Kenshi 2: Everything We Know

The upcoming prequel to Lo-Fi Games' cult squad RPG — set ~1,000 years before the original and rebuilt on Unreal Engine 5. Every confirmed fact, sourced and updated.

Kenshi 2 at a glance

Developer: Lo-Fi Games
Type: Prequel (~1,000 years earlier)
Engine: Unreal Engine 5 (was OGRE)
Release date: Unannounced (TBA)
Announced: March 2019
Early Access: Likely none

Kenshi 2 release date

There is no confirmed Kenshi 2 release date. Lo-Fi Games announced the sequel in March 2019 and it has been in development since, but the studio has deliberately avoided committing to a date. Unlike the first game — which used Steam Early Access from 2013 to fund development — Lo-Fi has indicated Kenshi 2 likely won't need Early Access, since Kenshi has sold 3M+ copies, so a full 1.0 launch is the expected path.

Mar 2019Kenshi 2 announced
Lo-Fi Games reveals a prequel set ~1,000 years earlier.
EngineOGRE → Unreal Engine 5
Rebuilt on a modern engine for a bigger, better-performing world.
By 2026Kenshi 1 passes 3M+ sales
Removes the funding pressure that drove the original's Early Access.
TBA1.0 full launch
No date announced — a full release, likely with no Early Access.

What's new in Kenshi 2

A new engine. The original Kenshi ran on the open-source OGRE engine, which limited its scale, lighting and performance. Kenshi 2 has been rebuilt on Unreal Engine 5 — the single biggest technical change, aimed at a larger, denser and better-performing world while keeping the freeform, no-hand-holding design intact.

An earlier era of the same world. As a prequel set ~1,000 years before Kenshi, the setting is the same harsh planet at a higher-tech, pre-collapse point in its timeline — the groundwork for the ruins, factions and tech artifacts scavengers dig up in the first game. Lo-Fi has said it wants the sequel's discoveries to feel even less predictable than the original's, so veterans can't rely on memorised maps and routes.

Kenshi 2 vs Kenshi 1

	Kenshi	Kenshi 2
Timeline	The present-day wasteland	~1,000 years earlier (prequel)
Engine	OGRE	Unreal Engine 5
Released	Dec 6, 2018 (1.0)	Unannounced
Early Access	Yes (2013–2018)	Likely none
Developer	Lo-Fi Games	Lo-Fi Games

Should you play Kenshi now or wait for Kenshi 2?

VerdictPlay the first Kenshi now — don't wait

Kenshi 1 is finished, endlessly replayable, and there's no Kenshi 2 date to wait for. Because the sequel is a prequel with its own standalone story, nothing you play now will be spoiled or made redundant.

Start your first run with

Interactive map Research planner Best base spots Faction guide Race breakdown

Kenshi 2 FAQ

Does Kenshi 2 have a release date?

No. As of July 2026 Lo-Fi Games has not announced a release date or window for Kenshi 2 — it remains "to be announced" and is still in active development. The studio has said it will post official updates on its own site and Steam rather than committing to a date early.

Is Kenshi 2 a prequel or a sequel?

Kenshi 2 is a prequel. It is set roughly 1,000 years before the original Kenshi, in the same post-apocalyptic world but an earlier, higher-tech era of its history — so it explains how the wasteland of the first game came to be, rather than continuing the story forward.

What engine is Kenshi 2 using?

Unreal Engine 5. The original Kenshi ran on the ageing OGRE engine, which capped its scale and performance; Lo-Fi Games rebuilt Kenshi 2 on Unreal Engine, a major change aimed at a larger, better-performing world.

Will Kenshi 2 launch in Early Access?

Probably not. Lo-Fi Games has indicated Kenshi 2 likely will not need a Steam Early Access campaign the way the first game did — Kenshi's success (3+ million copies sold) means the studio no longer depends on Early Access funding to finish the game.

Should I buy Kenshi now or wait for Kenshi 2?

Play the first Kenshi now. It is complete, sits in most players' top-rated open-world RPGs, and there is no Kenshi 2 release date to wait for. Kenshi 2 is a prequel with its own separate story, so nothing in the first game will be "spoiled" or wasted — the two stand alone.

Will Kenshi 2 have mods?

Mod support has not been officially detailed. Modding is central to the first Kenshi's longevity (thousands of Steam Workshop mods and the free FCS editor), so a modding scene is widely expected, but nothing about Kenshi 2's mod tools has been formally confirmed. We'll update this page when Lo-Fi announces details.