The foundations of the battlefield are about to shatter, and a new era of strategic chaos is dawning with the latest update for Predecessor.
Omeda Studios has officially announced the groundbreaking 1.8 update for its free-to-play, third-person MOBA, Predecessor, which will be available to all players across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC later today, September 2nd.
At the heart of this huge update is the World Shift, a revolutionary new in-game mechanic that will dynamically transform the map mid-match. This is all arriving alongside the highly anticipated new hero, the Demon King Akeron, and the start of a new Ranked Season.
A Bold Answer to ‘Samey’ Gameplay
When we first reviewed Predecessor, we were impressed by its core but felt it had room to grow. In our 3/5 review, we noted that it could “get a bit samey and a bit familiar, all a bit too quickly. Same map, same heroes, same gameplay.“
This new 1.8 update is the most direct and ambitious answer to that criticism yet. With a game-changing new mechanic that literally alters the map in real-time and a brand-new, original hero, Omeda Studios is making a bold statement about their commitment to evolving the game and redefining the MOBA genre.
The World Shift: A Dynamic New Battlefield
This is the headline feature and a true game-changer for Predecessor. For the first time, players will experience a battlefield that transforms dynamically mid-match. This isn’t just a visual change; the World Shift will introduce new pathways, new objectives, and new environmental threats in real time.
This will force teams to adapt their strategies on the fly, mastering fresh ward placements and anticipating new ambush angles from newly accessible areas like shadowy corridors and elevated platforms. It’s a bold evolution designed to make every single match feel more alive, immersive, and unpredictable than ever before.
The Demon King Arrives: Meet Akeron
The 1.8 update also marks a pivotal moment in the game’s lore with the arrival of the terrifying new hero, Akeron.
Akeron is the highly anticipated Demon King and the culmination of the “Ashes of the Damned” storyline that has been building over the past several months. He is the source of the corruption that has been spreading across the world, and his arrival is a major narrative event.
You’ll find that Akeron is a unique tank/offlane/jungle hero with a terrifying, spider-like design.
- Verticality: His standout ability allows him to grapple onto walls and traverse terrain in a way no other hero can, launching devastating surprise attacks from above.
- Sustain Tank: He is a true late-game monster. The longer Akeron remains in a fight, the stronger and more durable he becomes.
- Evolving Abilities: He features a unique set of augment options that allow players to customize his playstyle, affecting his passive, his ultimate, and his verticality mechanics.
What Else Is New in Update 1.8?
This is a massive update with a host of other new features and improvements.
A new ranked season, Ranked Split 2, kicks off with the update, featuring a soft reset, improved matchmaking quality, and new rewards, including an exclusive Serath skin. A new, angelic-themed Battle Pass also arrives, exploring the opposing forces to Akeron’s demonic theme.
And there will also be a global expansion and a host of performance boosts thrown in.
The game is also officially launching in Japan today, with a brand-new dedicated Asia server to support the growing player base. For PC players, new support for DLSS will provide a significant performance boost, and the team has confirmed that this also lays the groundwork for future console performance improvements.
The battle for the future of Predecessor begins today. With a revolutionary new map mechanic and a terrifying new hero, this 1.8 update is set to completely reshape the game as you know it. The update is free for all players and will be rolling out later today.
You’ll find the Predecessor base game available on Xbox, PlayStation and PC. Grab a download from the Xbox Store if you like. It’s free!
