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Mortal Shell II vs Borderlands 3
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| shopping_cart Where to Buy | |
| info General Information | |
| Release Date | |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Sep 13, 2019 |
| Developer | |
| Cold Symmetry | Gearbox Software (additional development by Gearbox Studio Quebec) |
| Publisher | |
| Playstack | 2K Games |
| Genre(s) | |
| Action RPG, Soulslike | Action RPG, Looter Shooter, First-Person Shooter, Co-op |
| Engine | |
| Unreal Engine 5 | Unreal Engine 4 |
| stars Ratings & Price | |
| Content Rating | |
| Mature | M (Mature 17+) - ESRB Descriptors: Intense Violenc |
| Avg. User Rating | |
| 4.8 / 5.0 | 4.0 / 5.0 |
| Current Price (USD) | |
| $49.99 | $59.99 |
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| tune Key Specs | |
| Quick Highlights | |
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| sports_esports Gameplay & Mechanics | |
| Companions/Followers | |
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| Key Themes | |
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| colorize Combat & Gear | |
| Weapons Overview | |
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| Armor / Gear Sets | |
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| trending_up Progression & Upgrades | |
| Skills & Progression | |
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The core progression revolves around possessing Shells—the remains of fallen warriors—and unlocking their unique memory-based abilities. A major paradigm shift is the removal of the stamina bar, allowing for unrestricted combat flow. Players now focus on 'Resolve' to trigger powerful weapon abilities and 'Posture' management to break enemy defenses. Upgrades extend to both the Harbinger’s innate traits and the Shells' individual skill trees. Additionally, a deep weapon customization system allows players to slot 'Tarstones' (similar to Grease/Infusions) to add elemental effects like poison or fire to their gear. |
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| public World & Exploration | |
| World & Level Design | |
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Mortal Shell II features an interconnected open world that is described as 'expansive yet deliberately compact.' This design philosophy prioritizes density over distance, ensuring that winding footpaths lead directly to meaningful encounters or upgrades rather than empty space. Key regions include the central Marrow Keep hub, the haunting Citadels of Bone, the treacherous Forbidden Forests, and the desolate Icy Graves. The map serves as a gateway to over 60 distinct dungeons, offering a level of verticality and secret-finding reminiscent of classic Metroidvanias. |
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| Playable Vehicles | |
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| Notable Fauna/Mounts | |
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| book Story & Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
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| Example Missions | |
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| people Multiplayer | |
| Multiplayer Details | |
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The title remains a dedicated single-player Dark Fantasy Action RPG. There are no current plans for competitive PvP or cooperative modes, as the design focuses on the individual's mastery of the shell-swapping and parry mechanics within the open-world environment. |
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| extension Editions & DLC | |
| Available Editions | |
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Three primary tiers are available. The Standard Edition ($49.99) includes the base game. The Revered Edition ($69.99) is a physical collector's package featuring a bespoke collector’s box, a SteelBook case, an art book, and fine art prints. Pre-order bonuses for all editions include exclusive digital Harbinger skins: the Obsidian and Skeletal variants. A PC-exclusive Open Beta is scheduled for Summer 2026 for those who register via the official website or are enrolled in the developer newsletter. |
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| Post-Launch Content / DLC | |
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While no specific DLC has been detailed yet, the 'standalone' branding of the sequel suggests a complete initial experience. However, based on the previous game's 'Virtuous Cycle' DLC, fans expect post-launch support featuring new Shells, roguelike modes, or expanded weapon rosters. The presence of 'Shell' slots in the UI hints at potential future expansions. |
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| help_outline FAQ | |
| Frequently Asked Questions | |
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| build Technical Details | |
| Graphics & Visual Fidelity | |
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Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the game utilizes Nanite for high-fidelity geometry and Lumen for real-time global illumination. Visual highlights include improved volumetric lighting, a striking red-leaf arena, and a significantly improved draw distance. The camera perspective is tighter and more 'over-the-shoulder,' focusing on the impact of finishers and parries. |
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| Audio & Soundtrack | |
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The soundtrack maintains the series' heavy-metal and dark atmospheric roots. Combat encounters are punctuated by visceral sound effects—bone-crunching impacts and high-velocity firearm reports. The ambient audio design emphasizes the 'haunting and eerie' nature of the world, with unique soundscapes for each of the four main environmental regions. |
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| User Interface (UI/UX) | |
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The HUD has been streamlined to maximize immersion during open-world battles. It features clear tabs for Shells, Weapons, and Sidearms. Inventory management allows for four quick-access slots for consumables like Moonshine. Critical UI elements include counters for Tar (souls) and Glimpses in the top-right, and a 'Golden Flash' visual indicator for successful parries. |
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| Accessibility Options | |
