If you’re looking for a big game to sink time into at the start of 2026, Arknights: Endfield is about to make a strong case for your attention. The free-to-play RPG arrives on January 22, and notably, it doesn’t require a PlayStation Plus subscription.
Anyone with a PS5 can try it without paying upfront, which lowers the barrier considerably for a game that’s already being described as a long-term commitment.
On console, Endfield will be PS5-only at first. But it’ll also soon be available playable on PC and mobile, with cross-save support planned across platforms. In theory, that means you can move between devices without losing progress. In practice, how seamless that feels will matter a lot, especially for a game built around long sessions and layered systems.
Emmanuel Umahi
What Arknights: Endfield Actually Is
Endfield lives in the same universe as Arknights, the 2019 mobile tower-defense game, but it’s doing something very different. This is not a spin-off in the lightweight sense. It’s a full-scale RPG built around exploration, real-time combat, squad management, and base development.
Players control teams of up to four operators, mixing abilities, elemental effects, and synergies in combat. Outside of fights, the game asks you to explore the frontier world of Talos-II while building and maintaining industrial systems that support progression. Hypergryph, the developer, says, “Exploration and development go hand in hand here. Automated production lines and industrial facilities rise alongside your growing foothold on the planet.”
That ambition is part of the appeal, and also the risk. Games that try to combine open-world exploration, tactical combat, and base management often struggle with balance. When it works, it’s deeply engaging. When it doesn’t, it can feel bloated or exhausting.
How Big Is the Game Really?
During a beta test in December, players reported spending 50 to 60 hours without seeing everything the game had to offer. Some estimated that a full playthrough, with deeper exploration and systems mastery, could stretch well past 100 hours.
That scale explains why the free-to-play model matters here. Endfield isn’t asking for a short trial of your time. It’s asking for a long-term relationship. Whether that feels rewarding or overwhelming will depend on pacing, progression, and how much friction exists between its many systems.
What the PS5 Version Adds (and What It Doesn’t)
On PlayStation 5, Endfield makes full use of the console’s hardware features. DualSense haptics, adaptive triggers, controller speaker support, and 3D Audio are all present. The Activities feature also allows players to jump directly into certain moments or objectives without navigating menus.
These additions can improve immersion, especially in combat and environmental moments. But they’re enhancements, not foundations. No amount of haptics will compensate if combat feels repetitive or progression stalls. The PS5 features should be seen as polish on top of the experience.
The Bigger Question Going In
Arknights: Endfield is ambitious, generous in how it lets players start, and clearly designed to hold attention for a long time. At the same time, it’s juggling a lot: real-time combat, squad tactics, world exploration, and base systems, all within a free-to-play structure.
That combination makes it interesting, but also unproven at scale. The smartest way to approach it is with curiosity rather than hype. Try it, see how the systems feel together, and decide whether the time investment makes sense for you.
If it clicks, it could easily become one of the most absorbing games to start 2026 with. If it doesn’t, at least getting in the door won’t cost you anything but time.
Emmanuel Umahi
