{"id":1762188,"date":"2026-02-12T23:16:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T20:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1762188"},"modified":"2026-02-12T23:16:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T20:16:15","slug":"crystal-dynamics-just-announced-the-first-new-legacy-of-kain-game-in-23-years-and-another-slick-looking-soul-reaver-remaster-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1762188","title":{"rendered":"Crystal Dynamics just announced the first new Legacy of Kain game in 23 years (and another slick-looking Soul Reaver remaster, too)"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article \" data-ads=\"true\" data-article-type=\"news\" data-article-group=\"news\" data-paywalled=\"false\" data-premium=\"false\" data-sponsored=\"false\" data-type=\"article\">\n<header class=\"article_header\" data-component=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<nav class=\"nav_breadcrumbs\" data-component=\"nav-breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n<ul class=\"nav-links\">\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Home<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/news\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      News<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/legacy-kain-defiance\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Legacy of Kain: Defiance<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_details\" id=\"main-content\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">Crystal Dynamics just announced the first new Legacy of Kain game in 23 years (and another slick-looking Soul Reaver remaster, too)<\/h1>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Kain, and able.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_asset\">\n<figure class=\"headline_image_wrapper\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"headline_image\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/lok-header.jpg?width=570&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;dpr=3&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Two sets of key art: one for Legacy of Kain Defiance Remastered, and the other for Ascendance.\" loading=\"eager\" data-uri=\"lok-header.jpg\" data-lightbox width=\"570\" height=\"321\"><figcaption>\n          <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Eurogamer\/Crystal Dynamics<\/cite><\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dom Peppiatt avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/pxl_20220402_110941365.portrait_V04meYj.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1044\" height=\"1130\"><\/p>\n<p>  <img alt=\"Dom Peppiatt avatar\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"pxl_20220402_110941365.portrait_V04meYj.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1044\" height=\"1130\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n                  <span class=\"article_type\" data-slug=\"news\"><br \/>\n                    News<br \/>\n                  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"by\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/authors\/dom-peppiatt\">Dom Peppiatt<\/a><\/span>                    <span class=\"job_title\"><br \/>\n                      Deputy Editorial Director<br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"published_at\">\nPublished on <time datetime=\"2026-02-12T23:16:15+00:00\">Feb. 12, 2026<\/time>              <\/div>\n<div class=\"comments\">\n      <a class=\"comments__link comments-bubble\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/legacy-of-kain-ascendance-defiance-remastered-release-dates-march?view=comments\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n          2 comments<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mypop-header-wrapper\">\n<p><button class=\"mypop-button button wide\" data-state=\"follow\" data-type=\"tag\" data-uuid=\"b1afbde4-5ecc-4135-a7ed-fd6cf1ce0738\" data-name=\"Legacy of Kain: Defiance\" data-follow-text=\"Follow Legacy of Kain: Defiance\" data-unfollow-text=\"Following Legacy of Kain: Defiance\" data-aria-follow-text=\"Follow Legacy of Kain: Defiance\" data-aria-unfollow-text=\"Following Legacy of Kain: Defiance\" data-popup=\"true\" data-force-login=\"true\" aria-label=\"Follow Legacy of Kain: Defiance\" title=\"Follow Legacy of Kain: Defiance\"><br \/>\n  Follow Legacy of Kain: Defiance<br \/>\n<\/button>          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/legacy-kain-soul-reaver\">Legacy of Kain<\/a> franchise might be one of the most beloved cult franchises in gaming (for Millennial goths with an English degree, like myself, at least). The dark fantasy action-adventure series kicked off with Blood Omen back in 1996, and followed that up with Soul Reaver in 1999, before a three-year run of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/r-soulreaver2-ps2\">Soul Reaver 2<\/a>, Blood Omen 2, and Legacy of Kain: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/defiance\">Defiance<\/a> rounded off the series for a <em>very <\/em>long time in 2003. Fast-forward 21 years, and we saw the release of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/legacy-of-kain-soul-reaver-1-and-2-remastered\">Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 &amp; 2 Remastered<\/a> in 2024 &#8211; reigniting dormant fans everywhere and bringing the esteemed series back into the spotlight.<\/p>\n<p>Today, during PlayStation&#8217;s State of Play presentation (and then in a news blast shortly after), Crystal Dynamics announced that we&#8217;re getting two more releases in the LoK series &#8211; and very soon.