AUTOMATON China recently talked to Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember producer Masakazu Hirayama during Koei Tecmo’s ChinaJoy 2026 demo exhibit. Of note, the producer shared some details about what players should expect in terms of combat, and how gameplay will be evolving in the action RPG series’ latest entry.
The DNA of Wo Long is based on Chinese martial arts, therefore prioritizing continuous attacks and a seamless transition of offense and defense (as opposed to Nioh’s contrast of motion and stillness). While the first entry in the series was developed to draw inspiration from Nioh while making things a bit more accessible, the upcoming sequel aims for a “multi-dimensional combat system” that introduces greater verticality than its predecessor.
Therefore, according to Hirayama, Wo Long 2 puts to use the wealth of experience and feedback Team Ninja has accumulated through its other action games, with the focus on three-dimensionality being borrowed from Ninja Gaiden 4 (the development of which partially overlapped with Wo Long 2). Examples of this include new aerial combat mechanics, the ability to run along walls, and environments that significantly focus on verticality (Hirayama promises there won’t be punishing fall damage, though).
Notably, the producer also mentioned that his team is aware of the criticism the original Wo Long received over “being able to parry (Deflect) almost any enemy attack,” which led to gameplay sometimes feeling repetitive. To remedy this, Wo Long 2 introduces a new core mechanic that will stop players from relying only on Deflection, offering a wider range of “proactive” moves.
In terms of level design, Wo Long 2 switches from linear progression to an open-world map, depicting a vast, cohesive battlefield. Changes in one area will influence the tide of battle and alter other parts of the map, which Hirayama says should offset the common pitfalls of monotonous open worlds. Additionally, this change will also lead to an overhaul of Wo Long’s Morale system, though the producer does not share the exact details.
The sequel will include multi-boss battles much like the original Wo Long, however, Hirayama says that significant improvements have been made to the boss AI, and things like off-screen attacks have been addressed to prevent frustrating deaths.
Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember is scheduled to release in early 2027 for PC (Steam), PS5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S. The game will also be available via Xbox Game Pass.
