Dark Souls 2 PC Owners Will Get Discount On Scholar Of The First Sin

For those of you who own Dark Souls 2 on the PC and are currently debating as to whether or not you should double dip for the enhanced Scholar of the First Sin edition, Bandai Namco has some good news: You’ll be getting a discount.

One of the gripes I often hear concerning enhanced or updated versions of games is that folks who bought the original version feel like they’re being cheated in some way. “I would have totally waited had I known this version was coming out,” is a common argument and, to a degree, I can understand.

Then again, what’s the point in faulting a developer for wanting to make a more complete package of a well-loved game and, in doing so, possibly making more fans for the series?

Whichever side of the argument you fall on, chances are you’ll applaud publisher Bandai Namco’s recent announcement concerning the PC version of Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin. In a FAQ pertaining to the impending April 7 launch of the game, the developer explains some different pricing models for folks who buy the game fresh and those who have already purchased the original version of Dark Souls 2.

If you buy Scholar on the PS4 or Xbox One, you’ll be paying $59.99. Sorry, but thems the breaks. If you buy this latest version of the game in the DirectX9 format through Steam, you’ll be paying $39.99. If you want the DirectX11 version, you’ll need to part with $49.99. However, the DirectX11 price for people who already own Dark Souls 2 will be dropped down to $29.99. If you bought the game and all of the DLC, your price point will drop even further, down to just 20 bucks. Not a bad compromise, if you ask me.

Unlike many “Game of the Year” or “Plus” versions of games, though, Scholar of the First Sin will actually be changing the gameplay experience of Dark Souls II, not just giving the game a graphical facelift.

While the visuals and sound will certainly receive their requisite enhancements, the new version of the punishing action game will boast new enemy placement, map shortcuts and gameplay design. New weapons and armor will also be added, as well as the ability for NPCs to occasionally invade your world. Also, up to six players can enjoy the online portion, instead of the previous four. So even if you’ve already played Dark Souls II, Scholar should test your skills all over again.

If you haven’t played a modern From Software game in a while, you’ll want to give this one a gander. There’s a petition to bring the studio’s latest offering, Bloodborne, to PC but, given how exclusivity works and the fact that Sony published the game on PS4, I’m not sure there are enough signatures in the world to alter that particular situation.