Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is getting its first DLC with new content as well as a free update for all. The developers invited MeinMMO to see the new class in advance, but that is just one of the highlights.
What kind of game is this?
- In Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, you play as a convicted criminal who must complete missions in the macro-pole Atoma that are too dangerous for “normal” servants of the Imperium.
- Cultists of Chaos have infected the Underhives, and now you must restore order. Your survival is optional (unless you want to complete the mission).
- Similar to Left4Dead, you play in co-op with groups of 4 players and must complete various tasks in each mission, defeat hordes of enemies, and receive a reward at the end.
This is included in the DLC: With the Arbites DLC, the first new class comes into play, the namesake lawkeeper of the Adeptus Arbites. You will have the chance to play as a policeman instead of a criminal for the first time.
The Arbites is a kind of tank class that focuses on high health and enemy control. It comes with a wide selection of new weapons, skills, and a companion:
- Arbites shock maul and shotgun are improved versions of the weapons already in the game.
- Additionally, you have a shield that you can carry along with a melee weapon or even a pistol.
- Your cyber-mastiff is a cybernetically enhanced dog with steel limbs and jaws that you can command to attack enemies.
- With your abilities, you can make yourself tougher or empower allies by deploying a speaker skull that propagates buffs for the team (and debuffs for enemies).
The Arbites DLC will be released on June 23 for all platforms (Steam, Xbox, Game Pass, PS5) and will cost €11.99 or €18.99 in the Deluxe Edition with cosmetic extras like skins and portrait frames.
The Space Robocop is cool, but the free upgrades are the highlight
From a gameplay perspective, the Arbites fits excellently into the other classes. It is not significantly stronger or weaker and has its role in the team. Until now, the hefty Ogryns were the meat shields of the team, but they were slow and the “heavy weapons guys.”
The Arbites is a “human” tank with many options and different play styles—either with a greater focus on defense, support, or the companion. Mainly, as an Arbitrator, you are there to incapacitate enemies and enable the team to secure kills.
And yes: You can freely name and pet the dog (and also give it different skins that look quite grotesque, typical of Warhammer).
Along with the paid DLC, there will also be a free update for all players of Darktide. This brings improvements to weapons like shotguns as a general category (so you don’t feel obligated to buy the Arbites for its pump). The free update includes among other things:
- an improved story plus campaign that you can play (or skip) – and a “debriefing” after missions to show your impact
- better onboarding for new players, meaning: gameplay and story are better linked to make the entry smoother
- revised difficulties that you now unlock based on skill and not just level
- more missions that are available to you simultaneously, and all are playable on any difficulty
After Darktide has already eliminated many criticisms from existing players with Unlocked and Loaded and significantly improved the game, the upcoming update feels ideal for starting with the game.
If you have not had anything to do with the universe so far, some of the contents may sound strange, but the game is excellent for getting acquainted. Darktide is, just like its predecessor Vermintide, one of the best games to start exploring the worlds of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000.