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Key art of LoK Defiance, featuring ensemble characters, a red background, and squid tentacles\" height=\"2160\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Defiance_KeyArt_16x9.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"3840\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Key art of LoK Defiance, featuring ensemble characters, a red background, and squid tentacles\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-lightbox data-uri=\"Defiance_KeyArt_16x9.png\" height=\"2160\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"3840\"><figcaption>Something less human and more&#8230; divine. | <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Crystal Dynamics<\/cite><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>First up is Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, which will debut on 3rd March, 2026. It launches for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/platforms\/switch-2\">Nintendo Switch 2<\/a>, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, is developed by Crystal Dynamics and PlayEveryWare, and you get bonus skins for the two main characters (Kain and Raziel) based on the original &#8216;Shifter&#8217; game concept if you pre-order before launch.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Per a press release: &#8220;Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered modernizes the iconic 2003 action-adventure game with new graphic upgrades, modernized controls, and extensive bonus content.&#8221; Highlights of the remaster include upgrading the game to proper HD, a new camera,  upgraded character models, textures, and environments, and the ability to switch between classic and modern presentation on the fly (as was present in Soul Reaver 1 + 2 Reamastered).<\/p>\n<p>You can opt for the original fixed camera, or a new third-person camera built for modern platforms. There is also a slew of additions including a photo mode, alternate character skins, a comprehensive lore reader, unreleased content and &#8216;lost levels&#8217; from the original game. Again, anyone who tried out Soul Reaver 1 + 2 Remastered will know what to expect here.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"image_wrapper\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/01-Kain-Feeds-Retake.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"bounds_lossy\" data-uri=\"01-Kain-Feeds-Retake.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"loading spinner large\"><\/span><\/p>\n<nav class=\"pagination--hoverable\">\n<div class=\"previous\">\n<button class=\"button pagination-button\"><br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Previous\" class=\"icon\" role=\"img\" style='--icon-mask-image: url(\"\/static\/solid\/angle-left.svg\")'><\/span><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"next\">\n<button class=\"button pagination-button\"><br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Next\" class=\"icon\" role=\"img\" style='--icon-mask-image: url(\"\/static\/solid\/angle-right.svg\")'><\/span><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"details_overlay\">\n<div class=\"counter\">\n<span class=\"current\">1<\/span> <span class=\"of\">of<\/span> <span class=\"max\">5<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"details\">\n<div class=\"button-wrapper\">\n<button aria-label=\"Toggle information\" class=\"toggle button outline\"><\/button><br \/>\n<button aria-label=\"Close fullscreen gallery\" class=\"close button\"><\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"thumbnails-wrapper overflow-shadow-x\">\n<div class=\"thumbnails\">\n<button class=\"thumbnail active\" data-uri=\"01-Kain-Feeds-Retake.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/01-Kain-Feeds-Retake.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"01-Kain-Feeds-Retake.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"02-Kain-x-Raz-Battle.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/02-Kain-x-Raz-Battle.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"02-Kain-x-Raz-Battle.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"03-Pilliars_v2.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/03-Pilliars_v2.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"03-Pilliars_v2.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"04-Possesed_Janosv2.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/04-Possesed_Janosv2.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"04-Possesed_Janosv2.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"05-Raz-%26-Elder-Remake.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/05-Raz-%26-Elder-Remake.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"05-Raz-%26-Elder-Remake.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fullscreen_info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nCaption          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"attribution\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nAttribution          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inline-gallery-caption\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"advert_container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered Announcement Trailer\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WFsK5Juq5n0?