New ‘Far Cry 4′ DLC In January: Death Is More Punishing

It’s only been a month since players entered Far Cry 4‘s Kyrat, but it looks like Ubisoft is anxious to make sure players don’t make a departure from the mountainous region of their award-winning shooter.

The developer unveiled the first DLC for Far Cry 4 this week, called Escape from Durgesh Prison, which will be available for download on January 13, 2015. This DLC (high-res screenshots below) aims to add a slightly different experience than Far Cry players are used to. Rather than just an added mission and weapons, the new DLC will allow players to compete against each other in a time trial experience.

Creating a time trial experience is a strange move by Ubisoft – and one that sounds boring on the surface – but Far Cry 4′s spin on it makes it interesting and could get hardcore players and DLC buyers to replay it multiple times in an effort to beat their friends and climb the leaderboards. Add to that the fact that the new DLC can be done solo or co-op, and the competition gets even more intense.

In Escape from Durgesh Prison Ajay and Hurk wake up after being captured, tortured and stripped of their weapons in Yuma’s prison. Thrown in the dangerous world of Kyrat without anything to defend themselves with, players will complete a series of challenges to find weapons and unlock new skills while trying to reach the extraction point to safety.

Anyone who’s played Far Cry 4 understands the difficulty of succeeding in the game without a weapon, even at the beginning of a mission. And while players will be able to recover lost weapons and upgrade their gear by completing side missions from the game’s antagonist, Pagan Min, they will lose it all again if they die. They’ll also have to start the mission over. Permadeath.

To ramp up the challenge, when players die they must start the mission over again and use the knowledge and skills they gained during their previous run through to help them reach their extraction point successfully.

While the thought of having to start all over after failing may sound daunting, it’s also something different and exciting. Destiny has found success in implementing the same Dark Souls style repercussion to players who attempt certain in-game weekly events, which makes players start them all over if they all die.  Rather than deterring players to jump in, such consequences pushes them to get better and try again.  For those older gamers, it’s also reminiscent of classic video games like Contra and others, where death would mean starting a mission, or even the game, all over.

The Escape from Durgesh Prison DLC is available as part of the Far Cry 4 Season Pass, or can be purchased separately for $9.99. Those who opt for the $29.99 Season Pass can also look forward to future DLCs and packs:

• The Syringe – Already available exclusively for Season Pass holders, players must keep a rare and potent recipe from falling into the hands of Pagan Min’s forces. Playable in single-player and co-op, players will need to ensure that he does not use its devastating effects on the rebel forces.


• Hurk Deluxe Pack – Five missions, playable in single-player and co-op, including Yak Farm, Blood Ruby and Hurk’s Redemption are available. Access an arsenal of new weapons including a harpoon gun for Hurk.


• Overrun – Team up as Rakshasa or Golden Path in this PvP mode and control a series of neutral locations across Kyrat’s countryside to protect them from being overrun by your opponents.


• Valley of the Yetis – Ajay’s helicopter has crashed on an unforgiving Himalayan ridge. Explore the frozen landscape and find tools to upgrade your camp and protect it from a dangerous cult when night falls. With single-player and co-op options, players will not be alone, but in the darkest caves players will have more to fear than the cult as the yetis await their prey…

What are your thoughts on a time trial mission in Far Cry 4? Are you planning to pick up the DLC? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Far Cry 4 is available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Source: Ubisoft

New ‘Far Cry 4′ DLC In January: Death Is More Punishing