Code Vein 2's First Paid DLC Mask of Idris Launches September 9 — New Story, Forsaken World, 90+ Cosmetics Free for All

Overview

Code Vein 2's first major paid expansion, Mask of Idris, launches September 9, 2026 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The DLC arrives alongside a free Version 2.0 update that carries content for every player — including over 90 new customization parts accessible through a new boss challenge mode, regardless of whether they buy the expansion.

Bandai Namco's split approach — locking the new story and Forsaken World zone behind a paywall while making Ver. 2.0's gameplay additions free — positions this as a meaningful content drop for a game that launched in January with mixed critical reception.

Sources: Bandai Namco America — Mask of Idris Official Announcement · SimulationDaily — Producer Message Details

DLC at a Glance

The Forsaken World: A Zone Built From Erased Histories

The Mask of Idris expansion drops players into the Forsaken World, a new explorable area unlike anything in the base game. According to Bandai Namco's official description, the Forsaken World was forged from the "converged passions of worlds that vanished due to historical alterations" — essentially a graveyard of erased timelines, shaped by the emotions and memories of realities that no longer exist.

At its center is a massive, swirling convergence that draws in fragments of time and emotion from across all eras. That convergence is destabilizing and now threatens to affect the real world — which is where the new DLC story picks up.

New Characters: Liv Voda and Lou MagMell

Liv Voda

The standout new character. She is Valentin's sister and the original guardian of the Temporal Rift, who abandoned her post long ago. She returns in the Forsaken World with a combative personality and the dramatic physical characteristic of shifting appearance when her emotions surge. She is described as a key figure in understanding the forces threatening both the Forsaken World and reality at large.

Lou MagMell

A separate version of Lou, distinct from the Lou in the base game's timeline. She appears inside the Forsaken World and warns the protagonist of the dangers ahead, but her true motives and connection to this collapsed realm remain unclear throughout the DLC's story. Bandai Namco describes her as carrying a "tragic history" tied to events that fractured her timeline.

Version 2.0 Free Update — What Everyone Gets

The simultaneous free Version 2.0 update is the part that matters for the whole player base, not just buyers. Bandai Namco has broken it into four main additions.

For a game where character customization is a core selling point — Code Vein 2 ships with an extensive creator and full Photo Mode — adding 90+ cosmetic pieces through a challenge mode is a substantial free drop. Trials of Remembrance alone gives existing players a concrete reason to log back in.

Access Requirements: Post-Game Only

Mask of Idris is strictly post-game content. To enter the Forsaken World, players need to have:

1. 1Reached the "Luna Fraterna" ending of Code Vein 2's main story
2. 2Completed the sub-mission "Valentin's Request"

Both conditions must be met. This is a deliberate design choice — the expansion is framed as a continuation of the main game's narrative, not a parallel story. Players who haven't finished Code Vein 2 have six days to do so before the DLC drops.

Editions and Pricing

Players who purchased the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition at launch have Mask of Idris included at no additional cost. The Deluxe Upgrade Pack at $24.99 is the cleanest path for base game owners.

Where Code Vein 2 Stands: Steam Reception Context

Code Vein 2 launched to Mixed reviews on Steam — 65% positive across 2,555 English reviews as of this writing — with the main criticisms centering on story pacing and combat compared to the original Code Vein's tighter design. Recent 30-day reviews have trended better at 73%, suggesting that patches and settled expectations have helped.

The original Code Vein earned a significantly more positive reception, and the sequel's rough launch damaged early goodwill. Whether Mask of Idris can rebuild momentum is an open question, but the dual strategy of a free Ver. 2.0 update alongside the paid expansion is exactly the kind of move that can shift a game's Steam trajectory — it gives players who wrote off Code Vein 2 a reason to look again before committing to the DLC.

Should You Buy the DLC?

If you finished the base game and enjoyed it: Mask of Idris is designed for you. A new zone, two new characters, and a post-game narrative extension is the right shape for a DLC targeting completionists.

If you own the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition: It's already yours — boot up September 9 and clear the access requirements if you haven't.

If you haven't played Code Vein 2: The Deluxe Edition at $89.99 is now the better entry point, since it bundles the DLC with the base game at a modest premium over the standalone price.

For lapsed or skeptical players: Ver. 2.0 is free. The 90+ customization parts from Trials of Remembrance and the partner content update are accessible without spending anything extra — a worthwhile reason to return.

Steam store page: store.steampowered.com/app/2362060/

Official site: www.bandainamcoent.com/games/code-vein-ii