Nioh 3's first DLC Hell Rising launches August 19 with new weapons, a ruined Edo, and a brutal new difficulty

Koei Tecmo has confirmed Hell Rising, the first DLC for Nioh 3, launches on August 19, 2026. It's the opening chapter of a two-part story included in the game's season pass, with the second DLC already named Bloody Insurrection.

Hell Rising sends protagonist Takechiyo — the appointed shogun — on a time-jump to Edo during the Keian era (1648–1652), pulled there by a mysterious yokai from his dreams. The Edo he finds is a wreck: the Crucible has retaken the city after the death of a future version of Takechiyo, and the streets are crawling with yokai, human rebels, and Spanish alchemists. Two new allies show up to help — one-eyed swordsman Yagyu Jubei and a Spanish envoy named Rodrigo — as the plot circles back to Spirit Stones and a faction with a serious grudge against the shogunate. On the gear side, the DLC introduces the hoko and shield weapon combo, usable in both samurai and ninja styles. The hoko is a short spear, and the combo covers everything from shield-blocking while stabbing to literally hurling the shield at enemies. New outfits inspired by the Spanish alchemist characters come along with it. Hell Rising also adds The Enlightened One's Journey, a new difficulty tier above the existing Shogun's Journey — enemies get random curse buffs that make them harder to kill but guarantee divine-rarity item drops when they go down. You need to clear Shogun's Journey first to unlock it. There's also a new feature called Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scrolls, which let you set up custom fights and tackle them solo or in co-op multiplayer.

Nioh 3 released in February 2026 and landed well with critics — Rock Paper Shotgun gave it a Bestest Best, and PC Gamer scored it 90%, calling it a superb soulslike that borrows smartly from modern action games. The series, developed by Team Ninja under Koei Tecmo, has always leaned into dense loot systems and punishing combat, and Hell Rising looks to push both further with the new difficulty mode's high-risk, high-reward structure.

With Bloody Insurrection still to come as the second half of the season pass story, Hell Rising is clearly designed to leave things unresolved. August 19 is the date to mark.