At the Cygames booth during PlayX4 2026, attendees were given the world's first opportunity to play 'Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok' (hereinafter 'Endless Ragnarok'), which is scheduled for release on July 9.

Endless Ragnarok was a surprise announcement during the February 5 Nintendo Direct. Although the original plan was to cease development after three updates, the team decided to continue production in response to overwhelming fan support. The announcement immediately generated explosive reactions from fans worldwide, heightening anticipation for its release. PlayX4 served as the first venue where the public could experience the game offline.

The demo featured the new playable character 'Beatrix,' the newly added summon system, and the Ascend Chain system. The playable content consisted of a boss battle quest to defeat the 'Rough Warrior.'

The highlight of the demo was undoubtedly the new character, Beatrix. As the contractor of the sealed weapon 'Embrasse,' Beatrix is a melee-focused character with a unique system that sets her apart from the existing roster.

When playing as Beatrix, a clock-shaped 'Clock o' Delta' icon appears on the right side of the screen. On an Xbox controller layout, holding the Y button causes the clock hand to spin, and releasing it stops it. Depending on where the hand stops, players can switch between buffs specialized for attack, defense, or recovery. Since players must switch effects in real-time to suit the flow of battle, it took some time to get used to the controls.

As you complete combos, the 'Embrasse Gauge' around the Clock o' Delta icon fills up. When the gauge is full, holding the Y button to spin the hand a full circle triggers the 'Causal Devour' state, which significantly boosts attack speed and combo performance. The control scheme is impressive, requiring careful attention to Clock o' Delta management, gauge accumulation, and timing for Causal Devour, rather than just button-mashing. Given the complexity, it will likely require some practice to master Beatrix.

I was also able to try out the new summon system. It works by holding the Ability (RB) button and using the four summons assigned to the D-pad.

It was interesting to see how each summon functions differently. Some Primal Beasts, like Huracan—who appeared as an early boss in the main game—require the player to control them directly to attack, while others attack automatically, allowing the player to focus on movement. There are also unique summons, such as a villager who can replenish potions. The system allows players to choose a style that suits them, making it accessible even to those less experienced with combat.

I also tested the 'Ascend Chain,' an evolution of the original Relink's Chain Burst system. While the basic activation method is the same, the key difference is that Lyria joins in to summon Bahamut for a powerful follow-up attack.

When an Ascend Chain is ready, an icon of Lyria and a notification pop up on the right side of the screen. The spectacle of Bahamut’s powerful strike added to the flashiness of a Chain Burst is a feature that fans of the original game will surely welcome.

The demo included boss fights against the 'Rough Warrior' and the surprise appearance of 'Ennugi.' Having played the main game primarily for the story, both bosses felt quite challenging and had high health pools. The 5-minute time limit for the Ennugi fight, in particular, felt very tight.

If this is the difficulty level in the demo, it should provide a satisfying experience for players who enjoy overcoming high-difficulty patterns. I look forward to seeing more new characters, bosses, and diverse content in Endless Ragnarok when it launches on July 9.

'Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok' is a major expansion for the 2024 action RPG 'Granblue Fantasy: Relink.' The story unfolds in the Zegagrande Skydom after the failure of Lilith's schemes and the return of peace, introducing new threats in the form of the beast of the end, 'Ragnarion,' and the iron-winged 'Beelzebub.' The expansion adds new story content, the Primal Beast summon system, a single-player exclusive mode called 'Extreme Solitude,' and the Ascend Chain, while supporting cross-play across all platforms.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok is scheduled for release on July 9 for Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, PS4, and Steam.