New free-to-play hybrid action-RPG launches on Steam with Warframe elements and 67% positive reviews
After a brief delay from its originally planned December release, Duet Night Abyss officially arrived on Steam on January 19, 2026. Developed by Pan Studio and published by Hero Games, the free-to-play title has been one of the most watched experiments in the anime-RPG space due to a major pivot in August 2025: the total removal of character and weapon gacha systems. Instead of "pulling" for heroes, players can acquire the entire roster for free through a progression system called Covert Commissions, where farming "Secret Letters" lets players directly unlock characters and weapons.
Set on the continent of Atlasia - a world where magic and machinery coexist - the game uses a dual-narrative structure following two protagonists whose paths eventually cross each other. It is a high-speed "hybrid" action RPG that lets players switch seamlessly between melee and ranged combat, with some people in the reviews comparing it to Warframe and the design language of Wuthering Waves. The 1.1 launch build on Steam, titled "Huaxu," introduces an expansive new Oriental-themed region and includes a huge visual overhaul to improve character models and environmental lighting.
The initial reception on Steam has been quite polarized, however. Duet Night Abyss currently holds a 67% "Mixed" rating aggregate. While the monetization model - which now deals exclusively with cosmetic skins and monthly passes - is being hailed as a "10/10" by the community, the actual gameplay experience is under fire now. Critics and players frequently point out "clunky" animations and an overcomplicated UI that features "20 different menus". Additionally, while the removal of the stamina system allows for unlimited farming, some veterans have describe the resulting gameplay loop as "stale," since characters currently only possess two active abilities each.
Technically, the Steam version is a mixed bag. It supports Nvidia DLSS and Frame Generation, and generally runs more smoothly than other major JRPG launches from the previous year. However, it is still a "heavy" title, with 32 GB of RAM recommended and an RTX 2060 required for the best experience. While it features full controller support, the Steam Deck status is still unverified, and some users still report mobile-centric UI remnants like "tap" prompts that haven't been fully optimized for a PC environment.
You can check Duet Night Abyss for free on Steam here.
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