Planet of Lana II returns to Novo with new factions in 2026

Table of Content

Thunderful has outlined the first concrete story and world details for Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf. The sequel continues Lana and Mui’s journey on Novo after the arrival of advanced alien technology reshapes the planet’s balance of power. The developers emphasize a wordless, invented language approach to storytelling, encouraging players to piece together meaning through context. The new chapter introduces three competing factions, expanded environments, and a 6-8 hour campaign. The studio is targeting an early 2026 release on Xbox consoles and Xbox on PC.

A wordless story, rebuilt for a changed Novo

As in the original, dialogue is delivered in a fictional language with no subtitles, positioning the narrative itself as a puzzle. The sequel picks up after Novo’s first contact with advanced machines, thrusting communities into survival mode and reshaping daily life. Lana and her companion Mui embark on a new rescue and resistance effort when Lana’s niece is caught up in escalating exploitation under a rising power.

Shifting powers: three factions define the conflict

Since the events of the first game, three major groups have emerged—each with a distinct stance on the machines and how to live alongside them. These factions set the tone for exploration, stealth, and problem-solving across Novo.

• Tailo Village – Lana’s lakeside home embraces a pragmatic coexistence, using machines for agriculture, fishing, and infrastructure. The relationship is framed as symbiosis, not domination.
• Wemari Village – Hidden in an ancient forest, this protective community is skeptical—and often hostile—toward the wandering machines, demanding cautious traversal through dangerous terrain.
• The Dijinghala – A new society rising in the desolate North, repurposing machines to strip Novo’s natural resources. Their expansion creates direct, high-stakes confrontations for players.

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Broader biomes, fresh encounters

The campaign spans a wider cross-section of Novo with snowy mountains, deep oceans, ancient forests, forgotten ruins, and urban areas. Each zone introduces new creatures and gameplay variations designed to expand on the original’s blend of platforming, stealth, and environmental puzzles. The studio pegs the runtime at 6-8 hours, with added emphasis on discovering secrets about Novo’s distant past, both human and non-human.

Platforms and release window

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is planned for release in early 2026 on Xbox consoles and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title. The game will be available day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Bottom line: a familiar heart, a larger canvas

Why it matters – Planet of Lana II keeps the original’s wordless storytelling and companion-driven play while expanding its scope with factional tensions and more diverse environments. For players, that means a focused 6-8 hour journey that rewards curiosity, reads context over dialogue, and explores how communities adapt—together or apart—when their world changes overnight.