Nioh 3 is a pretty loaded action RPG with plenty of things to do and plenty for eager samurai to discover, but since it’s been a tremendous success for Koei Tecmo, free content updates are expanding its many features ahead of the paid season pass DLCs (which, for anyone that knows the series, is par for the course by now).
On 20th April, producer Kohei Shibata announced with an official post on Team Ninja’s site that on the 27th April (a week from now) a notable free update to the game will add various systems and new content to the title.
“We would first like to express our gratitude to the many players around the world who have taken the time to play Nioh 3 since its release. We are currently hard at work developing future updates and DLC for the game,” the post stated before explaining what’s coming alongside the next patch. At the time of writing, the season pass DLCs are scheduled for September 2026 and February 2027 respectively, so it’s good to also receive confirmation progress on those has been smooth.
The new free content includes “multiple high-difficulty Battle Scrolls” (side missions) which can be accessed from shrines, the addition of a Stone of Penance item “which increases accessory +Values and rarities in exchange for higher difficulties”, and new skills given as rewards for completing the aforementioned high-level Battle Scroll missions.
The patch will also include “balance adjustments to enhance certain Graces”, but specifics haven’t been shared yet, so stay tuned for the full patch notes in the coming days. As usual, the team encourages players to keep tabs on the game’s social media channels.
Eurogamer’s review of Nioh 3 called the threequel a new high for the ‘masocore’ series and “the crucible in which all of Team Ninja’s experience has been siphoned into.” It’s sold over one million copies (and counting) since its 6th February launch.