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/WFsK5Juq5n0\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered Announcement Trailer<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WFsK5Juq5n0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>But the other game, now <em>that<\/em>&#8216;<em>s<\/em> something wholly new. Announced just after the show &#8211; but shown to us in a presser beforehand &#8211; Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, is a &#8220;fast-paced 2D action platformer published by Crystal Dynamics and developed by Bit Bot Media in association with FreakZone Games (A Bit Bot Company) that introduces a brand-new gameplay style to the franchise, and features original voice actors reprising their iconic roles&#8221;. That means we&#8217;re getting Simon Templeman as Kain, Michael Bell as Raziel, Anne Gunn as Ariel and Richard Doyle as Moebius.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"2\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The project looks like quite a weird one. Per a presentation I saw with Crystal Dynamics before the State of Play, the folks at Crystal Dynamics are calling Ascendance a &#8216;prequel&#8217;, even though you will be hopping all over the Nosgoth timeline thanks to our old pal, Moebius. It&#8217;s also got various art styles; 3D sections are inspired by the PS1-era appear at key narrative points, (which &#8220;offer story-driven interaction and lore-heavy sequences&#8221;, per the PR), whilst other major plot points are support by anime-inspired sequences. Meanwhile the game itself is a 2D action platformer, I suppose easily related to other modern-retro franchise revivals like Shinobi: Vengeance or Ninja Gaiden Ragebound.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"image_wrapper\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Screen-1-Kain-Face.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"bounds_lossy\" data-uri=\"Screen-1-Kain-Face.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"loading spinner large\"><\/span><\/p>\n<nav class=\"pagination--hoverable\">\n<div class=\"previous\">\n<button class=\"button pagination-button\"><br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Previous\" class=\"icon\" role=\"img\" style='--icon-mask-image: url(\"\/static\/solid\/angle-left.svg\")'><\/span><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"next\">\n<button class=\"button pagination-button\"><br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Next\" class=\"icon\" role=\"img\" style='--icon-mask-image: url(\"\/static\/solid\/angle-right.svg\")'><\/span><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"details_overlay\">\n<div class=\"counter\">\n<span class=\"current\">1<\/span> <span class=\"of\">of<\/span> <span class=\"max\">4<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"details\">\n<div class=\"button-wrapper\">\n<button aria-label=\"Toggle information\" class=\"toggle button outline\"><\/button><br \/>\n<button aria-label=\"Close fullscreen gallery\" class=\"close button\"><\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"thumbnails-wrapper overflow-shadow-x\">\n<div class=\"thumbnails\">\n<button class=\"thumbnail active\" data-uri=\"Screen-1-Kain-Face.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Screen-1-Kain-Face.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Screen-1-Kain-Face.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"Screen-2-Pilliars.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Screen-2-Pilliars.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Screen-2-Pilliars.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"Screen-4-Tomb-Gaurdian.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Screen-4-Tomb-Gaurdian.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Screen-4-Tomb-Gaurdian.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"Screen-5-Vamp-Raz-Fly-Attack.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Screen-5-Vamp-Raz-Fly-Attack.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Screen-5-Vamp-Raz-Fly-Attack.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fullscreen_info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nCaption          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"attribution\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nAttribution          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inline-gallery-caption\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"advert_container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Announcement Trailer\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XkdJoWcLv0E?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/XkdJoWcLv0E\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Announcement Trailer<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XkdJoWcLv0E\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Legacy of Kain: Ascendance arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on 31st March, 2026. The jury is still out for me on this one, but I&#8217;m not going to turn my nose up at anything Legacy of Kain in the year of 2026: I&#8217;m very pleased we&#8217;re getting anything at all, and Crystal Dyanmics assures me &#8220;there&#8217;s more to come&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source\" data-component=\"preferred-source\">\nLove Eurogamer.net? Make us a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\">Preferred Source on Google<\/a> and catch more of our coverage in your feeds.  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/legacy-kain-soul-reaver\">Legacy of Kain<\/a> franchise might be one of the most beloved cult franchises in gaming (for Millennial goths with an English degree, like myself, at least). The dark fantasy action-adventure series kicked off with Blood Omen back in 1996, and followed that up with Soul Reaver in 1999, before a three-year run of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/r-soulreaver2-ps2\">Soul Reaver 2<\/a>, Blood Omen 2, and Legacy of Kain: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/defiance\">Defiance<\/a> rounded off the series for a <em>very <\/em>long time in 2003. Fast-forward 21 years, and we saw the release of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/legacy-of-kain-soul-reaver-1-and-2-remastered\">Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 &amp; 2 Remastered<\/a> in 2024 &#8211; reigniting dormant fans everywhere and bringing the esteemed series back into the spotlight.