THQ Nordic’s showcase came with a bevy of new announcements for some of its biggest franchises. While the publisher doesn’t necessarily have the triple-a polish of massive companies like EA and Activision, it still has a healthy roster of games. For those that were fans of ELEX, the developer finally provided another look at ELEX 2, which was confirmed a few months back.
ELEX 2 comes from the developers of the Gothic and Risen games, giving it a degree of RPG pedigree. While the first game didn’t have an astonishingly high critical reception, sequels do tend to outdo their predecessors, and ELEX 2 is painting itself as a more ambitious project than the original game, which should give fans some hope for what the new game will offer.
This new trailer gives a look at ELEX 2’s story, painting a picture of a narrative similar to the Mass Effect games. The protagonist of the last game, Jax, was unable to stop a mysterious enemy, which is now coming to threaten the planet. Jax sets out to convince factions to unite and face the threat, while at the same time searching for his son, Dex. It’s not a one-to-one comparison, though there are some clear similarities between the two. In many ways, it’s also reminiscent of Outriders.
What made the first ELEX game interesting, and is being mirrored with ELEX 2, is the way it couples fantasy and sci-fi elements, as evidenced by the cosmic threat narrative and the fantasy stylings of some the characters in-game. While that wasn’t necessarily enough to carry it last time, developer Pirahna Bites might have better luck with the sequel.
ELEX 2 is one of the few cross-gen releases that THQ Nordic announced at its showcase today, too, and therefore will be open to the widest audience. Most of the other games are in development for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, fully emphasizing next-gen capabilities. ELEX 2 is one of the biggest games that the publisher has on its menu, though, so it makes sense that it wants broader appeal.
There were surprises for pretty much everyone during the show, and ELEX 2 is just one of them. With other games like Destroy All Humans! 2 - Reprobed in the works, fans of THQ Nordic likely found something that will appeal to them. With any luck, there’ll be more than just one thing worth playing.
ELEX 2 is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
