Arknights Endfield Pre-Launch Prep Guide: Release Time, Preload & Everything to Know

The countdown to Talos-II has officially begun. As the global launch of Arknights: Endfield was confirmed for January 22nd, 2026, Hypergryph and Gryphline aim to bring the most extensive evolution the Arknights series has seen so far. Endfield diverges from the familiar grid-based tower defense to bring back the universe as a 3D real-time strategy RPG, blending team-based combat, open zones, and an industrial factory system. If you are a long-time Doctor or rather a new player playing as an administrator, the best course of action before launch will ensure a smooth and rewarding day-one experience.

If you’re looking to get more information about Arknights: Endfield, feel free to check out the related guides below:

• Arknights: Endfield Tier List – Best Operators
• Arknights: Endfield Active Codes

These guides can help you boost your progress and enhance your overall gameplay experience. 

By the way, if you’re already eager to play Arknights: Endfield, we highly recommend playing Arknights: Endfield on PC and Mac with MuMuPlayer for a smoother gameplay experience. MuMuPlayer is the top Android emulator that offers optimal gaming performance with smooth keyboard and mouse controls, high FPS, and multi-instance support.

You could also directly download Arknights: Endfield PC on MuMuPlayer if you don’t want to miss out on the latest game updates.

Global Release Date & Server Timing

Gryphline has officially confirmed that Arknights: Endfield is going global on the 22nd of January, 2026, with an identical simultaneous release on PC, PlayStation 5, iOS, and Android. This date is locked in on every official platform and every official press release.

That said, the exact server opening time has not been disclosed. Some promotional references to UTC-5 have created speculation of a morning launch across North America, but such assumptions have been based on industry trends versus any confirmed details. Traditionally, Gryphline announces the exact server opening hour 24 to 48 hours in advance of launch, so all players should pay close attention to official social media channels and launcher notifications as launch day approaches.

Preload Schedule & Download Strategy

As of now, Gryphline has not issued any official preload schedule for the full release. That being said, based on Technical Test II patterns, a pre-download window ahead of launch seems highly likely.

Additionally, in the previous testing stages, players were able to download the game one to two days prior to the release date to ease the load on the servers when many players access it on the day of the release of the game. This is an indication that players should expect a 48-hour preload around January 20, 2026. This is not yet confirmed.

Recommended preparation steps:

• Enable auto-update of PC launchers and mobile app stores.
• Free up required storage in advance.
• If at all possible, avoid downloading the full client on launch day.

With the size of the game's file and decompression included, early downloading will go a long way in improving the first-play experience.

Pre-registration Milestones & Rewards

The global Arknights pre-registrations have broken through 30 million, unlocking most levels of rewards. Notably, however, there is a final milestone at 35 million pre-registrations, which gives additional rewards beyond the 30 million tier.

All of the players who pre-register on the official website by wishlisting the game on the PlayStation Store or the Epic Store will be rewarded in-game via mail after completion of the tutorial.

Complete Reward Breakdown

• 15 million: T-Creds x30,000
• 20 million: Advanced Combat Record x20
• 25 million: Basic Headhunting permit x5
• 30 million: 5-star Operator Snowshine
• 35 million: Basic Headhunting Permit x10

Besides this, the 5-star Weapon "Finishing Call" and +5 Basic Headhunting Permits will be unlocked by the 5-million social media follower milestone, not by the pre-registration count alone.

If all goals are achieved, players will start with 25 Basic Headhunting Permits, a very strong 5-star Operator, a 5-star Weapon, and enough resources in the early game.

What Makes Endfield Different

Arknights: Endfield isn't a tower defense game. It is a real-time strategy RPG with the core of movement, positioning, cooldown management, and large-scale planning. In combat, players directly lead squads instead of placing static units.

The AIC Factory System is one of the distinctive features that enable players to create and manage industrial facilities. Resource production, supply chains, and power distribution-in fact, all base building-expands heavily into progression. Success in combat depends on squad strength but also increasingly on how efficiently players manage industrial output, thereby binding strategy and infrastructure tightly.

Test Configuration Requirements

To get the devices of players ready on time for launch, Gryphline has published official system requirements in light of recent technical tests. These details detail the minimum and recommended hardware needed for smooth gameplay on PC, iOS, and Android.

PC

Component	Minimum	Recommended
Operating System	Windows 10 (64-bit), DirectX 11.1	Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit), DirectX 11.1 or GPU driver update to latest
CPU	Intel Core i5-9400F or equivalent	Intel Core i7-10700K or later
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or equivalent	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or later
RAM	16 GB	16 GB or more
Storage	55 GB free space	55 GB free space (+ 45GB temporarily free during decompression; SSD required for best performance)

IOS

Category	Minimum	Recommended
Device	iPhone 11 / iPad (A13 chip)	iPhone 13 Pro / iPad (A15 chip) or later
RAM	4 GB	6 GB or more
OS	iOS / iPadOS 15.0 or later	iOS / iPadOS 15.0 or later
Storage	28 GB or more	28 GB or more

Android

Category	Minimum	Recommended
Processor	Snapdragon 855 / Dimensity 1000 / Kirin 990	Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 / Dimensity 9000 / Kirin 9000S or later
RAM	6 GB	8 GB or more
OS	Android 10.0 / HarmonyOS 2.0.0 or later	Android 11.0 / HarmonyOS 4.0.0 or later
Storage	28 GB or more	28 GB or more

Play Arknights: Endfield on PC or Mac with MuMuPlayer

For the ultimate gaming experience, we suggest you download Arknights: Endfield PC on MuMuPlayer. This emulator offers several advantages:

1. Smooth Gaming Experience

Enjoy smooth, stable gameplay with high FPS—perfect for long sessions, exploration, or fast-paced moments. The larger screen and sharper visuals also make details, UI, and effects easier to read.

2. Smart & Customizable Controls

Customize smart keyboard and mouse mappings for precise and comfortable control. MuMuPlayer also supports gamepad input, offering a familiar, PC-like playstyle for any game genre.

3. Multi-Instance Productivity

Run multiple instances at the same time to boost efficiency. Ideal for managing accounts, farming resources, or multitasking between different in-game activities.

4. Full Platform Support

Fully compatible with Windows and macOS, delivering optimized performance across devices.

Conclusion

Arknights: Endfield will be the most ambitious evolution of the series and requires the most suitable preparation before the launch that is expected to take place on the 22nd of January 2026. The exact the release details, preload expectations, and confirmed reward milestones will help players from last-minute issues. Ensuring that your system has met the correct requirements and linking accounts in advance will also make a big difference. With the shift into a 3D real-time strategy RPG and the AIC Factory System, being ready means, you can fully enjoy Talos-II from day one.