by Hypergryph, notably through its Mountain Contour team, and published internationally by GRYPHLINE.

The game was released worldwide on January 22, 2026, for PlayStation 5, PC, Android and iOS. On PC, it was notably available through the official launcher and the Epic Games Store.

A Steam version launched on October 15, 2026, alongside the Sanctuary of Ink update. It allows players to retain their progression from an existing account.

Arknights: Endfield belongs to the same fictional universe as Arknights, originally released in China in 2019. Unlike the first game, which is based on tower defense, Endfield focuses on directly controllable characters, three-dimensional exploration and industrial facility management.

The adventure takes place on Talos-II, a planet where human communities have established several inhabited regions amid vast territories that remain unstable. Valley IV and Wuling are among the main explorable environments.

The OMV Dijiang is a spacecraft positioned in geostationary orbit above Talos-II. It serves as Endfield Industries' headquarters and houses systems associated with the Originium Protocol and the Automated Industry Complex.

Combat parties contain up to four Operators. Combat skills, combo skills and ultimate abilities allow players to coordinate their actions, while physical and elemental effects influence the reactions triggered against enemies.

The AIC enables the automated manufacturing of various products through interconnected facilities. Production chains can be organized to meet industrial needs and support the development of explored regions.

Operator recruitment notably relies on permanent and limited-time banners, with acquisition probabilities and guarantee mechanisms. The game also features weapon-focused draws, in-game purchases and reward passes.

Arknights: Endfield is primarily a connected single-player experience, in which players lead their party and develop industrial facilities. An Internet connection and a game account are required to access the adventure.

Cross-progression allows players to access their account data across compatible platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5 and mobile devices.

The game receives regular updates. The Sanctuary of Ink version, released on October 15, 2026, continues the main story and introduces a new area in Wuling, additional Operators and new activities.

This evolution also brings improvements to industrial features, party management and equipment customization.