Frogwares has released the first gameplay trailer for The Sinking City 2, a third-person action horror shooter set in the flooded streets of Arkham during the 1920s. The trailer, which focuses on the game's atmosphere and combat, shows players navigating drenched city alleys, confronting eldritch monsters, and descending into a madness that seems to grip both the city and its inhabitants.

The game is scheduled to launch in summer 2026 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam). No release date has been announced beyond the seasonal window, and no pricing details have been shared.

The Sinking City 2 is a direct sequel to the 2019 original, which also drew from H.P. Lovecraft's mythos and placed players in the role of a detective investigating a flooded city overtaken by supernatural forces. The original game was developed by Frogwares, a Ukrainian studio known for its Lovecraftian horror titles and the Sherlock Holmes series. The sequel appears to retain the same third-person perspective and combat-focused gameplay, though the emphasis on "action horror shooter" suggests a more aggressive approach than its predecessor.

The trailer highlights the setting: Arkham, a fictional Massachusetts town central to Lovecraft's stories, is shown submerged under water. Players will explore "drenched city alleys" and face monsters that emerge from the shadows. The roaring '20s aesthetic remains, blending period architecture with decaying, waterlogged environments. The trailer also hints at a psychological descent into madness, a theme common in Lovecraftian fiction where characters lose their grip on reality after encountering cosmic horrors.

Frogwares has not yet detailed specific gameplay mechanics, such as weapon types, skill trees, or narrative choices. However, the original game featured a detective system where players gathered clues and made decisions that affected the story. It is unclear whether that system will return in the sequel or if combat will take a more prominent role.

The announcement comes at a time when interest in Lovecraftian horror games remains high, with titles like Call of Cthulhu and the upcoming Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 also drawing from similar themes. Frogwares has developed a reputation for dense, atmospheric worlds, though the studio has faced challenges in recent years due to the war in Ukraine. The team has continued to work on multiple projects, including a Sherlock Holmes game, and the reveal of The Sinking City 2 suggests the studio is pushing forward with its core franchises.

The gameplay trailer itself is short, running roughly one minute, and focuses on environmental shots and brief combat sequences. It does not include dialogue or narrative context. The tone is grim and oppressive, with heavy rain, dim lighting, and the sound of water filling the soundtrack.

For fans of the original, the sequel represents a shift from detective horror to a more action-oriented shooter. The original game was criticized by some for its clunky combat, but praised for its atmosphere and story. It is unclear whether Frogwares has addressed those criticisms in the sequel, as no hands-on previews or extended demos have been made available.

The Sinking City 2 is being developed for current-generation consoles and PC only, skipping the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This suggests the studio is leveraging newer hardware for improved lighting, water physics, and monster density. The choice to launch simultaneously on Steam also indicates a continued focus on the PC audience.

The 2026 release window puts the game more than six years after the original, a gap that reflects both the pandemic and the war's impact on development. Frogwares has remained independent and has released several smaller titles in the interim, including an open-world Sherlock Holmes game and a standalone expansion for The Sinking City.

The trailer was released through Frogwares' official YouTube channel and has already generated discussion among horror game communities. Some fans expressed excitement about the new setting and combat focus, while others voiced concern that the series might lose its detective core. Without more detail, it is too early to judge how the sequel will balance its two identities.

The Sinking City 2 is currently listed on Steam for wishlisting. No pre-order bonuses or special editions have been announced. Frogwares has said it will share more updates in the coming months, including a deeper look at gameplay systems and the story.

For now, the trailer serves as a promise: a return to a drowned world of cosmic terror, where every flooded alley could hide a monster and every step brings you closer to madness. Whether the game delivers on that promise will become clear closer to its summer 2026 launch.