Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium: Difference between revisions

'''Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium''' known as 少女前线2：追放 in Simplified Chinese, 少女前線2：追放  in Traditional Chinese, 소녀전선2: 망명 in Korean and ドールズフロントライン2：エクシリウム (Dolls' Frontline 2: Exilium) in Japanese, is a game by [[Sunborn]] using XCOM-lite, tactical two-dimensional gameplay with 3D graphics and Physically Based Rendering and Non-Photorealistic Rendering. It launched for PC, Android and iOS on 21 December 2023 in CN, on 3 December 2024 on the Global Sunborn servers, and on 5 December 2024 in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Haoplay Global servers.

Despite being a sequel, Girls' Frontline 2 is due to run alongside [[Girls' Frontline]] rather than replace it.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJfVATUoTWY Girls' Frontline 4th Anniversary Livestream]</ref> The game includes voice lines in Japanese, Chinese and Korean.

Unlike in [[Girls' Frontline]], playable characters in Exilium are obtained from premium [[#Gacha|Gacha]].

*[[ST AR-15]] (shown in the 2022 trailer, mentioned in [[Robella/Profile|Robella's Records]])

*[[SV-98]], [[SVD]], [[9A-91]], [[AS Val]], [[G41]], [[P90]] (featured in [[Battlefield Echoes]])

*[[Welrod MkII]], [[PP-90]] (featured in [[Escape from Cyborg]])

*[[M4 SOPMOD II]] (featured in [[Deep Oblivion]])

*[[G41]], [[M4 SOPMOD II]], [[Sextans]], [[Groza?]], [[Heavy Ordnance Corps]] (teased in the 2nd Anniversary/[[Dawnforger]] preview stream)

**[[Antonina]] (Network Security Helper)

**[[Croque]] (Metal Suit Forever)

**[[Sol]] (Blazing Blade of Leo)

**[[Eos]] (Glimmer of Dawn)

**[[Hubble]] (The Stars My Destination)

**[[Sangoma]] (Lilac Herbalist)

*[[G41]] (featured in [[Needy Cat Girl Overload]])

*[[Type 56-1]] (featued in [[Auspicious Gallop Into Spring]])

====Gacha====

Like modern gachas and unlike the first game (where premium gacha was reserved for costumes), playable Dolls and their weapons are mostly obtained through premium gacha in Exilium. The main gacha currencies are the {{Icon|Access Permission}} Access Permissions to access permanent banners, and {{Icon|Targeted Access Permission}} Targeted Access Permissions for time-limited banners. Permissions are obtained in weekly or monthly shops, in events, or bought with {{Icon|Collapse Piece}} Collapse Pieces, the game's main currency, at a rate of 150 {{Icon|Collapse Piece}} per Permission. It's possible to convert the premium currency, {{Icon|Credit Token}} Credit Tokens, into {{Icon|Collapse Piece}} Collapse Pieces at a 1:1 rate. Not considering value packs and first-time buyer offers, 1 {{Icon|Collapse Piece}} is worth 0.0165 USD and 1{{Icon|Targeted Access Permission}} is worth 2.475 USD.

*In the permanently available '''Standard Procurement''' banner, during a single-pull, an {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} drop (Doll and weapon) has a base 0.6% chance of appearing, and a {{Color|GF2Purple|Standard}} drop (Doll or weapon) a base 6%, the rest of the drops being {{Color|GF2LightBlue|Retired}} weapons. Every tenth pull is guaranteed to grant a {{Color|GF2Purple|Standard}} or {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} drop. {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} drop rates become slightly enhanced after 58 pulls without obtaining an {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} drop. {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} drop rates continue to increase until the 80th pull, which is the “pity” limit and guarantees an {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} drop, at which point the enhanced drop rates are reset.

*Time-limited character banners are called '''Targeted Procurement'''. One time-limited Doll is added to the standard {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} Dolls pool. Only {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} Dolls can drop, not {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} weapons, which means that the base 0.6% {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} drop rate is no longer cut in half. When an {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} drop occurs, it has 50% chance of being the featured Doll. If the featured Doll isn't obtained in the first {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} drop (at worst 80 pulls), she's guaranteed to be obtained with the second {{Color|GF2Yellow|Elite}} drop (at worst 160 pulls).

