Previously teased at E3 2021, Mortal Shell: The Virtuous Cycle is now confirmed as a new roguelike mode coming for Mortal Shell next month. Mortal Shell: The Virtuous Cycle will release on August 18, 2021, across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. The Virtuous Cycle will be the biggest update for the title as it will introduce a game-altering roguelike experience. The expansion will set you back $7.99.
Developer Cold Symmetry has announced that the expansion will release across all platforms simultaneously despite previous anticipations of only a PC release. In celebration of the release of its first expansion, Mortal Shell will also release on Steam on the same date so players will be able to purchase both the game and the expansion on the same date. At this point, the Steam version of Mortal Shell has over 300,000 wishlists. A new release date trailer for Mortal Shell: The Virtuous Cycle is now available as well. Check it out below:
The Virtuous Cycle will offer you a completely different experience of Mortal Shell through Falgrim and beyond. Every time you die in the game, the enemies will cycle and shuffle. The game will however remain as demanding and brutal as ever so there will be no difference in that sense. With The Virtuous Cycle, you will never be able to tell what lies ahead of you offering a completely different challenge.
As you explore the world of Mortal Shell: The Virtuous Cycle, you will find new pillars that bestow new talents for you to inherit. The Virtuous Cycle will add over 100 new abilities for you to discover and combine them together ranging from exotic weapon enhancements to entirely new combat maneuvers. You will be free to create and develop your very own combat style in the game.
Mortal Shell: The Virtuous Cycle also grants you command over Hadern, your elusive teacher by giving you access to his Shell, making it the fifth possessable Shell in the game. Hadern’s unique skill tree unlocks a new domain of innate talents, from dagger mastery to an intimidating ability to absorb punishment. It can be used both in The Virtuous Cycle and Mortal Shell’s main campaign.
For killing your enemies, you get a new weapon as well called Axatana which is the game’s most venerable weapon. It allows you to switch between a supreme heavy axe or the lightning-fast dual katanas on command. Both forms of the weapon allow a unique moveset and you can unlock whatever fancies you. Francesco Zacchini, Technical Designer at developer Cold Symmetry said:
Designing and developing The Virtuous Cycle DLC has been a blast. We have crammed in over 100 new abilities alongside new lore, the transforming Axatana weapon, and Hadern as a playable shell. I can’t wait to see all the ways players are going to break the roguelike mode that we created. I think they’re going to have a lot of fun with that.
If you want to know more about Mortal Shell, make sure that you check out our comparative review of the PS5 release of Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition and our original complete review of the PS4 release of Mortal Shell.
Are you looking forward to jumping back in Mortal Shell to try out the new roguelike mode expansion The Virtuous Cycle? Let us know in the comments section below.
