Hades 2 Release Date: Full Launch Timeline, Platforms

The wait for Hades II is over, but its launch happened in stages, so the Hades 2 release date depends on your platform. The full game arrived first on PC and Nintendo Switch systems, then later on PlayStation and Xbox. Knowing those dates helps you check whether the version you want is available and understand how the early access period fits into the game’s history.

Hades 2 release date by platform

The full release date was September 25, 2025, for Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S followed on April 14, 2026. In other words, there isn’t one universal date for every platform.

Platform	Full release date
Windows	September 25, 2025
macOS	September 25, 2025
Nintendo Switch	September 25, 2025
Nintendo Switch 2	September 25, 2025
PlayStation 5	April 14, 2026
Xbox Series X/S	April 14, 2026

For a current PC listing, visit Hades II on Steam. The store page can help you confirm the version and availability relevant to your account.

The November 20, 2025 physical release is a separate milestone from the digital launch. If you are tracking a boxed copy, that later date is the one to note; if you’re asking when the full game became playable on a particular platform, use the platform dates in the table.

From early access to the full launch

The Hades 2 release date followed a longer rollout than a single launch day. Supergiant Games revealed the sequel in December 2022, then offered an early access version before completing the full release. The timeline below separates those milestones so an early access date isn’t mistaken for the finished game’s launch.

Image: YouTube / XBOX

Milestone	Date	What it means
Game revealed	December 8, 2022	Hades II was announced at The Game Awards
Technical test began	April 2024	A limited test took place before early access
Windows early access began	May 5, 2024	Players could access an in-progress version
macOS early access began	October 16, 2024	macOS arrived with The Olympic Update
Full release on PC and Nintendo systems	September 25, 2025	The full game launched on Windows, macOS, Switch, and Switch 2
Physical release	November 20, 2025	The boxed version followed the digital launch
Full release on PlayStation and Xbox	April 14, 2026	PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions arrived

Early access is relevant if you remember seeing Hades II available before September 2025. That version was released while development continued; the September date marks the full launch on the first group of platforms. The October 2024 macOS early access milestone also shouldn’t be confused with the full macOS release a year later.

The game’s release trailer presents Melinoë as Hades’ daughter and the Princess of the Underworld, facing the threat of Chronos while war reaches Mount Olympus. That premise gives a quick sense of the sequel’s stakes, but the trailer transcript does not establish a different release date or platform schedule.

The early access timeline also includes several development milestones between the announcement and full launch. A technical test began in April 2024, followed by Windows early access in May. The Olympic Update arrived in October 2024 alongside macOS early access, while The Warsong Update followed in February 2025 and The Unseen Update in June 2025. These are development dates, distinct from the platform launch dates above.

What the sequel is about

Image: YouTube / Supergiant Games

Hades II is a single-player action role-playing game with roguelike runs. It follows Melinoë, sister to Zagreus, as she fights Chronos, the Titan of Time. The story also brings the conflict to Mount Olympus, giving Melinoë a reason to take on threats beyond the Underworld.

The sequel has two routes through distinct regions, which is useful context when comparing the Hades 2 release date across platform coverage. The Underworld route passes through Erebus, Oceanus, the Fields of Mourning, and Tartarus. The surface route includes the City of Ephyra, the Rift of Thessaly, Mount Olympus, and the Summit. Each region opens after clearing the previous one, according to the game’s described progression.

Route	Regions listed in the game description
Underworld	Erebus → Oceanus → Fields of Mourning → Tartarus
Surface	City of Ephyra → Rift of Thessaly → Mount Olympus → Summit

The route descriptions also name a boss for each region: Hecate in Erebus, Scylla and two sirens in Oceanus, Cerberus in the Fields of Mourning, and Chronos in Tartarus. On the surface, the listed bosses are the Cyclops Polyphemus in Ephyra, Eris in the Rift of Thessaly, Prometheus on Mount Olympus, and Typhon at the Summit. This gives a sense of how the routes are organized without needing a full plot recap.

This two-route structure is one of the clearest ways the sequel expands on the original game’s run format. If you’re deciding what to learn before playing, a useful starting point is simply to remember that the routes have different regions and bosses. You don’t need to memorize every encounter in advance.

The story premise also offers a natural entry point for newcomers: Melinoë’s goal is to confront Chronos, and the Olympian gods assist her. Knowing that much helps orient you without requiring a detailed recap of Hades or the sequel’s later plot developments.

Combat and progression at a glance

For players checking the Hades 2 release date and wondering what kind of game it is, the basic run structure will feel recognizable to players familiar with Hades: move through rooms, fight enemies, collect rewards, and choose upgrades. Melinoë has a primary attack, a weapon-dependent special attack, and a dash. The sequel adds a cast that can lock enemies in place, while Magick is a combat resource used for moves and recharged by attacking.

Image: YouTube / Supergiant Games

Feature	How it works
Attacks	Primary and weapon-dependent special attacks
Movement	A dash provides additional mobility
Cast	A magic ability that can lock enemies in place
Magick	A combat resource used for moves and recharged by attacking
Boons	Olympian rewards offering a choice of three effects for a run
Hexes	Summon attacks tied to Selene that can be enhanced during a run
Crossroads	Hub between attempts for character interactions and upgrades

During a run, Boons from the Olympians offer a choice of three effects. The effects persist for that run. Selene’s Hexes provide another kind of power, with one of three options available and a skill tree for improving it during that run. A practical approach is to consider how a new boon or Hex fits the attacks you are already using, rather than choosing by name alone; that’s general play advice based on the listed combat options.

The room-to-room structure connects those choices to the routes described above. After clearing a room, the player receives its rewards, which can help strengthen Melinoë or restore lost health. After enough rooms in a region, a boss fight stands between her and the next region. A good approach is to weigh the available reward against what would help your current run, since the described rewards include both upgrades and health recovery.

When a run ends, Melinoë returns to the Crossroads if she has lost all health and has no Death Defiances remaining. The Crossroads connects attempts: there, recovered items can be used to improve abilities, craft incantations, or obtain and upgrade weapons. It is also where Melinoë can interact with characters and develop bonds as the story progresses.

The game includes God Mode, which increases damage resistance after failed runs. Its base value is 20%, rising by 2% per failed run up to a maximum of 80%. If you want a less demanding experience, that is a specific built-in option described for the game; the figures here reflect the listed mechanics.

Which date should you use?

For most players, the right Hades 2 release date is the full-launch date for their platform. September 25, 2025, applies to Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2; April 14, 2026, applies to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Early access began earlier, but it was not the full release.

If you mean…	Use this date
Full release on PC or Nintendo systems	September 25, 2025
Full release on PS5 or Xbox Series X/S	April 14, 2026
Windows early access	May 5, 2024
macOS early access	October 16, 2024
Physical edition release	November 20, 2025

The Hades 2 release date is now in the past for all platforms named in the release listing. If you’re comparing storefronts, check the platform and edition shown on the store page instead of relying on an early access date or a headline that only gives the first launch date.

FAQ

When was the Hades 2 release date?

The full game released on September 25, 2025, for Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S received it on April 14, 2026.

Did Hades II have an early access release?

Yes. Windows early access began May 5, 2024, and macOS early access began October 16, 2024. The full release came later.

Is Hades II available on PlayStation and Xbox?

Yes. The full game released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on April 14, 2026.

Who is the main character in Hades II?

The protagonist is Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld and sister to Zagreus. Her central goal is to defeat Chronos, with help from the Olympian gods.