Rivals of Aether II
{{Short description|2024 video game}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Notability|date=April 2025}}{{Infobox video game
| title = Rivals of Aether II
| image = Rivals of Aether 2 cover art.png
| developer = Aether Studios
| publisher = {{ubl|Aether Studios|Offbrand Games}}
| director =
| programmer =
| artist =
| writer =
| composer =
| series =
| engine = Unreal Engine 5{{Cite web|url=https://80.lv/articles/creating-a-sequel-to-indie-fighting-rivals-of-aether-in-unreal-engine/|title=Creating a Sequel to Indie Fighting Rivals of Aether in Unreal Engine|last=Sergeev|first=Arti|website=80.lv|date=December 4, 2023|access-date=December 4, 2023}}
| platforms = Microsoft Windows
| released = {{Video game release|WW|October 23, 2024}}
| genre = Platform fighting
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Rivals of Aether II, formerly known as Rivals 2, is a 2024 platform fighting video game that serves as a direct sequel to Rivals of Aether (2017). Unlike its predecessor, which featured 2D pixel art graphics,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/04/01/rivals-of-aether-sequel-give-series-a-big-makeover-coming-in-2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401181757/https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/04/01/rivals-of-aether-sequel-give-series-a-big-makeover-coming-in-2024|url-status=live|archive-date=April 1, 2022|title=Rivals Of Aether Sequel Give Series A Big Makeover, Coming In 2024|last=Carson|first=John|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|date=April 1, 2022|access-date=December 27, 2022|language=en}} it is played in 2.5D and utilizes 3D models{{Cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/rivals-of-aether-2-coming-in-2024-dungeons-of-aether-release-date/|title=Rivals of Aether 2 coming in 2024, Dungeons of Aether launches this fall|last=Moyse|first=Chris|website=Destructoid|publisher=Gamurs|date=April 4, 2022|access-date=December 27, 2022|language=en-CA}}—additional mechanics are also added, including the ability to shield and grab, while mechanics such as the parry return from Rivals of Aether.
The game is intended to have improved single-player and casual-oriented content compared to Rivals of Aether, though appealing to competitive players is the primary focus of development—several mechanics were added to make the game feel more familiar to veteran players. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, via Steam, on October 23, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/09/rivals-of-aether-ii-launches-october-23|title=Rivals of Aether II launches October 23|last=Romano|first=Sal|website=Gematsu|date=September 18, 2024|access-date=September 18, 2024}}
Gameplay
{{Further|Rivals of Aether#Gameplay|label1=Gameplay of Rivals of Aether}}
Rivals of Aether II adds several new mechanics—including the ability to generate a shield able to block incoming attacks, the ability to grab others, even while they are shielding, and the ability to "pummel" during a grab with either a short attack or a slower attack with a stronger attack with a unique secondary effect for each character. Further mechanics include the ability to grab ledges and attack while hanging from them and the ability to attack while knocked down.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/04/rivals-of-aether-2-announced|title=Rivals of Aether 2 announced|last=Romano|first=Sal|website=Gematsu|date=April 1, 2022|access-date=December 27, 2022}} Mechanics such as parries also return from the first game.
=Characters=
Rivals of Aether II featured ten playable characters at launch, including eight returning characters from Rivals of Aether.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/08/rivals-2-adds-maypul|title=Rivals 2 adds Maypul|last=Romano|first=Sal|website=Gematsu|date=August 4, 2023|access-date=August 4, 2023}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axm9PyIbXtc |title=Rivals 2 Orcane Character Reveal Trailer |date=July 19, 2024 |publisher=Aether Studios |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1Ub4_8qZBY |title=Rivals of Aether II {{!}} Official Release Date Trailer |date=September 18, 2024 |publisher=Aether Studios |access-date=September 18, 2024 |website=YouTube}} The game features two newcomers: Fleet, who previously appeared as one of the four selectable protagonists of the spinoff game Dungeons of Aether;{{Cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/04/rivals-2-adds-fleet|title=Rivals 2 adds Fleet|last=Romano|first=Sal|website=Gematsu|date=April 1, 2023|access-date=April 3, 2023}} and Loxodont, who appeared as a non-playable character in the first game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/02/rivals-2-adds-clairen-loxodont|title=Rivals 2 adds Clairen, Loxodont|last=Romano|first=Sal|website=Gematsu|date=February 16, 2024|access-date=February 16, 2024}} In 2023, Aether Studios ran a "Workshop Character Creation Contest" for players hoping to get their creation to be part of the Rivals 2 roster;{{Cite tweet|number=1806341724949664097|title=Last year, we ran a contest for one new workshop character from Rivals of Aether to officially join the Rivals 2 roster. And next Wednesday (7/3) we are going to announce the winner of the contest!|last=Fornace|first=Dan|user=danfornace|date=June 27, 2024|access-date=June 27, 2024}} the contest's winner, an anthropomorphic wrestling insect character named La Reina, was announced in July 2024, to be added in an unspecified future update.{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/esports/news/rivals-2-character-contest|title=Wrestling Bug Wins Rivals 2 Character Contest|last=Murray|first=Trent|website=Esports Illustrated|date=July 3, 2024|access-date=July 3, 2024}} Aether Studios has confirmed that all future post-launch fighters will be added for free, and that they intend to eventually include all non-guest characters from the original game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/07/rivals-2-adds-orcane|title=Rivals 2 adds Orcane|last=Romano|first=Sal|website=Gematsu|date=July 22, 2024|access-date=July 22, 2024|quote=All post-launch character additions will be available as free updates.}}{{cite AV media|people=Dan Fornace|date=October 17, 2024|title=Rivals of Aether II Deep Dive: Roadmap & The Future|language=en|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiDM6Sk40Ac|access-date=December 19, 2024|time=2:24|quote=Our current plan is to release four characters per year. We plan to pull from the Rivals 1 roster, including the Workshop 5, as well as existing characters in the universe who were not previously playable, like Fleet and Loxodont. [...] We don't have plans for guest characters at the moment, but we won't say never on that either.}}