<\/p>\n<p>Today, during PlayStation&#8217;s State of Play presentation (and then in a news blast shortly after), Crystal Dynamics announced that we&#8217;re getting two more releases in the LoK series &#8211; and very soon.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Key art of LoK Defiance, featuring ensemble characters, a red background, and squid tentacles\" height=\"2160\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Defiance_KeyArt_16x9.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"3840\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Key art of LoK Defiance, featuring ensemble characters, a red background, and squid tentacles\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-lightbox data-uri=\"Defiance_KeyArt_16x9.png\" height=\"2160\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"3840\"><figcaption>Something less human and more&#8230; divine. | <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Crystal Dynamics<\/cite><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>First up is Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, which will debut on 3rd March, 2026. It launches for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/platforms\/switch-2\">Nintendo Switch 2<\/a>, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, is developed by Crystal Dynamics and PlayEveryWare, and you get bonus skins for the two main characters (Kain and Raziel) based on the original &#8216;Shifter&#8217; game concept if you pre-order before launch.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Per a press release: &#8220;Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered modernizes the iconic 2003 action-adventure game with new graphic upgrades, modernized controls, and extensive bonus content.&#8221; Highlights of the remaster include upgrading the game to proper HD, a new camera,  upgraded character models, textures, and environments, and the ability to switch between classic and modern presentation on the fly (as was present in Soul Reaver 1 + 2 Reamastered).<\/p>\n<p>You can opt for the original fixed camera, or a new third-person camera built for modern platforms. There is also a slew of additions including a photo mode, alternate character skins, a comprehensive lore reader, unreleased content and &#8216;lost levels&#8217; from the original game. Again, anyone who tried out Soul Reaver 1 + 2 Remastered will know what to expect here.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"image_wrapper\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/01-Kain-Feeds-Retake.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"bounds_lossy\" data-uri=\"01-Kain-Feeds-Retake.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"loading spinner large\"><\/span><\/p>\n<nav class=\"pagination--hoverable\">\n<div class=\"previous\">\n<button class=\"button pagination-button\"><br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Previous\" class=\"icon\" role=\"img\" style='--icon-mask-image: url(\"\/static\/solid\/angle-left.svg\")'><\/span><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"next\">\n<button class=\"button pagination-button\"><br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Next\" class=\"icon\" role=\"img\" style='--icon-mask-image: url(\"\/static\/solid\/angle-right.svg\")'><\/span><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"details_overlay\">\n<div class=\"counter\">\n<span class=\"current\">1<\/span> <span class=\"of\">of<\/span> <span class=\"max\">5<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"details\">\n<div class=\"button-wrapper\">\n<button aria-label=\"Toggle information\" class=\"toggle button outline\"><\/button><br \/>\n<button aria-label=\"Close fullscreen gallery\" class=\"close button\"><\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"thumbnails-wrapper overflow-shadow-x\">\n<div class=\"thumbnails\">\n<button class=\"thumbnail active\" data-uri=\"01-Kain-Feeds-Retake.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/01-Kain-Feeds-Retake.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"01-Kain-Feeds-Retake.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"02-Kain-x-Raz-Battle.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/02-Kain-x-Raz-Battle.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"02-Kain-x-Raz-Battle.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"03-Pilliars_v2.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/03-Pilliars_v2.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"03-Pilliars_v2.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"04-Possesed_Janosv2.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/04-Possesed_Janosv2.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"04-Possesed_Janosv2.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"05-Raz-%26-Elder-Remake.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/05-Raz-%26-Elder-Remake.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"05-Raz-%26-Elder-Remake.