Developer Section 9 Interactive and publisher Epic Games have released a new trailer for the action-adventure game End of Abyss. The trailer, which you can check out below, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how the development team designed the game’s world in order to make exploration fun for players.
Level designer Robin Jansson spoke about this, noting that “As the designer, I want the world to make sense. But I also want you to explore – we want you to explore. So, there’s a bit of a fine line there you have to tread to make it fantastical while still understandable.”
Jansson went on to talk about how the level design in End of Abyss hides plenty of secrets. “So, nooks and crannies are great for me as a designer because that’s where I hide the secrets. So, I design a lot of those, I would say. I think it’s quite important for the genre. In a Metroidvania, you want a lot of hidden nooks, hidden stuff.”
He went on to discuss the style of level design employed in End of Abyss, which involved bringing an industrial setting to life. Jansson spoke about how the team went about creating plenty of variety despite areas largely featuring pipes and metal, and how even sewer-like spaces can be made to feel more organic by adding some wear-and-tear to the surroundings.
“Basically, everything is man-made in there, I would say. It’s a very industrial sort of environment. There’s a lot of metal and concrete, machinery and pipes, all sorts of things that you would expect in a factory-like environment. Some sections of the game are more in a sewer-like space; some are a bit more broken than others, which makes them feel a bit more organic, even though it is metal we’re still talking about. Having holes in it or broken railings is going to feel a lot more organic. And there are organic elements as well, but usually those come after the catastrophe of the game.”
Environment artist Gustav Bunse also spoke about the art that went into creating the world of End of Abyss, noting that plenty of fantasy and sci-fi elements were involved in the creation of the game. “It’s much easier to make it feel man-made,” he said.
The commentary by the development team is broken up by gameplay segments showcasing the various aspects they are discussing, such as the title’s metroidvania aspects where players can come across weak walls that can be blown up by using explosive charges, opening up new zones ripe for exploration in the process.
End of Abyss is being developed for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, and is slated for release on October 1st. The PC version will only be available through the Epic Games Store. The title’s release date was announced during Summer Game Fest 2026, with a trailer showcasing some of the tense, exploration-focused gameplay that emphasizes the player’s various tools and the game’s challenges, which will also involve resource scarcity.
For more details, check out the gameplay and behind-the-scenes interviews from the development team from earlier this month.