New characters are marked below in bold:
{{collist|
- Absa{{cite AV media|url=https://youtube.com/mvlPxjTgEdk?si=KuUzyimdsv3qJiPz|title=Absa: The Storm Architect {{!}} Official Character Trailer - Rivals of Aether II|author=Aether Studios|website=YouTube|date=May 25, 2025|access-date=May 25, 2025|quote=Arriving July 1.}}{{efn|name=dlc|Post-launch content}}
- Clairen
- Etalus{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/esports/news/rivals-of-aether-2-etalus-release-date|title=Rivals Gets its Polar Bear Soon! Etalus Release Date, Abilities|last=McCrae|first=Scott|work=Esports Illustrated|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=December 19, 2024|access-date=December 19, 2024|quote=The Rivals of Aether 2 Etalus DLC release date is set for January 21, 2025.}}{{efn|name=dlc|Post-launch content}}
- Fleet
- Forsburn
- Kragg
- La Reina{{efn|name=dlc|Post-launch content}}
- Loxodont
- Maypul
- Olympia{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Chnlup_yc|title=Olympia: The Amethyst Fist {{!}} Official Character Trailer - Rivals of Aether II|author=Aether Studios|website=YouTube|date=February 16, 2025|access-date=February 16, 2025|quote=Arriving April 2.}}{{efn|name=dlc|Post-launch content}}
- Orcane
- Ranno
- Wrastor
- Zetterburn
}}
Development
During Aether Studios' annual April Fools' Day "Rivals Direct" in April 2022, the sequel was announced as simply Rivals 2 initially;{{Cite web|url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/rivals-of-aether-sequel-release-2024 |title=Rivals of Aether sequel to release in 2024, rogue-lite spinoff to release in October|last=Michael|first=Cale|website=Dot Esports|publisher=Gamurs|date=April 1, 2022|access-date=December 27, 2022|language=en-US}} however, in September 2024, it was changed to Rivals of Aether II to avoid confusion with Marvel Rivals.{{Cite tweet |last=Fornace |first=Dan |user=danfornace |number=1836462314868093124 |date=September 18, 2024 |title=That feeling when you have to rebrand your whole game a month before launch because Marvel Rivals is actually a good game. |access-date=September 18, 2024}} The game is intended to have improved single-player content compared to Rivals of Aether that aims to allow casual players to transition into more dedicated players, though competitive play is the priority of the designers—they intend to have the game be prominently featured at Evo.
The addition of the shield mechanic was added to make the game feel more familiar to those who play platform fighting games, and the grab was likewise added as a counter to the shield. Ledges were also added to Rivals of Aether II because the developers felt that it would make the game feel more familiar to veterans in addition to making it more approachable for newcomers.
Marketing and release
A closed beta testing period for the game was originally planned for 2023, but was pushed back to early 2024.
In November 2023, a Kickstarter campaign was launched, seeking to crowdfund {{USD|200,000}} to increase the development team's size and ensure a 2024 release on Windows.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/beloved-smash-bros-style-indie-fighting-game-rivals-of-aether-is-getting-a-sequel-and-its-already-300-funded/|title=Beloved Smash Bros-style indie fighting game Rivals of Aether is getting a sequel, and it's already 300% funded|last=Gerblick|first=Jordan|website=GamesRadar|date=November 20, 2023|access-date=November 20, 2023}} Initial funding was reached very shortly after launch, and the Kickstarter went on to raise over {{USD|1.07 million}}, adding four additional characters to the launch roster as stretch goals. It was also stated that the game would be released on "as many platforms as possible".{{Cite web|url=https://dashfight.com/news/rivals-2-launches-kickstarter-to-secure-late-2024-release-date-4104|title=Rivals 2 Launches Kickstarter To Secure Late 2024 Release|last=Quintanilla|first=Sebastian|website=DashFight|date=November 15, 2023|access-date=November 16, 2023}}
In June 2024, it was announced at IGN Live 2024 that Offbrand Games, a new game publisher founded by YouTube streamers Ludwig Ahgren and Jason "Thor" Hall of Pirate Software, would be assisting publishing the game as their first release.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/ludwig-announces-new-video-game-publisher-offbrand-games-ign-live-2024 |title=Ludwig Announces New Video Game Publisher Offbrand Games {{!}} IGN Live 2024 |date=June 6, 2024 |access-date=August 7, 2024 |via=IGN}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/140160/ludwig-offbrand-games-rivals-2|title=YouTube streamers Ludwig and Thor open publishing label, starts with Rivals 2|last=Mejia|first=Ozzie|website=Shacknews|date=June 7, 2024|access-date=August 7, 2024}}
Accolades
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" | Date
! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref. |
|---|
| February 15, 2025
| Fighting Game Release of the Year | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" | {{Cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/complete-list-of-winners-from-the-inaugural-evo-awards-show/|title=Complete List of Winners From The Inaugural Evo Awards Show|last=Sheehan|first=Gavin|website=Bleeding Cool|date=February 16, 2025|access-date=February 16, 2025}} |
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}