The developers of the hardcore soulslike Valor Mortis have confirmed that the game will not have difficulty levels at launch. The project is intended to adhere to the traditions of the genre, offering players fair but demanding challenges. Szymon Bryła, a representative of the One More Level studio, spoke about this in an interview with journalists.
At launch, Valor Mortis will not have difficulty levels. The overall difficulty, in my opinion, should be the same as in any good soulslike: challenges should be difficult but rewarding for perseverance, remaining understandable and fair. Ultimately, everything depends on the player's skill, and I believe we have found a healthy balance.
The absence of difficulty levels has long been a subject of debate among players. Fans of soulslikes believe that fixed difficulty is an important part of the genre's philosophy, while other users advocate for the ability to adapt the gameplay to their own skills. Apparently, One More Level is in the camp of classic fans.
Valor Mortis will be released on October 13 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.