Arknights: Endfield Steam release set for October 15 with the Sanctuary of Ink update and cross-progression

The Arknights: Endfield Steam release is set for October 15, 2026, and the game will arrive alongside "Sanctuary of Ink," a major version update that adds a new story chapter, two new 6-star Operators and a farming and inn-management system. GRYPHLINE confirmed the date on October 7 and says existing players will be able to carry their account progress over to the Steam version.

For the free-to-play strategy RPG, the move matters because it puts the game on the biggest PC storefront nine months after its global launch, at the same time as one of its largest content drops so far.

Arknights: Endfield Steam release: date, price and cross-progression

According to the game's official Steam page, Arknights: Endfield is free to play with in-app purchases. The Steam version requires a GRYPHLINE account, which can be linked to Steam, and it uses a kernel-level anti-cheat (ACE) that, per the store listing, has to be removed manually after uninstalling the game.

Advertisement

The biggest question for current players is progress, and the answer is good news: GRYPHLINE says account data can be shared across platforms, so anyone already playing on PC through the official launcher or the Epic Games Store, on PlayStation 5 or on mobile can continue on Steam instead of starting over.

GRYPHLINE also announced on its official news page that the Steam page has passed 300,000 wishlists. As reported by Automaton, a milestone reward package includes 8,000 T-Creds, two Elementary Cognitive Carriers, two Arms INSP Sets and a commemorative portrait frame, redeemable until November 25, 2026 (UTC).

What the Sanctuary of Ink update adds

Sanctuary of Ink centers on a new story chapter set inside Si's Painting, a hand-painted world in the Wuling region where, in GRYPHLINE's words, brushstrokes restore broken paths. Automaton notes that it is the eighth explorable area in Wuling.

The update introduces two new 6-star Operators:

Si is a Feranmut innkeeper who can draw an "Inksoul" out of an enemy. Damage and effects dealt to that Inksoul are transferred back to the original target, and her kit is built to strengthen Cryo and Heat teammates. She arrives through a recruitment event.

Argent Flow fights with a mix of sword and spear techniques and charges into battle on his warhorse, Nuli, with a mounted charge as his ultimate. A story event explores his background.

Outside of combat, the new Yuanyuan Manor Inn adds a light management layer with crops, animals and cooking for guests. Endgame players get Contingency Contract: Indigo Experimental Operation, a new round of the challenge mode with fresh modifiers and enemy attack patterns. The soundtrack features composers Zhai Jinyan (Black Myth: Wukong) and Ludvig Forssell (Death Stranding).

Quality-of-life changes and PC requirements

The patch also brings several requested quality-of-life features: saved equipment loadouts, more precise mouse targeting, adjustable combo skill priority and the option to place field equipment straight from the depot. The mouse changes in particular should help the many players who will try the game for the first time on Steam with a keyboard and mouse.

The Steam listing has these PC requirements:

Minimum: Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Core i5-9400F, 16 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, 60 GB of storage and a broadband connection.

Recommended: Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Core i7-10700K, 16 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 and 60 GB of storage.

If you are unsure how your machine compares, our guide on how to know if your PC can run a game walks through each line of a requirements list.

Why the Steam launch matters for Arknights: Endfield

Developed by Hypergryph and published worldwide by GRYPHLINE, Arknights: Endfield launched globally on January 22, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, iOS and Android. It is a 3D real-time strategy RPG in which players lead Endfield Industries on the planet Talos-II, combining squad combat, exploration and the AIC Factory, an automation system for building production lines.

Critics were broadly positive: the PC version holds a 78 Metascore on Metacritic from 21 reviews, while the user score is more mixed. Until now, though, PC players had to use the official launcher or the Epic Games Store. Steam brings friend lists, reviews and discovery tools that can introduce the game to a much bigger audience, and the 300,000 wishlists suggest that audience is waiting.

What to know before October 15

Current players do not need to do anything until launch day other than make sure they know the login for their GRYPHLINE account. New players can wishlist the game on Steam now and read our breakdown of whether Arknights: Endfield is worth playing before downloading. If you are still looking for something to play, our list of the best free-to-play games has more options.