**The worst possible case for obtaining a limited Doll (second pity, paid currencies only with no value packs) will cost 396 USD.

Duplicate Dolls and weapons can be used to enhance those already owned. If a Doll has been fully enhanced and a duplicate drops, it is converted to 18 {{Icon|Redundant Pieces}} Redundant Pieces if it is Standard or 90 {{Icon|Redundant Pieces}} Redundant Pieces if it is Elite. Each Retired (blue rarity) weapon pulled grants 2 {{Icon|Withdrawal Receipt}} Withdrawal Receipts, each Standard (purple) pull grants 12 {{Icon|Redundant Pieces}} Redundant Pieces and each Elite pull grants 60 {{Icon|Redundant Pieces}} Redundant Pieces. ({{Icon|Redundant Pieces}} Redundant Pieces are also obtained by destroying weapons in the storage menu.) These currencies are used to acquired materials and Elite weapons in the [[GFL2_Main_Screen#Shop|Shop]].

{{Icon|Withdrawal Receipt}} Withdrawal Receipts can also be used to buy 5 {{Icon|Access Permission}} Access Permissions and 5 {{Icon|Targeted Access Permission}} Targeted Access Permissions per month in the Growth Stack shop. Since the 2025-07-02 update in Global, an unlimited amount of {{Icon|Access Permission}} Access Permissions and {{Icon|Targeted Access Permission}} Targeted Access Permissions can be bought with {{Icon|Redundant Pieces}} Redundant Pieces in the Neural Integration shop at a rate of one per 30 {{Icon|Redundant Pieces}}.

Exilium's gacha is usually considered generous due to the amount of currencies accrued by playing the game regularly and many players have been able to collect all characters without using the premium shop.

**20{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} daily from Daily Patrol in [[Platoon]].

**30{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} daily from Combat Exercise.

**60{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} daily from Daily Activity.

**120{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} weekly from completing all four Bounties in [[Boundary Push]].

**225{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} weekly from having completed all Peak Value Assessment battles in the past.

**500{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} every two weeks from completing every objective in the season of Expansion Drills.

**300{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} every three weeks from completing the individual ladder rewards in Gunsmoke Frontline.

**300{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} every three weeks from completing the Platoon ladder rewards in Gunsmoke Frontline. Add 500{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} if the Platoon ranked among the top 5%.

**55{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} monthly from the free tier of the Voyage Log pass.

**120{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} monthly from daily logins.

**300{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} monthly for participating in 15 matches during in the season of Military Simulation.

**300{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} every six weeks from the Weekly Supply Box.

**1{{Icon|Access Permission}} (150{{Icon|Collapse Piece}}) weekly from Dispatch Shop.

**1{{Icon|Access Permission}} (150{{Icon|Collapse Piece}}) every three weeks from the Daily Supply Box.

**5{{Icon|Access Permission}} (750{{Icon|Collapse Piece}}) monthly from Boss Fight shop.

**5{{Icon|Access Permission}} (750{{Icon|Collapse Piece}}) monthly from the free tier of the Voyage Log pass.

**1{{Icon|Targeted Access Permission}} (150{{Icon|Collapse Piece}}) every three weeks from the Weekly Supply Box.

[[GFL2 Events|Story events]] usually run at a rate of one per month and net around 2000{{Icon|Collapse Piece}}, plus 3{{Icon|Access Permission}} (450{{Icon|Collapse Piece}}) and 3{{Icon|Targeted Access Permission}} (450{{Icon|Collapse Piece}}) from the event shop. Extra permissions and Collapse Pieces may be unlocked from other story event objectives and minor events.

A player who is part of an active but not top-rank Platoon and who completes all monthly tasks will earn on average a bit over 8500{{Icon|Collapse Piece}} monthly. Factoring in free {{Icon|Targeted Access Permission}} Targeted Access Permissions, this amounts to 60 free pulls on a time-limited banner per month on average. In practice, this amount is higher due to rewards from minor events, giveaways (from server maintenance compensations, taking part in surveys, playing character trials, etc), random drops from the Daily and Weekly Supply Boxes and the Platoon Daily Supplies, weekly [[Boundary Push|Phase Clash]] random Surprise Drop, and reinvestment of currencies earned while pulling the gacha.

