Mortal Shell 2 has launched a surprise open beta on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S after attracting more than 500,000 downloads on Steam. The test gives console players an early chance to try the game’s soulslike combat and progression systems ahead of its release, reflecting strong interest in the sequel.

The console beta matches the existing Steam version and includes the first three hours of the full game. Players who later buy the game may skip its prologue if their platform retains the beta data, while those who play for more than 30 minutes unlock the Flayed Harbinger cosmetic for launch. Mortal Shell 2 is due to release worldwide on 20 August for Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.