Developer Fatshark has unveiled its first major update for co-op shooter Warhammer 40,000: Darktide for 2024. Slated for release this month, the update, titled Path of Redemption, will bring with it a host of new features, including a revamp to the game’s Penance system.
For context, Penances in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide essentially act as in-game achievements that players can earn by taking on different challenges, playing on higher difficulties, and using various abilities. Some of these Penances were grouped up to then reward players with a new cosmetic item.
The new update will now allow players to earn Penance points, which count towards a new progression track featuring more than 40 tiers of unlockable rewards. There will also be more than 200 new Penances, and over 100 new rewards as part of the update, including new insignias, protrait frames, emotes, and outfits based on the loyalist Moebian 6th.
Team lead for the update, Björn, and design director on the game, Victor, have explained the studio’s decision in a new dev blog. According to the duo, the new Penance system was designed to give players more agency in how they earn rewards.
“There was one main driver behind reimagining the whole penance system: giving players more agency in Darktide,” wrote the duo in the dev blog. “We wanted to add fun and meaningful ways for players to earn more cosmetics, and give them new ways to challenge themselves. This update adds new and diversified goals to achieve, with a slew of rewards matching their investment in the game – whether they just started playing or are a returning player.”
Here are some of the changes coming to Warhammer 40,000: Darktide as part of the Path of Redemption update:
- A new free way to collect rewards: penance points will now count towards a progression track composed of 40+ tiers, allowing players to unlock earnable rewards.
- A new home for penances in the Mourningstar: Hestia will be in charge of keeping a record of the rejects’ penances and will join the rest of the Mourningstar crew in voice-overs during missions.
- 200+ new penances: a slew of new penances will be added to the game for players to complete. These will be divided into new categories.
- 100+ new earnable rewards: these will include new insignias, portrait frames, emotes, poses, weapon trinkets, and cosmetics such as the loyalist Moebian 6th outfits.
- New reward type – Titles: allowing players to brag about their most impressive achievements.
- Improved penance UI and menu: allowing players to better track penances and progress toward rewards.
- New puzzles, challenges, and collectibles: we are adding several puzzles across Tertium Hive for players to discover and solve.
- New enemy: the Dreg Tox Bomber will join the ranks of the heretics, hurling Blight Grenades filled with toxic fumes.
- New condition: Pox Gas will join the roster of conditions that can spread across Tertium. Recommendation: don’t breathe too deeply.
- The Personality Scourge: players will have the option to change additional aspects of your operative (background, height, name, and voice) in exchange for ordo dockets.