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fullscreen_info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nCaption          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"attribution\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nAttribution          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inline-gallery-caption\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"advert_container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered Announcement Trailer\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WFsK5Juq5n0?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/WFsK5Juq5n0\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered Announcement Trailer<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WFsK5Juq5n0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>But the other game, now <em>that<\/em>&#8216;<em>s<\/em> something wholly new. Announced just after the show &#8211; but shown to us in a presser beforehand &#8211; Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, is a &#8220;fast-paced 2D action platformer published by Crystal Dynamics and developed by Bit Bot Media in association with FreakZone Games (A Bit Bot Company) that introduces a brand-new gameplay style to the franchise, and features original voice actors reprising their iconic roles&#8221;. That means we&#8217;re getting Simon Templeman as Kain, Michael Bell as Raziel, Anne Gunn as Ariel and Richard Doyle as Moebius.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"2\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The project looks like quite a weird one. Per a presentation I saw with Crystal Dynamics before the State of Play, the folks at Crystal Dynamics are calling Ascendance a &#8216;prequel&#8217;, even though you will be hopping all over the Nosgoth timeline thanks to our old pal, Moebius. It&#8217;s also got various art styles; 3D sections are inspired by the PS1-era appear at key narrative points, (which &#8220;offer story-driven interaction and lore-heavy sequences&#8221;, per the PR), whilst other major plot points are support by anime-inspired sequences. Meanwhile the game itself is a 2D action platformer, I suppose easily related to other modern-retro franchise revivals like Shinobi: Vengeance or Ninja Gaiden Ragebound.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"image_wrapper\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Screen-1-Kain-Face.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"bounds_lossy\" data-uri=\"Screen-1-Kain-Face.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"loading spinner large\"><\/span><\/p>\n<nav class=\"pagination--hoverable\">\n<div class=\"previous\">\n<button class=\"button pagination-button\"><br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Previous\" class=\"icon\" role=\"img\" style='--icon-mask-image: url(\"\/static\/solid\/angle-left.svg\")'><\/span><br 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src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Screen-1-Kain-Face.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Screen-1-Kain-Face.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"Screen-2-Pilliars.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Screen-2-Pilliars.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Screen-2-Pilliars.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"Screen-4-Tomb-Gaurdian.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Screen-4-Tomb-Gaurdian.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Screen-4-Tomb-Gaurdian.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"Screen-5-Vamp-Raz-Fly-Attack.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Screen-5-Vamp-Raz-Fly-Attack.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Screen-5-Vamp-Raz-Fly-Attack.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fullscreen_info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nCaption          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"attribution\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nAttribution          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inline-gallery-caption\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"advert_container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Announcement Trailer\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XkdJoWcLv0E?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/XkdJoWcLv0E\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Announcement Trailer<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XkdJoWcLv0E\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Legacy of Kain: Ascendance arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on 31st March, 2026. The jury is still out for me on this one, but I&#8217;m not going to turn my nose up at anything Legacy of Kain in the year of 2026: I&#8217;m very pleased we&#8217;re getting anything at all, and Crystal Dyanmics assures me &#8220;there&#8217;s more to come&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News Legacy of Kain: Defiance Crystal Dynamics just announced the first new Legacy of Kain game in 23 years (and another slick-looking Soul Reaver remaster, too) Kain, and able. Image credit: Eurogamer\/Crystal Dynamics News by Dom Peppiatt Deputy Editorial Director Published on Feb. 12, 2026 2 comments Follow Legacy of Kain: Defiance The Legacy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,253],"class_list":["post-1762188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-eurogamer-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1762188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1762188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1762188\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1762188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1762188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1762188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}