The hype train continues for Days Gone as it fast approaches its release date, and now developer Bend Studio has something of a surprise for players eagerly awaiting the PlayStation 4 exclusive title: free post-launch DLC that adds a new ‘Survival’ difficulty, as well as weekly Bike, Horde and Combat challenges.
Days Gone is set for launch this Friday, April 26, and players will have about a month or two to play the game in what can be considered its launch state – following, of course, the massive updates already planned before launch – before the free DLC content starts rolling out by June.
Bend Studio game director Jeff Ross took to the PlayStation blog to announce the good news to fans. While the game initially ships with three difficulty modes – easy, normal and hard – each experience will still take about 30 hours of in-game time. This is not including all the open world exploring of other various activities including “open world hordes, ambush camps, infestation zones, mysterious NERO checkpoints, and dynamic events in the post-apocalyptic Oregon setting.”
For those seeking a tougher challenge than the three included difficulties, don't worry; it would seem, according to Ross, that, “starting in June, a whole new difficulty mode and new challenges each week are coming for all Days Gone owners with an active internet connection — for free!”
The ‘Survival’ difficulty is expected to test your resolve by challenging players with increased difficulty settings, elimination of fast travel options, no Survival vision and the lack of major HUD elements such as the map and various in-game indicators. It seems that this would be the definitive way to experience the game, if we’re going by the title’s post-apocalyptic setting.
Finally, Ross also states that the DLC will introduce the addition of challenges. These are given every week starting in June, and will either be a Bike, Combat or Horde challenge. Ross goes on to state that “these challenges take key gameplay features of Days Gone, and twists them in unique ways to earn additional items and rewards. We’ll give you more information on the specific challenges down the road.”
Beating the Survival difficulty and various challenges will be hard – and that is why players will be rewarded for doing so. New trophies associated with achievements, as well as unique bike skins are only some of the rewards that you’ll get for completing this free DLC.
Days Gone is set to be released this Friday, April 26, as a PlayStation 4 exclusive.
