Code Vein 2 ditches generative AI — leans hard into drama and bigger combat

Why this matters: bigger scope, sharper drama, and a deliberate no-AI stance

Code Vein 2 isn’t just another sequel that buffs numbers and swaps a few enemy types – it’s clearly trying to reposition the series. What caught my attention was how Bandai Namco and producer Keita Iizuka chose to double down on upfront character drama and world cohesion instead of leaning into AI shortcuts or simply amplifying difficulty. The result, from the hands-on preview, feels like the original’s anime‑styled combat evolved into something broader, faster, and more narratively focused.

• More dramatic start: Iizuka says the team pushed character drama to the front, and the opening hours reflect that.
• Combat and scale: Faster pacing, more weapon types and wider build diversity for both newcomers and veterans.
• No generative AI: A conscious choice to preserve a cohesive art direction – welcome, but also a PR-friendly talking point.
• Single-player focus: No co‑op this time; companions are beefed up to fill that gap.

Breaking down the announcement – what’s new, and what’s actually different

At its heart, Code Vein 2 keeps the core loop that made the first game a cult favorite: tough encounters, vampiric aesthetics, and a character-driven coat of anime paint. What changes is emphasis. The team made the world feel larger and more connected — less a string of “levels” and more a continuous environment with set pieces that matter. Iizuka estimates the main story is about as long as the first game, maybe a touch longer, but the exploration feels weightier because the spaces link together better.

Combat-wise, expect a quicker tempo. The preview I played showed faster recovery windows, more weapon archetypes, and wider build options that actually change playstyle rather than just tweaking numbers. That’s an important shift: instead of a handful of “meta” builds, Code Vein 2 seems designed to encourage experimentation. Iizuka is explicit about trying to serve both series veterans and people new to this particular brand of action-RPG.

The AI decision: artistic purity or convenient talking point?

“We have not used generative AI for Code Vein 2,” Iizuka told me, adding that the studio values art style and the “cohesiveness” of the world‑view. That line is brief but telling. In a moment when many studios experiment with generative tools for concept art, writing drafts, or asset iteration, Bandai Namco is making a marketing-friendly—and artistically plausible—stand.

To be clear: refusing gen‑AI isn’t inherently noble or necessary for quality. It does, that said, signal a commitment to a specific, hand-crafted aesthetic. For a game that leans on a strong visual identity and a tightly woven narrative, that could be the right call. The skeptical read is that “we didn’t use AI” has become a convenient badge to reassure fans worried about soulless, algorithm-produced content. Either way, it’s a conversation the studio chose to have publicly — and that matters in 2026.

What this means for players

Practically, Code Vein 2 looks like a single-player first, action-RPG second. There’s no co-op this time, which will sting for players who enjoyed the shared struggle in similar games. Bandai Namco is banking on a much stronger companion system to deliver emotional beats and gameplay variety — the preview suggests companions are more present and mechanically meaningful than before.

If you love tight, theatrical character moments wrapped in challenging combat, this should land well. If your primary draw is die‑hard multiplayer jank or the social triumph of co‑op runs, the lack of multiplayer might be a dealbreaker. On value, the game hits an expected premium price — $69.99 / £54.99 — and launches January 29, so expect more coverage and final reviews around that date.

TL;DR

Code Vein 2 looks like a focused sequel: faster, more varied combat and a bigger, more cohesive world, all while putting character drama front and center. Bandai Namco’s rejection of generative AI is as much about protecting an aesthetic as it is about optics — but for players who care about handcrafted worlds, that’s a plus. Release is January 29, $69.99 / £54.99; if you liked the original’s style and want something more polished and theatrical, this one’s for you.