In typical Dark Souls fashion, it seems that From Software’s latest addition in Artorias of the Abyss DLC isn’t as easy to play as it first seems.

Wanting to really challenge players, you can’t access the DLC area and boss from the start of the game. This means that upon finishing the last boss and entering the New Game + mode, you then have to slog through around 20 hours worth of content to reach the expansion entry point.

The news comes from Eurogamer who were informed about the process by Namco Bandai.

(There may be spoilers ahead)

The process to access the DLC is:

• Defeat the Hydra at Darkroot Basin
• Defeat the Crystal Golem at Darkroot Basin and save Dusk of Oolacile
• Defeat the Crystal Golem Duke’s Archive and get the Broken Pendant
• Touch the Black Fog at the lake in Darkroot Basing where you defeated the Hydra

Sounds rather exhausting. Luckily, if you’ve got a save file part way through, then you may well be able to get there without starting from scratch.

Artorias of the Abyss comes as a separate DLC or with Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition that releases tomorrow.