Dark Souls 2 is fiendishly difficult, but an upcoming patch will allow newcomers to lessen the onslaught and complete the open-world adventure with fewer deaths. An update on the game's official Japanese website (via GameSpot) has revealed that From Software will add a patch later this month to introduce a new effigy: the Bonfire Sybaritic.
This particular item will reduce the number of souls the player receives per action, but in exchange, enemies will go down easier. These newcomers will also have full health while in a Hollowed state and use less stamina while blocking and attacking.
“While the majority of our fans prefer the intense difficulty of [Dark Souls 2], fan feedback and user testing have revealed that it's also the biggest barrier to bringing new players into the experience,” explained game designer Hidetaka Miyazaki. “We wanted to introduce an item that makes the game more manageable for newcomers."
That means that this update won’t change the difficulty for anyone who simply wants to ignore the item, so don’t get too riled up over the thought that From Software is ruining your game. The first Sybaritic will be free, which subsequent purchases costing 500 souls from a merchant in Majula at the start of the game.
“We hope new players will use this as a chance to get better at the game," Miyazaki continued. "After getting accustomed to the gameplay and exploration, they can then increase the difficulty at any time back to normal by burning one Bonfire Ascetic."
Japan will get the update later this month, but no release has been confirmed for the West.
