How To Start Bloodborne's The Old Hunters DLC

It's hard to believe, but Bloodborne's first major DLC, The Old Hunters, is set to arrive this Tuesday, Nov. 24, on the PlayStation Network. But as we should have probably expected out of such a punishing game, even getting to the DLC won't be a simple process. Thankfully, all of the steps necessary to reach this new content have been laid out for eager hunters in advance.

When The Old Hunters arrives for Bloodborne this Tuesday, it'll include a brand new map called The Hunters Nightmare, complete with new regions to explore, new weapons to collect, new enemies to face and new bosses to destroy (after first being destroyed by them several times over).

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Studio Producer Masaaki Yamagiwa recently dropped by the PlayStation Blog to reveal some last minute details about the update (which will set you back $19.99), including information on how to actually access it from within the dark and twisted world of Bloodborne.

What's kind of funny and supper appropriate for a game as tough as Bloodborne is that you won't be able to download the DLC and just jump right in. The blog post does a good job of explaining how you'll access The Hunter's Nightmare, beginning with a battle against one of the mid-game bosses, the beast of the Cathedral Ward. Once you've done that, you can investigate the alter at the back of their room to change the game's clock to nighttime. If you've got a save file where you're already past this point in the game, you'll be able to waltz in and do this with a quickness. Otherwise, you've got some work to do first.

With the game set to night, you'll want to head back to the Hunter's Dream, where some helpful messengers will give you a new item called the Eye of the Blood-drunk Hunter (lovely). Go back to the Oedon Chapel and head out the left exit next, following the path around to the right-hand end of the square to make an in-game event pop up. This event will take you to the Hunter's Nightmare, where all of the DLC goodness can be discovered. Don't forget to light a lantern ASAP, which will allow you to travel to and from the new region freely from the Hunter's Dream.

The post shares a bunch of other new details for the Bloodborne DLC, too, each one giving a small glimpse into what players can expect on Nov. 24. For instance, there's a creepy dude named Brador roaming around with a bell, as well as a “Bell Holder” brute of an enemy that has a weapon that's half ax, half bell, all trouble.

The post hints at a new “Bloodletter” weapon that uses your own blood to unleash some serious damage, as well as a damn Gatling Gun that will mow down enemies with a quickness. And then there's the Beast's Embrace rune, which will turn you into a terrifying monster for short periods of time.