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The removal of stamina serves as a soft accessibility feature, lowering the mechanical barrier of entry for resource management while retaining difficulty through timing. The game includes customizable controls, subtitle scaling, and visual cues for the parry system (Golden Flash) to assist players with different needs. |
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| video_library Media Links | |
| Gameplay Video | |
| launchWatch | launchWatch |
| Walkthrough/Guide | |
| launchView | launchView |
| settings_applications System Requirements | |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Minimum (Low-Medium) CPU: 8 cores recommended for background asset decompression. CPU (Laptop): High-clock mobile chips needed for parity. GPU: 8GB VRAM is the hard floor for texture streaming. GPU (Laptop): Ensures stable framerates in boss arenas. RAM: Standard for modern UE5 titles. Storage: Mandatory SSD requirement. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-10700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER 8GB / AMD Radeon RX 6600 8GB laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-11800H / Ryzen 7 5800H laptop_windowsGPU (L): RTX 3060 Laptop (95W+) layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 30 GB SSD | — |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Minimum (Target: 1080p, Low settings, ~30-60 FPS) (Low Preset.) CPU: Minimum desktop CPU. CPU (Laptop): Estimated laptop CPU. Performance depends on specific model's cooling and power limits. GPU: Minimum desktop GPU with 2GB VRAM. GPU (Laptop): Targets playable framerates at 720p-1080p Low. **2GB VRAM is an absolute minimum and might struggle; 4GB VRAM is strongly recommended for laptops.** Performance varies greatly by TGP. RAM: Minimum RAM requirement (dual-channel highly recommended if using 8GB or more). | |
| — | memoryCPU: AMD FX-8350 or Intel Core i5-3570 developer_boardGPU: AMD Radeon HD 7970 (2GB) or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (2GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i5-7300HQ / AMD Ryzen 5 2500U or newer equivalent mobile CPUs with at least 4 cores/threads. laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M (2GB/4GB), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile (2GB/4GB); OR AMD Radeon R9 M385X (4GB). A GTX 1650 Laptop (4GB) would be a more comfortable modern minimum. layersRAM: 6 GB saveStorage (Tier): 75 GB available space (SSD Recommended) |
| 1440p (QHD/2K) - Recommended (High/Ultra) CPU: High IPC required for complex enemy AI in open areas. CPU (Laptop): Top-tier mobile performance. GPU: Enables Lumen global illumination. GPU (Laptop): Frame generation helps maintain 60fps at high resolutions. RAM: Provides headroom for 4K texture streaming. Storage: PCIe Gen 4 recommended. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i9-12900K / AMD Ryzen 7 7700X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA RTX 3080 / AMD RX 6800 XT laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i9-13900H / Ryzen 9 7945HX laptop_windowsGPU (L): RTX 4080 Laptop layersRAM: 32 GB saveStorage (Tier): 30 GB NVMe SSD | — |
| 1440p (QHD/2K) - Recommended (Target: 1440p High settings OR 1080p Ultra settings, ~60 FPS) (High/Ultra Preset.) CPU: Recommended desktop CPU. CPU (Laptop): Recommended laptop CPU for a smooth 1080p Ultra or 1440p High experience. GPU: Recommended desktop GPU for 1440p High / 1080p Ultra. GPU (Laptop): Targets ~60 FPS at 1080p Ultra or 1440p High. **Ensure adequate TGP for NVIDIA cards.** 6GB VRAM minimum, 8GB VRAM strongly recommended for laptops at this tier. RAM: 16GB RAM in dual-channel strongly recommended for optimal performance. | |
| — | memoryCPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel Core i7-4770 developer_boardGPU: AMD Radeon RX 590 (8GB) or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-8750H / AMD Ryzen 5 3600H or newer performance mobile CPUs (e.g., Intel Core i7 H-series 9th gen+, AMD Ryzen 7 H-series 4000+). laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q (8GB), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Laptop (6GB, High TGP), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop (6GB, Medium to High TGP); OR AMD Radeon RX 5600M (6GB), RX 5700M (8GB), RX 6600M (8GB). layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 75 GB available space (SSD Recommended) |
| 2160p (UHD/4K) - Ultra/Epic (Epic with Ray Tracing) CPU: 3D V-Cache significantly improves 1% lows. CPU (Laptop): Desktop-class mobile CPU. GPU: Required for native 4K with full Lumen effects. GPU (Laptop): The only mobile solution for 4K Epic settings. RAM: Dual-channel high-speed memory recommended. Storage: DirectStorage utilized for faster loading. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i9-14900K / AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA RTX 4090 / AMD RX 7900 XTX laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i9-14980HX laptop_windowsGPU (L): RTX 4090 Laptop (175W) layersRAM: 32 GB saveStorage (Tier): 30 GB NVMe SSD | — |
| save Overall Storage | |
| Spec: 30 GB SSD Space Note: Mechanical HDDs will cause severe stuttering during open-world traversal. Type: SSD | Spec: 75 GB available space (SSD Recommended) Note: An SSD is recommended for faster load times and smoother overall gameplay experience. Type: SSD |
| desktop_windows Operating System | |
| Spec: Windows 10/11 64-bit Explanation: DirectX 12 Agility SDK support is mandatory for engine features. | Spec: Windows 7/10 (latest service pack) Explanation: A 64-bit version of Windows 7, 8.1, 10, or 11 with the latest service packs is required. |
| gamepad DirectX Version | |
| Spec: Version 12 Explanation: Required for Nanite and Lumen lighting pipelines. | N/A |
| info_outline Other Game Notes | |
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| build Optimization Details | |
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| laptop Laptop Considerations | |
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info_outline Feature details based on available data. System requirements and performance estimates may vary.
laptop_chromebook Laptop Recommendations
Common Recommendations (Handles All Compared Games)
For Mortal Shell II Specifically
For Borderlands 3 Specifically
info_outline Laptop recommendations are estimates based on available component benchmarks and game requirements. Actual performance may vary depending on settings, drivers, cooling, power limits, etc. Prices and availability subject to change. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.