The game’s “New Game +” mode, which was previously announced as a way for you to run through the game a second time with full upgrades, will also allow you to select either Emily or Corvo and choose from the “full suite of abilities” from both characters, combining them as you see fit.
Given the effectiveness of Emily’s “domino” ability and Corvo’s “bend time,” we see this as a chance for Dishonored 2 speedrunners to get even more creative with their kills. Want to make a guard shoot himself with his own bullet, as well as everyone surrounding him? Now you can.
The New Game + mode will also let you retain all the runes and bonecharms you’ve previously collected, so you’ll be able to mix powers together from the very beginning, instead of having to wait a few missions as you build up your collection.
“We’ve been having fun with it here at Arkane Studios, and we hope you will too,” said creative director Harvey Smith in the announcement.
The Dishonored 2 New Game + update is available now as a beta for PC users, and will be available to PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 users next Monday, December 19. A second update arrives next month, which will add custom difficulty options and the ability to select individual missions.
Developer Arkane Studios is keeping busy following Dishonored 2‘s release. The studio is also working on a reboot of the Prey franchise — the game lets you possess a coffee mug.