Spine has been on our radar since we first saw it in 2021, thanks to its John Wick-meets-Batman: Arkham-inspired third-person combat. Our anticipation grew after playing it at Summer Game Fest 2025. It’s been a long wait, but we finally know Spine is launching next summer.
Developed by Nekki, Spine takes place in a cyberpunk world, where players control a graffiti artist named Redline. Sporting a sentient (as in talking) cybernetic implant called a Spine, Redline rebels against her city’s AI regime after it captures her brother. Ironically, she’ll need to rely on the physical enhancements granted by her mechanical implant to battle the city’s artificial oppressors.
Spine’s free-flow close-quarters combat emphasizes countering incoming attacks and using environmental interactions to manage large crowds of enemies. She can take down foes using flashy, martial-arts melee offense and use various firearms to keep distant foes at bay (and incorporate gunplay into her hand-to-hand offense à la John Wick). It’s better to watch the combat in action in the game’s latest trailer below.
When Spine launches during the summer of 2027, it will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The previously announced Switch 2 version does not have a release window.
To read about more news coming out of Gamescom, which is happening this week, read our piece gathering every notable announcement from Opening Night Live as well as our growing list of hands-on impressions from the event’s show floor.
