The Mourningstar is re-armed, and the visions of Sefoni are calling you back to the fray.
Fatshark has today released Bound By Duty, the latest massive, free content update for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. The update is live today for all players on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC, as well as Game Pass.
This huge drop of new content brings a host of exciting additions, with a major focus on expanding the roguelike, wave-based Mortis Trials mode. It also introduces a dangerous new enemy, new weapons, talent tree reworks, and a time-limited special event.
Another Dive into the Hive City
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a game we’ve thoroughly enjoyed, praising its incredible combat in our 4/5 review. We called it “a very good game stuffed full to bursting with visceral melee combat and great gunplay.” Our one “little complaint” was that “the missions do get a little samey after a while.“
The new Bound By Duty update feels like a direct and fantastic answer to that desire for more variety. By significantly expanding the highly replayable, roguelike Mortis Trials mode, Fatshark is adding a huge new layer of long-term, ever-changing content for players to sink their chainswords into.
Return to the Mortis Trials
The roguelike Mortis Trials mode, where you re-enter the visions of the ship’s Psyker, Sefoni, is getting a major expansion.
- New Arena – Theatre of Rectitude: A brand-new arena inspired by the frozen Adeptus Mechanicus Foundryplex from the Clandestium Gloriana mission.
- Two New Indulgences Archetypes: These new buff families will expand the breadth of combat styles. Emperor Favored is a crit-focused build that can compound into incredible power, while Goliath centres on mobility and resilience, allowing you to plow through hordes even when cornered.
- New Memory Echoes: Several new chapters have been added that expand the backstories of the NPCs on the Mourningstar, revealed between waves.
This update also introduces a dangerous new foe and some powerful new hardware for your Rejects.
- The Scab Plasma Gunner – A deadly new Specialist enemy is joining the roster. The Scab Plasma Gunner wields a powerful plasma weapon that will force you to adapt your tactics and brace for intense, high-damage attacks.
- New Weaponry – The Veteran class gets a powerful new toy with the Power Falchion, a single-edged power weapon with a unique heat-based mechanic. The Bolt Pistol and Boltgun have also received new marks that emphasise larger and more damaging explosive effects.
Balancing the Battlefield
The update is rounded out with a host of balance changes and quality-of-life improvements. The talent trees for the Veteran, Zealot, and Psyker have been reworked to provide more flexibility and build diversity. A new dodge counter has been added to the UI, and you can now replay missions from the Battle for Tertium campaign.
A new time-limited special event, Smuggled Munitions, will also be running, challenging you to hunt down Traitorous 6th squads in low-visibility conditions.
The forges are lit, and a host of new challenges are waiting for you in the depths of Tertium. With a massive expansion to the fan-favourite Mortis Trials and a host of other fantastic additions, the Bound By Duty update is the perfect reason to swear your oath and return to the fight.
The update is free and live today. You’ll obviously need a copy of the base game, whether that be on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 or PC. Let us point you the way of the Xbox Store in order to get that sorted – play on Game Pass if you like.