Not content to torment PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360 gamers with its mind-numbingly challenging fantasy action, From Software has confirmed that Dark Souls II is coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on April 7, 2015. Publisher Bandai Namco’s newly enhanced edition of the game, bearing the subtitle Scholar of the First Sin, is also coming to PS3, Windows, and X360 on the same day.
Scholar of the First Sin makes some changes to the game that was first released in March 2014, starting with rebalanced action and an expanded story that includes an assortment of new NPCs. Best of all, existing Dark Souls II owners don’t need to worry about ponying up for Scholar, since the above-mentioned add-ons are also pegged for a free update. The PS4 and XB1 versions further enhance the experience with improved graphics and increased numbers for online play.
Related: Dark Souls II review
In addition to all of that, Scholar of the First Sin also includes the three previously released downloadable content packs for Dark Souls II. Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King were all released separately, but together they form a trilogy that capably expands on the ideas laid out in Dark Souls II while also forging ahead in new directions.
Interestingly, Scholar of the First Sin comes shortly after the launch of another infernally challenging action role-playing game by From Software: Bloodborne. This PlayStation 4 exclusive shares some of the same characteristics with the Souls series, but the little we’ve seen suggests it leans more on offensive play than the careful parry/strike dance that characterizes the three Souls games to date. Bloodborne is set to arrive on March 24, just two weeks before Scholar of the First Sin.
