Rivals of Aether 2: Release Date, Character Roster, and Free Characters

Rivals of Aether carved out its own space in the platform fighter genre, standing strong amidst the Super Smash Bros. dominance. The game sold hundreds of thousands of copies and became a staple in competitive tournaments. Since the announcement of Rivals of Aether 2, fans have been eagerly waiting for more details, and after years of anticipation, we finally have the official release date.

In a surprise video reveal, the developers not only shared the release date but much more exciting news.

When Is Rivals of Aether 2 Releasing?

The official release date for Rivals of Aether 2 is set for October 23, 2024. Along with this announcement, the game has returned to its full original title after being referred to as just Rivals 2 during development. Players can already wishlist the game on Steam in preparation for the release.

For those who can’t wait until October, there will be an early access beta weekend from September 27-29, offering a first look at the gameplay.

What’s the Roster for Rivals of Aether 2?

Thanks to the overwhelming support from the game’s Kickstarter campaign, Rivals of Aether 2 will feature a launch roster of 10 characters. This includes familiar faces from the original game as well as some new fighters. The confirmed roster includes:

- Zetterburn  

- Forsburn  

- Loxodont  

- Clairen  

- Orcane  

- Ranno  

- Fleet  

- Wrastor  

- Maypul  

- Kragg  

In addition to these, La Reina, the winner of the character creation contest, will join the roster in a future update. However, some fan favorites from the original game, like Absa and Etalus, are missing from the launch lineup, sparking curiosity among long-time players.

Is Rivals of Aether 2 Free to Play?

No, Rivals of Aether 2 won’t follow the free-to-play model. However, the developers have adopted a unique approach for character releases. Once you purchase the game, every future character added to the roster will be free—permanently. Unlike most fighting games, there will be no additional charges for DLC characters or season passes.

To support ongoing development, the game will feature cosmetic items available for purchase, but these will be purely optional and won’t affect gameplay or character unlocks.