{"rewrite":{"id":"r_cfca83a4069788e844445fae","clusterId":"c_649bb638967c57afa42a0e0c","slug":"moonlighter-2-the-endless-vault-launches-september-2-original-goes-free-on-steam","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault Launches September 2, Original Goes Free on Steam","summary":"11 bit studios and Digital Sun announced on August 5 that Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault will officially launch on September 2, 2026. The sequel, which entered Early Access on PC on November 19, 2025, will leave Early Access with version 1.0, concluding the main story and adding new weapons, armor, and endgame content. The game is available on PC (Steam and Microsoft Store), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, and is also on PC and Xbox Game Pass. To mark the release date announcement, the original Moonlighter is being distributed free on Steam until August 9. The 2018 action RPG, developed by Digital Sun, combines dungeon exploration with shop management, and has a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam from about 17,000 reviews. The free distribution period is August 5 to August 9, and the game will remain in players' libraries permanently. A free demo of Moonlighter 2 is also available on all platforms, and pre-orders have started on PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2.","whyItMatters":"The free distribution of the original Moonlighter, combined with the sequel's launch, is a coordinated push to bring new players into the franchise ahead of the September 2 release, a strategy that leverages the original's strong Steam reputation.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVersion 1.0 adds the combat skill \u0026#34;Bomb Path,\u0026#34; which marks enemies with explosive symbols and detonates after a set number of hits, damaging surrounding enemies.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eWill\u0026#39;s shop can be expanded to its final stage at level 5, unlocking additional Bloblet companion slots and new cosmetic options.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEndgame content includes \u0026#34;Infinite Endless Vault,\u0026#34; an escalating challenge for gold that appears after clearing the game, plus a hardcore mode where a single defeat means losing everything.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe sequel\u0026#39;s Early Access period included two major updates: \u0026#34;Greed and Glory,\u0026#34; which added the HEX combat pass, the dual pistols \u0026#34;Blo-Blitz,\u0026#34; and the wave-based \u0026#34;Greed Colosseum,\u0026#34; and \u0026#34;Blob-Life Balance,\u0026#34; which introduced Bloblet shop helpers, the stackable Poison Path, and a very hard difficulty.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe original Moonlighter released on May 29, 2018, and celebrates its 8th anniversary this year. Its free distribution on Steam runs until August 9, and copies claimed during the period stay in players\u0026#39; libraries permanently.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe free version does not grant Steam trading cards, per the Steam store page notice.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe sequel supports Japanese display and is available on PC (Steam and Microsoft Store), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, plus PC and Xbox Game Pass. Pre-orders are open on PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eMoonlighter 2 currently holds a \u0026#34;Very Positive\u0026#34; rating on Steam from about 2,400 user reviews, with 84% positive, according to Automaton.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe endgame merchant \u0026#34;Spark\u0026#34; is scheduled to appear in version 1.0, per Denfaminicogamer.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"With Moonlighter 2 leaving Early Access on September 2, Digital Sun is banking on the original's free Steam run to convert newcomers before the sequel's full launch.","twitterPost":"Digital Sun is using the original Moonlighter's free Steam run to build an audience for the sequel's 1.0 launch.","threadsPost":"Digital Sun's free Steam distribution of the original Moonlighter, timed to end August 9, is a direct funnel into the sequel's 1.0 launch on September 2. The free period closes just weeks before the full release, so newcomers get a compressed window to finish the first game and decide on the second.","newsletterBlurb":"11 bit studios and Digital Sun have set Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault for a September 2 launch, ending its Early Access run. To celebrate, the original Moonlighter is free on Steam until August 9, and a demo for the sequel is live on all platforms.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"GAME Watch\",\"url\":\"https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2131048.html\",\"title\":\"Steam version of \\\"Moonlighter\\\" free for a limited time! Until August 10\"},{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/399/G039930/20260806009/\",\"title\":\"Action RPG 'Moonlighter' Where You Manage a Shop While Exploring Dungeons, Free on Steam Until August 10, 2:00 AM\"},{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/863/G086399/20260806014/\",\"title\":\"Dungeon Crawler 'Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault' Official Launch Set for September 2; Full Version Adds New Weapons and Endgame Content\"},{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260805-458624/\",\"title\":\"Adventure x Shop Management ARPG 'Moonlighter' Steam Version to Be Distributed Free for a Limited Time. Popular Title Priced at 2050 Yen\"},{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260805-458631/\",\"title\":\"Adventure x Shop Management ARPG 'Moonlighter 2' Officially Releases September 2. Dual Life of Stocking Up in Dungeons and Selling in the Village, Large Update Deepening Gameplay Also Arrives\"},{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/2608054a\",\"title\":\"'Moonlighter' Sequel 'Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault' Officially Releases September 2; Free Demo and 'Free Distribution of Previous Game' Also Announced\"},{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260806e\",\"title\":\"[Free] Moonlighter, a game where you sell items obtained from dungeon exploration at your own shop, is being distributed for free on Steam! Campaign commemorating the official release of the sequel 'Moonlighter 2' on September 2nd.\"},{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/08/05/170262.html\",\"title\":\"Exploration \\u0026 Management Roguelike Action Sequel 'Moonlighter 2' Officially Releases September 2; Original Free on Steam for Limited Time\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":15770,"outputTokens":1978,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1788482135,"createdAt":"2026-08-05T15:59:34.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-05T16:02:25.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-06T05:09:58.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_649bb638967c57afa42a0e0c","canonicalTitle":"探索\u0026経営ローグライクACT続編『Moonlighter 2』9月2日正式リリース決定。初代はSteamで期間限定無料配布","representativeArticleId":"a_12d30c8fa3e411e33b9fdb25","sourceCount":5,"writtenSourceCount":5,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault\",\"Moonlighter\"],\"studios\":[\"11 bit studios\",\"Digital Sun\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"release\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"written","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-05T13:05:02.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-06T04:05:14.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-06T05:09:58.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"4Gamer.net","url":"https://www.4gamer.net/games/863/G086399/20260806014/","title":"ダンジョンクロウラー「Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault」の正式ローンチが9月2日に決定。正式版では新武器やエンドコンテンツを追加"},{"source":"GAME Watch (Impress)","url":"https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2131048.html","title":"Steam版「Moonlighter」が期間限定で無料配布！ 8月10日まで"},{"source":"Denfaminicogamer","url":"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260806e","title":"【無料】ダンジョン探索で手に入れたものを自分の店で売るゲーム『Moonlighter』がSteamにて無料配布中！続編『Moonlighter 2』の9月2日正式リリースを記念したキャンペーン"},{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260805-458631/","title":"冒険×ショップ経営ARPG『Moonlighter 2』9月2日に正式リリースへ。ダンジョンで仕入れて村で売る二重生活、遊びが深まる大型アプデも到来へ"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/08/05/170262.html","title":"探索\u0026経営ローグライクACT続編『Moonlighter 2』9月2日正式リリース決定。初代はSteamで期間限定無料配布"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault","Moonlighter"],"studios":["11 bit studios","Digital Sun"],"people":[],"type":"release","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault officially launches on September 2, 2026, for PC (Steam and Microsoft Store), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.","The original Moonlighter is free on Steam from August 5 to August 9, 2026, and remains in players' libraries permanently.","Moonlighter 2 entered Early Access on November 19, 2025, and version 1.0 adds the Bomb Path combat skill, a shop level cap of 5, and the Infinite Endless Vault endgame mode.","The original Moonlighter has a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam from approximately 17,000 user reviews.","Pre-orders for Moonlighter 2 have started on PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2, and a free demo is available on all platforms."]}