If you’ve been stalking the Hypergryph social media pages for the last four years, the wait is basically over. We’ve moved past the "soon" and "TBA" phase. Honestly, the timeline from that first cryptic 2022 teaser to now has been a total roller coaster for the Arknights community.
The official Arknights: Endfield release date is locked in for January 22, 2026.
This isn't just a "maybe" window anymore. Gryphline confirmed the date globally during The Game Awards 2025, and they’ve been hammering it home with new trailers ever since. If you’re in North America, you actually get a bit of a head start due to time zone magic. Because the servers go live simultaneously worldwide, players in Los Angeles or New York will see the game unlock on the evening of January 21.
What Time Does the Frontier Open?
It’s one thing to know the day, but another to know exactly when to have your caffeine ready. While the exact "hour" can shift slightly depending on how the servers handle 35 million people trying to log in at once, the current schedule points to a global rollout.
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Here is how the timing shakes out for most of us:
- Los Angeles (PST): 5:00 PM, Jan 21
- New York (EST): 8:00 PM, Jan 21
- London (GMT): 1:00 AM, Jan 22
- Beijing/Hong Kong (SGT): 9:00 AM, Jan 22
- Tokyo (JST): 10:00 AM, Jan 22
You’ve probably seen the pre-registration numbers climbing. They just blew past 35 million sign-ups. That’s a massive amount of hype for a spin-off. To celebrate, everyone gets the five-star operator Snowshine and a stack of "Basic Headhunting Permits" (the gacha tickets) just for showing up at launch.
The Platforms: Where Can You Play?
Hypergryph isn't gatekeeping this one. It’s a simultaneous multi-platform launch. You can play on PC, PlayStation 5, iOS, and Android.
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There was some early chatter about a possible delay for the console version, but the devs cleared that up recently. The PS5 version is coming out day-and-date with the mobile and PC versions. Interestingly, the PS5 version has some exclusive bells and whistles like haptic feedback for the DualSense and 3D audio support, which should make those industrial factory sounds pretty immersive.
If you’re a PC player, keep in mind it’s launching on the Epic Games Store alongside their own standalone launcher. No word on a Steam release yet, which is kinda typical for these big gacha launches lately.
Why the Hype is Different This Time
A lot of people are calling this "Genshin meets Factorio," and honestly, that’s not a bad way to describe it. Unlike the original Arknights, which is a hardcore 2D tower defense game, Endfield is a full 3D action RPG.
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You aren't just tapping tiles. You’re running around the planet Talos-II in real-time. The "AIC" system is the real star here—it’s a massive base-building and automation mechanic. You have to lay down power lines, set up automated factories, and link resources across the map to progress. It adds a layer of "management" that most open-world RPGs just don't touch.
Last Minute Prep and Pre-loading
Don't wait until the 22nd to start your download. Based on the technical tests, the file size is going to be significant—likely around 40GB+ on PC and a hefty chunk on mobile.
Gryphline usually opens pre-loads 48 hours before launch. You’ll want to have the client ready by January 20 so you aren't stuck watching a progress bar while everyone else is already recruiting their first squad.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want the best start on Talos-II, do these three things right now:
- Check your Pre-registration: Head to the official Endfield website and make sure your email is linked. This guarantees you get Snowshine and the 10x pull permit in your mailbox on day one.
- Clean up your Storage: If you’re on mobile, you’re going to need at least 15-20GB of free space. PS5 and PC players should clear out at least 50GB to be safe for future updates.
- Watch the Wulfgard Trailer: The latest combat overview for the operator Wulfgard just dropped. It gives the best look at how the real-time skill chains actually work compared to the older beta footage.
The "Endministrator" is about to wake up. See you on the frontier.