Fatshark has revealed the next major free update for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. Titled Bound By Duty, the update arrives on September 23, 2025, across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
The centerpiece of the update is an expansion to Mortis Trials, Darktide’s roguelike, wave-based mode. Players can return to this experimental combat gauntlet with a brand-new arena, Theatre of Rectitude, inspired by the frozen Adeptus Mechanicus Foundryplex from the Clandestium Gloriana mission.
New Indulgences and Memory Echoes
Two new Indulgence archetypes expand how players can approach Mortis Trials:
- Emperor Favored – Crit-focused buffs that grow exponentially over a run, enabling devastating endgame builds.
- Goliath – Mobility and resilience perks, including sprint-based staggers to break through hordes.
Additionally, players can unlock new Memory Echoes, which add to the story by revealing more about Sefoni the Psyker, the Mourningstar, and the hidden past of Darktide’s cast.
Meet the Scab Plasma Gunner
A new Specialist enemy, the Scab Plasma Gunner, joins the fray. Armed with a plasma weapon capable of punishing bursts of high damage, this adversary will force squads to rethink their positioning and crowd-control strategies.
New Arsenal for Veterans and More
The update also delivers a new weapon family:
- Power Falchion – A single-edged, one-handed power weapon that overheats with prolonged use, offering risk-reward gameplay similar to the Zealot’s Relic Blade. Two marks of the Falchion will be available at launch.
Other new firepower includes:
- Bolt Pistol Mk VI Godwyn-Branx – Featuring explosive rounds with greater impact on hit.
- Boltgun Mk III Locke – Emphasizes explosive damage for brutal encounters.
Talent Tree Reworks and Class Balance
Fatshark has also taken the opportunity to rework class talent trees for Darktide. Veterans, Zealots, and Psykers will enjoy more flexible builds with increased player agency. At the same time, Ogryns and Arbites receive more minor quality-of-life adjustments, the goal: deeper customization, more meaningful choices, and better overall balance.
Limited-Time Event: Smuggled Munitions
The update introduces a new special event, Smuggled Munitions. Traitorous forces have seized plasma weapon caches, and players must take them down under harsh low-visibility conditions like Ventilation Purge and Lights Out.
Additionally, Havoc mode gains a new Contaminated Stimms modifier, which enhances enemies with stimm buffs, while the fan-favorite Rotten Armor event returns as another Havoc option.
Quality-of-Life Enhancements
- Dodge Counter – A new on-screen indicator shows how many dodges remain.
- Replayable Campaign Missions – Players can revisit stages from the Battle for Tertium storyline.
Watch the Trailer
Check out the new Bound By Duty trailer below.