First ‘Dark Souls III’ expansion, ‘Ashes of Ariandel,’ teased in new gameplay trailer

By Danny Cowan September 21, 2016

Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment released a Dark Souls III trailer giving fans an early look at the upcoming Ashes of Ariandel expansion prior to its multiplatform launch in October.

Wednesday’s trailer gives an overview of the harsh arctic environments featured in Ashes of Ariandel and also offers a glimpse at the new enemies, creatures, and bosses players will encounter throughout the game.

Released for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows PCs earlier this year, Dark Souls III is the final chapter in developer From Software’s acclaimed action-RPG series. Dark Souls III dials up its difficulty significantly compared to previous series entries, which themselves are regarded as extremely difficult and uncompromising experiences.

From Software previously revealed that two downloadable content expansions will premiere for Dark Souls III in the year after its launch, with an initial offering arriving in October. Titled Ashes of Ariandel, the first Dark Souls III expansion introduces an all-new gameplay area defined by its snow-covered environments and blizzard-like weather conditions that reduce player visibility.

The newly issued trailer also reveals a handful of enemies exclusive to the forthcoming expansion, including heavily armored knights, hooded assassins, and insect-like demonic creatures. The expansion will also introduce new boss characters, including a gigantic wolf and a towering beast that wields what appears to be a gigantic cauldron filled with lava.

From Software will follow up on next month’s launch of Ashes of Ariandel with a second expansion in 2017, though further details regarding the developer’s future DLC plans are not yet known.

Ashes of Ariandel launches as a $15 add-on for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC versions of Dark Souls III on October 25. The expansion will be available as a free download for players who previously purchased Dark Souls III‘s digital Season Pass.

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