Return to shadow now.
Supergiant Gamesis stirring the Cauldron again, as Hades II just got a hefty preview update, giving players plenty of reasons to dive back into the Underworld. Available now on Steam’s Beta branch, the Patch 1 Preview serves as a test run for the roguelike’s first major post-launch update, and it brings some serious changes to how the true ending plays out.
According to Supergiant’s official Steam post, the update introduces a range of story and gameplay tweaks. The biggest highlight is the “true ending enhancements,” which add new events both before and after the game’s finale. Players will now need to clear the Underworld more times than before to see everything, with the developer noting that most of these updates affect the Underworld route, while the Surface route remains mostly unchanged.
A new path through the Underworld
The update also adds a new Cauldron incantation called Returning to a Real Possibility, which lets players revisit earlier points in the story. This feature allows fans to re-experience key events, including the true ending itself, without starting a fresh save.
Several Fated Prophecies have also been adjusted. Character-related prophecies, particularly those tied to the story epilogue, should now progress faster than before, making it easier to see certain narrative threads unfold.
Meanwhile, The Crossroads, the hub between the Underworld and the Surface, has been given a refresh. Many decorative items now cost fewer Kudos, and any extra Kudos already spent will be refunded automatically, saving players some grinding.
How to access the Hades II Patch 1 preview
To try the new version early, players can opt into the preview branch on Steam. Simply right-click on Hades II in your library, select Properties, go to the Betas tab, and choose [preview]. The game should then update to Hades II [preview].
Supergiant recommends backing up your save files before jumping in, as this preview build is still a work in progress and may contain untranslated text or technical issues.
On Windows, save files can be found under: %USERPROFILE%\Saved Games\Hades II\, while on macOS they’re under %USERPROFILE%\Library\Application Support\Supergiant Games\Hades II\.
The studio has reminded players that this is only a preview version of Patch 1, and its contents may continue to evolve before the full release.
It’s a packed update for Hades II, which has already earned praise for its branching storylines and replayability. With new story content, faster progression, and now a way to revisit key moments, this patch gives players plenty of reasons to descend into the Underworld once more.