Exilium features a 60-levels monthly Battle pass. The paying tiers are called Hunter's Path (9.99$) and Broker's Path (19.99$). Hunter's Path grants access to extra {{Icon|Targeted Access Permission}} Targeted Access Permissions, and Broker's Path to extra resources and player card customization.

Premium [[GFL2 Costumes|costumes]] and weapon skins are purchased with {{Icon|Credit Token}} Credit Tokens, which can also be used to purchase a few other resources in the shop. A variety of other subscriptions and packs granting resources and currencies can be bought through microtransactions.

Like the first game, the narrative medium is primarily a visual novel, but character sprites have their faces animated with [[Live2D]] (similar to [[Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery]]), 3D cutscenes have been added and the main story is voice-acted. Sunborn has stated that the story is sufficiently independent that it can be enjoyed without playing the first game.<ref name=GameWatch>[https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/1624604.html Game Watch interview]</ref>

Like the first game, the story is told in the permanent missions as well as limited-time [[GFL2 Events|Events]]. Additional lore in found in the [[Battlefield Echoes]], [[Classified Briefings]], [[GFL2 Loading Screens|loading screens]] and [[Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium Official Website Lore|official website lore]].

The technical side of development was deemed complete in January 2021, with focus switching to asset production.<ref name=4G2021>[https://www.4gamer.net/games/548/G054848/20210118024/ 4gamer 2021 interview]</ref> Producer Yuzhong and Director Smoke presented the game's features in the Beilan Island Shelter Broadcasts through 2021, such as the dorm system,<ref>[https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1ii4y157s2/ Bilibili] ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DF1LYV4Sn8 Translation])</ref> cross-platform features between PC and mobile,<ref>[https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1M44y1B7LP/ Bilibili] ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTJuXOxCta4 Translated])</ref> plans for a CN dub<ref>[https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV11q4y1W7uh/ Bilibili] ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqOMD2tPkwg Translated])</ref> and the weapon customization and gacha systems,<ref>[https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1jv411G7Bp/ Bilibili] ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWdzboSzA2Y Translated])</ref> and making a passing comment about the use of mods.<ref>[https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1X64y127aC Bilibili] ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0xc7-phGT0&t=702s Translated])</ref> A multiplayer mode was mentioned by Yuzhong in interviews.<ref>[https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20210430A0BGPQ00 Gamecores 2021 interview]</ref><ref name=4G2021 /> The game received a first closed beta test from 29 June to 3 July 2021<ref>CBT1 announcements [https://weibo.com/7367502517/KhzJ4vMTD], [https://weibo.com/7367502517/KmhY1Ffvd], [https://weibo.com/7367502517/Kn0KooAWi]</ref> and a second from 18 to 31 October 2021.<ref>CBT2 announcements [https://weibo.com/7367502517/KDhtxaknX], [https://weibo.com/7367502517/KFg1Y6Jpu]</ref> The non-final gacha system received special criticism. NPC artworks of [[Kalina]], [[Persica]] and {{doll name|UMP45|SMG|4}} (under the file name “laiya”) were found in the second closed beta.  

Sunborn committed to implementing major changes to the story, quality control of updates and player progression in a staff letter published 29 January 2024.<ref>[https://weibo.com/7367502517/NE6t00u8L Weibo]</ref><ref>[https://www.chuapp.com/article/289781.html Chuapp]</ref> Low player retention was also ascribed to the game's difficulty, causing Sunborn to rework player progression and refocus production to content over challenge.<ref name=Grapes>[https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ZNrW2qXs6V6nxOLaD3lRrg Youxiputao interview]</ref><ref name=4G2025>[https://www.4gamer.net/games/631/G063178/20250709033/ 4Gamer 2025 Interview]</ref> [[Klukai]] was implemented specifically to cater to the needs of players preferring to rely on automatic battle options, and auto-battle systems were refined before the launch of the other servers.<ref>[https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/oEj-gZc3ITTCNp2tmtdSHw Sunborn 10th anniversary interviews] (拉布拉多警长's interview), [[:File:Sunborn 10th Anniv Interviews Oct27.png|Archive]]</ref> A collaboration event with [[Project Neural Cloud]] was announced on 30 November during the preview stream for [[Mimisbrunnr's Loop]], it eventually ran in September 2025 under the title [[Project Neural Convergence]].

