Although it wasn’t a priority to start, the most in-demand post-launch content for Dishonored 2 isn’t a DLC expansion but rather a New Game Plus mode. Players were initially baffled that a New Game Plus mode wasn’t included in the first place given the fact that Dishonored 2 can’t be fully understood with one playthrough - sending players back to square one without the Bone Charms they had collected and the powers they had acquired in their second playthrough seemed unnecessarily cruel. Luckily, Bethesda listened to the demands of Dishonored 2 fans, and now New Game Plus is on the way with an official release date of December 19.

That isn’t all, however. In an effort to give the New Game Plus mode a truly unique feel in Dishonored 2, Bethesda also announced that the new feature would allow players access to both Corvo and Emily’s different powers. Previously, Corvo and Emily’s power trees were entirely separate from one another, and gamers assumed that the New Game Plus mode would simply give them an equal number of Runes, the in-game currency with which players get new powers, to the ones they had invested in during their first playthrough.

The ability to mix and match Corvo and Emily’s powers is an exciting addition to the game, and it’s likely enough to draw in gamers who previously weren’t interested in a second playthrough even with a traditional New Game Plus mode added in. The ability to combine powers will also make for some incredibly broken character builds, so those looking to power through their second playthrough of Dishonored 2 with an unstoppable killing machine will have little trouble in doing so.

Bethesda also promised that a second free update for Dishonored 2 is on the way in January, with the option to select specific missions to playthrough again and additional Custom Difficulty Settings that will “further tailor to your playstyle and adjust the challenge based on a wide array of settings”. No details were provided for what these Custom Difficulty Settings might be, but it’s another promising addition to accompany another feature, mission select, that fans felt should have been in Dishonored 2 in the first place.

Are the changes to Dishonored 2 enough to draw you back in for that second playthrough? Have you already played as Corvo and Emily because you couldn’t wait? Let us know in the comments below.

Dishonored 2 is available now for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.