COSM-GAME Kernel Hearts
Kernel Hearts is a premium co-op roguelike action RPG developed by Ephemera Games and published by Whitethorn Games. Players join the M.A.H.O.U Unit, an elite squad of android magical girls tasked with ascending the Tower of Babel, cutting through waves of angelic enemies, and defeating a god to prevent humanity's extinction. Each run focuses on climbing tower floors, defeating increasingly powerful foes, and facing a boss guardian at the end of each domain, with death returning the squad to a laboratory to apply permanent upgrades before the next attempt. Its defining mechanic is a real-time chip customization system called MAHOU.OS, which lets players equip up to 256KB of skill chips between runs to shape attacks, spells, and movement across solo play or four-player online co-op.
Game summary
On this page
Latest update
The most recent confirmed milestone for Kernel Hearts is the official release date announcement made on August 17, 2026, confirming the global launch for September 17, 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Alongside the date announcement, Ephemera Games revealed a crossover with Fortnite in which Fernet, captain of the M.A.H.O.U Squad, became available as an outfit in Fortnite beginning August 17 for Epic Games Store pre-purchasers, with a general Fortnite Item Shop release planned for September 26, 2026. A demo update was also announced for Steam Next Fest participation in June 2026, addressing feedback collected from the initial demo launch in March 2026.
Release date and status
Kernel Hearts launches simultaneously worldwide on September 17, 2026 across all announced platforms. No regional stagger or early access period has been announced. The game is Ephemera Games' debut title, and the release applies to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 all on the same date. A free demo has been available since March 31, 2026 on Steam and the Epic Games Store.
| Global release | Sep 17, 2026 |
| Original launch platforms | |
| Global status | Upcoming |
| Pricing model | Premium |
| Availability | SteamEpic Games StorePlayStation Store (available September 172026)Xbox Store (available September 172026)Nintendo eShop (available September 172026) |
Platforms and availability
Kernel Hearts is available on PC through both Steam and the Epic Games Store, with the Epic Games Store listing also supporting a pre-purchase promotion tied to the Fortnite Fernet outfit. Console versions launch September 17, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, available through the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Nintendo eShop respectively. No PC release outside of Steam or Epic, no cloud version, and no mobile version has been announced. No PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or original Nintendo Switch version has been announced.
Gameplay and setting
Kernel Hearts is a run-based action roguelike set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by ash. Players control one of four android magical girls in the M.A.H.O.U Unit, climbing the floors of the Tower of Babel through real-time hack-and-slash combat that chains light attacks, heavy strikes, dashes, and magic into fluid combos. Each floor is populated with angelic enemies, and every domain culminates in a boss fight against a guardian protecting that level of the Tower. Lingering too long on any floor triggers the Heavenly Curse, summoning progressively stronger enemies and pressuring players to keep moving. Spending time in the curse and then breaking it triggers a temporary magical girl transformation, a high-damage burst state that clears nearby enemies.
Between runs, the squad returns to a laboratory on the edge of humanity's last stronghold. Rewards earned during a run are spent here to unlock and equip skill chips through the MAHOU.OS system, with each unit supporting up to 256KB of chip capacity. Chips modify attacks, spells, movement options, health, and defense to build a preferred playstyle before the next run. Temporary run skills are acquired during a run itself, offering a secondary layer of build variety that resets on death. The Tower also hosts unique NPCs across its domains, and players can interact with them and give gifts to build relationships. The game supports solo play and online co-op with up to four players simultaneously.
The setting draws on a biblical apocalypse premise: a world drowning in ashes with the Tower of Babel as the last path to confront the source of destruction. The four playable units are Fernet (captain, saber and telekinesis), Spika (katana, strong melee mobility), Laika (greatsword), and Dolce (whip), each with distinct combat profiles suited to different roles in a co-op team. The game's art direction uses stylized 3D with anime aesthetics developed by Ephemera Games, a studio based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Trailer, screenshots, and media
The official release date trailer released August 17, 2026 shows gameplay footage from multiple Tower floors, the MAHOU.OS chip screen, the magical girl transformation burst state, and the Fernet Fortnite outfit reveal. The gallery includes gameplay screenshots from a demo build in April 2026 showing combat encounters on tower floors, the in-run skill selection UI, the MAHOU.OS chip customization screen between runs, a boss encounter inside a celestial domain, and a visual novel dialogue scene between unit characters.
Developer and publisher
Kernel Hearts is developed by Ephemera Games, an indie studio based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, formed in 2022. Kernel Hearts is the studio's debut title. Ephemera Games describes its mission as creating anime-inspired games told through a South American lens, and the team includes both new and veteran developers. The game is published by Whitethorn Games, a publisher based in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States, known for publishing indie titles across PC and console platforms.
| Developer | Ephemera Games |
| Publisher | Whitethorn Games |
| Official website | Kernel Hearts |
Download and availability
Kernel Hearts is available to purchase digitally on PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store, and on console through the PlayStation Store (PlayStation 5), Xbox Store (Xbox Series X/S), and Nintendo eShop (Nintendo Switch 2). The base game is priced at $19.99 USD on the Epic Games Store; Steam and console pricing should be verified at launch. No physical edition has been announced. A free demo is available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store ahead of the September 17, 2026 release.
System / Device Requirements
Official PC system requirements are published by Ephemera Games on Steam and the Epic Games Store. The two sets of published requirements differ slightly in GPU targets between storefronts; both are included below. Console versions run on fixed hardware for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, and no additional system requirements apply beyond owning the supported console.
PC (Windows) - Steam Official Requirements
PC (Windows) - Epic Games Store Official Requirements
Note: The Steam and Epic Games Store requirements list different GPU baselines. The Steam listing targets a GTX 1060 minimum, while the Epic listing targets a GTX 760 minimum. Players with hardware between these tiers should use the Steam listing as the more conservative reference for expected playable performance at minimum settings.
PlayStation 5
Kernel Hearts is confirmed for PlayStation 5. No additional hardware beyond the standard PlayStation 5 console is required. Install size has not been officially published ahead of the September 17, 2026 launch date.
Xbox Series X/S
Kernel Hearts is confirmed for Xbox Series X/S. Both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are covered under the announced platform. No additional hardware requirements beyond the standard console have been published.
Nintendo Switch 2
Kernel Hearts is confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 and will be available via the Nintendo eShop. No specific storage, firmware, or accessory requirements have been published ahead of the September 17, 2026 launch date.
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-9750H @ 2.60GHz or equivalent | Intel Core i7-10700 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or equivalent |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or equivalent | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 / GTX 1660 Ti or equivalent |
| Storage | 15 GB | 15 GB |
| Notes | Targets 1080p on Low/Medium settings; performance may vary during online co-op |
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel i5-4750 / AMD FX-8350 | Intel i5-7600 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 760 / AMD Radeon HD 7950 (2 GB VRAM) | NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 390 (4 GB VRAM) |
| DirectX | DirectX 11 | DirectX 12 |
| Storage | 12 GB | 16 GB |
| Login | Epic ID required for Epic Games Store version |
| PlayStation 5 specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Supported hardware | PlayStation 5 |
- Value
- PlayStation 5
| Xbox Series X/S specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Supported hardware | Xbox Series X/S |
- Value
- Xbox Series X/S
| Nintendo Switch 2 specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Supported hardware | Nintendo Switch 2 |
- Value
- Nintendo Switch 2