A CBT for PC and Android ran on Global's Sunborn launcher from 10 to 19 November 2024,<ref>[https://x.com/GFL2EXILIUM_EN/status/1849421410843889741 Twitter]</ref> with HaoPlay's version starting two days later as an open beta with limited places on PC, Android and iOS.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/EXILIUMGLOBAL/posts/pfbid0YG1yXoE1JZLffqWb8uTqzjwtm97kxNLYDxkPheLAzFDPJfxb8U5PmSgvD5J2yaeSl Facebook]</ref> Standalone clients were released for Sunborn's Global servers on 3 December 2024<ref>[https://x.com/GFL2EXILIUM_EN/status/1858842837791420601 Twitter]</ref> and Haoplay servers (Global, TW, JP and KR) on 5 December<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/EXILIUMGLOBAL/posts/pfbid025PvQFAqYjeX7F18K1YYxPsLtm26x19w4iEkqVLVDCTbzMLYsftQz5VFA46cLSJXjl Global Facebook], [https://www.facebook.com/EXILIUMTW/posts/pfbid0WdmvGBqusd2iCaWmEjvPi5boMuCDWUpq8poXEpS1BbWVTUactwDgTM9QVA7LV17al TW Facebook], [https://x.com/EXILIUMJP/status/1858842670950473741 JP Twitter], [https://x.com/ExiliumKR KR Twitter]</ref> (the official reason for the delay was to “ensure server stability”).<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/GirlsFrontline2/comments/1h69uih/letter_from_haoplay/ Report]</ref> These servers reportedly reached over 2 million players on the first day<ref>[https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/sne1sHrLaw8QMY74Om-dWA Youxiputao report]</ref> and revenue exceeded 100 million RMB in the first week<ref>[https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/qeTRmv_QHBv8dixaVwvXeg Sunborn 10th anniversary interviews], [[:File:Sunborn 10th Anniv Interviews Oct28.png|Archive]]</ref> (a January 2025 Gamelook report estimated the number was reached in only 3 days with KR server contributing most of it, and reached 400 millions after a month, compared to 20 million from CN servers over the same period).<ref>[http://www.gamelook.com.cn/2025/01/561767/ Gamelook]</ref>

Since launch, the UI of the dorm system displayed that it was in a beta state. A reworked Elmo menu and interactable 3D dorm system was announced during the first anniversary livestream,<ref>[https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1hqzpYpEkS/ Bilibili]</ref> and shown again in July 2025 under the names “Elmo Ultra” (艾莫号Ultra), “Big Lounge” (大休息室)<ref>[https://weibo.com/7367502517/Pz6OAeuzp Weibo]</ref> or [[Crew Deck]] (活动层)<ref name=CrewDeck /> ahead of implementation on 1st August 2025.<ref>[https://weibo.com/7367502517/PDFcnCkap Weibo]</ref> This update introduced [[Klukai]]'s “Cerulean Breaker” costume, obtained at a 1.18% rate exclusively in a new costume gacha with a banner lasting over 330 days, and not available for direct purchase with {{Icon|Credit Token}} Credit Tokens. Probability to obtain “Cerulean Breaker” would start to increase starting at 50 pulls, and be guaranteed at the 100th pull. Pulling on this new gacha required a new {{Icon|Outfit Access Permission}} Outfit Access Permission, which couldn't be bought with Collapse Pieces in the general shop, only with 120 {{Icon|Credit Token}} Credit Tokens per Permission. With 1{{Icon|Credit Token}} costing 0.1 CNY, using only premium Outfit Access Permissions and ignoring value packs, this meant that hitting the pity would cost 1200 CNY (about 167 USD at the time). Outside of one-time missions, Outfit Access Permissions could only be earned for free at a rate of one per week, through dorms-related weekly missions. The gacha also dropped [[Andoris]]' “Midnight Whisper” costume (1.21% drop rate), and costumes accessories for “Cerulean Breaker” and “Midnight Whisper”, weapon skins and rare dorm furnitures in a 12.09% drop rate pool. The remaining 85.52% drop rates of the pool was made of lower-rarity furniture, gift boxes and a new currency exclusive to the gacha, {{Icon|Breaker Coin||gfl2}} Breaker Coins. Duplicate gacha drops would also be converted into Breaker Coins. These Breaker Coins could be used in the costume gacha's “pity shop” (reminiscent of [[Girls' Frontline]]'s {{Icon|Exchange Ticket}} Exchange Tickets) to obtain most of the items available in the gacha pool, with the notable exception of “Cerulean Breaker”. The "pity shop" was the only way to obtain [[GFL2 Items#Time Capsule - Pulse-Racing Night|Time Capsule - Pulse-Racing Night]], an interactive scene for [[Makiatto]]'s “Embroidered Bamboo, Blooming Shadows” costume (teased months prior without specified obtention method). This "pity shop" system meant that players could obtain the grand prize “Cerulean Breaker” before having obtained all items in the gacha pool, and need to continue pulling the gacha as the items couldn't be purchased with a currency unrelated to the gacha.<ref>[[:File:GFL2 Costume Gacha Drops.jpg]], [[:File:GFL2 Costume Gacha Drop Rates.jpg]] [[:File:GFL2 Costume Gacha Shop.jpg]]</ref> Besides the gacha, furniture to be used in the new housing system could be purchased, for prices in the thousands for the most expensive, using {{Icon|Merkle Leave||gfl2}} Merkle Leaves, a new furniture currency obtained in weekly missions, but also with {{Icon|Credit Token}} Credit Tokens at a 1:1 rate. Players pointed out that one furniture in the form of [[Mr. Pizza]] would cost more to acquire with premium currency in the game than as a physical plushie. The conditions surrounding these new systems were not communicated to players ahead of time.

