New Dead Cells Update Adds A Katana, New Enemies

Dead Cells' latest free update is live now, just in time for players to dive back into the beloved roguelike over the holidays. The update adds new content--including the much-requested katana--as well as reworks and tweaks on existing systems.

While Dead Cells got its full release over two years ago, the side-scrolling roguelike still receives regular updates, and is in line for a brand new DLC set to launch early next year.

The new update introduces the Katana weapon for the first time, as well as a new mob in the form of the community-suggested explosive crossbow-brandishing Demolisher. Motion Twin says the Demolisher will mainly be found in the Distillery at BC0 and later in the game as an alternative upgrade to the Knife Thrower.

A new lore room has been added to flesh out the story around the mysterious Hand of the King, though players will have to search for the room "somewhere in the castle." The update will also add new outfits, including some Christmas-themed costumes, as well as adding Camembert as a new food item that speaks to Motion Twin's Frenchness.

The update has also added some big reworks to systems including weapon colors, which have been modified to maintain consistency across a broader range of weapons. The backpack and three of its related mutations have been tweaked, while the Malaise mechanic has also been improved thanks to player feedback.

The full list of patch notes, including more minor fixes and tweaks can be found here. The update is live now for players on Steam, though console players will have to wait until January for it.