Duet Night Abyss is launching without the mechanics that power most free-to-play action RPGs. Pan Studio has removed character and weapon gacha and cut the stamina (Sanergy) system entirely. Every character and weapon is obtainable through play, and the business model shifts to optional cosmetics like skins, animations, and accessories. The studio also says new characters will be permanent rather than time-limited.

What changed before launch

System Before (beta) Now (launch) Player impact
Character acquisition Character gacha banners No gacha; all characters can be earned through gameplay; new characters are permanent in principle Progress through play, no banner FOMO or roll spending
Weapon acquisition Weapon gacha alongside forging/grind No gacha; all weapons are earned via farming/forging Clear path to gear with repeatable activities
Weapon tiers Star ratings No star ratings Simplified item evaluation and build planning
Stamina (Sanergy) Daily-limited dungeon runs Removed Grind at your own pace, no daily energy pressure
Monetization Hybrid: gacha + cosmetics Cosmetics only (skins, special animations, accessories) Spending is optional and non‑competitive

How you unlock characters and weapons

The launch build centers on farming. You gather character fragments and weapon materials from repeatable content and craft or unlock items as you go. With Sanergy removed, dungeon and activity access is no longer time-gated, so you can run the content you need as much as you want.

Weapons no longer carry star ratings, which streamlines decision-making—builds revolve around loadouts and materials rather than chasing a specific rarity roll. There are no character or weapon banners, and new characters are intended to stick around rather than rotate out.

What you can spend money on

Paid content is cosmetic. The studio calls out character skins, special animations, and accessories as the focus. The PC store listing also highlights dyes and mix-and-match cosmetics for weapons and outfits, pointing to a wardrobe-driven economy rather than stat purchases.

  • Character skins and outfits
  • Special animations and visual effects
  • Accessories and dyes for broader customization

There are no pay-to-win mechanics in this model. Combat power comes from the time you invest in farming and forging, not from spending.

Why Pan Studio moved away from gacha

The team cites consistent player feedback from testing and internal analysis: even “softened” gacha systems and stamina limits didn’t resolve the core frustration. The shift prioritizes long-term retention and goodwill over short-term revenue spikes. By removing forced spending pressure and energy gates, the studio is betting that satisfied players who stick around will sustain a cosmetics-led business over time.

How it compares to Warframe-style economies

The structure will feel familiar if you’ve played grind-first, cosmetics-supported games. The loop is: play repeatable content, gather fragments and materials, unlock and craft without rolling the dice, and optionally buy cosmetics if you want to change how your characters look or animate. The emphasis is on player time as the path to progression, not probability.

Release timing and platforms

Duet Night Abyss is slated to launch on October 28, 2025, on PC, iOS, and Android. On iOS, the App Store listing shows the game as free with in-app purchases and open for pre-order on its app page.

The pivot is clear: progression is grindable, not luck-based, and spending is cosmetic, not competitive. The next test is balance—how quickly fragments and materials accrue, how generous repeatable content feels, and whether cosmetics are compelling enough to fund the live game over the long haul.