On 9 October 2023, during the Gravitation Test, Sunborn issued an apology regarding content deemed inappropriate in Qiongjiu's storyline<ref>[https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4955085072501153 Weibo]</ref> (apparently due to the use of quotes from founder of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong). An [[GFL2_Story/Summary#Datamined_version|incomplete version]] of the first story event was datamined and drew criticism, though Sunborn never commented speficially on this matter.<ref>[https://www.chuapp.com/?c=Article&a=index&id=290096 Chuapp]</ref> In a Beilan Island Shelter Broadcast the following month, Yuzhong announced that he would be revising the game's script, particularly in terms of “clashes with established setting” and “characterization”.<ref name=Beilan14>[https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1tC4y1E7ZW/ Bilibili] ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY6bezlw-Cc Translation])</ref> In January 2024, after [[Daiyan (GFL2)|Daiyan]]'s character event had run, Sunborn announced that its plot was being reworked by a new writing team and that the full story of [[Centaureissi (GFL2)|Centaureissi]]'s event would not be included in the event.<ref>[https://www.bilibili.com/opus/891997138982010901 Bilibili]</ref> Initially, Yuzhong had only provided the outline of Exilium's story and later feedback to the writers, but became more involved after the negative reviews.<ref name=Grapes /> Yuzhong stated in a July 2025 interview that the goal of the rewrites was to refocus the story on main events and characters.<ref name=4G2025 />

In the [[Project Neural Convergence]] update of September 2025 in CN, the three parts of story event [[Corposant]] were added to the campaign as chapters 13, 13.5 and 14.<ref>[https://weibo.com/7367502517/Q3k8LpX6R Weibo]</ref> With the [[Dawnforger]] update of December 2025, Corposant was renumbered as chapters 13, 14 and 15, and [[Antiparallel]] was added to the campaign as chapters 16 and 17.<ref>[https://weibo.com/7367502517/Qg63Hb8VR Weibo]</ref>

**[https://www.youtube.com/@EXILIUMGL YouTube]

*[https://video.weibo.com/show?fid=1034:4981104407674950 Full OBT trailer (JP)] (music by MeLo, 大九_LN and Polyblue for [[Vanguard Sound]])<ref>[https://weibo.com/7367502517/Ny1WOiwmp Weibo] (JP voice)</ref>

*[https://weibo.com/tv/show/1034:4981106873925684 Full OBT trailer (CN)] (music by MeLo, 大九_LN and Kinoko蘑菇 for [[Vanguard Sound]])<ref>[https://weibo.com/7367502517/Ny22fAEKp Weibo] (CN voice)</ref>

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHsLi8KCqk4 Beta trailer “Frontline without Girls”] (reused as start screen video for anniversary)