How to start the God of War: Ragnarok Valhalla DLC

By Jesse Lennox December 12, 2023

Over a year after launch, God of War: Ragnarok got a surprise addition of new content in the form of the Valhalla DLC. Revealed at The Game Awards 2023 and available for free less than a week later, this new adventure takes place after the conclusion of the main story and sees Kratos travel to the titular realm of the gods. Billed as a primarily rogue-like experience, there is quite a bit more to this DLC than some may be expecting.

Since it does technically follow the events of the main game, many players may wonder if they need to first see the story through before they can access it, or at what point it will become available. We may not be as wise as Mimir, but we can share some knowledge on how to start the Valhalla DLC in God of War: Ragnarok.

How to start the Valhalla DLC

The God of War: Ragnarok main menu. — Sony Santa Monica

You can play the Valhalla DLC at any point after booting up the game and downloading the update, even if you haven’t played a single hour of the main game. That isn’t recommended, of course, but it is an option open to you. This is because the DLC is not integrated into the main game, but instead selected as a separate option from the game’s main menu.

The download is just under 8GB, so make sure you have a little free space available for it.

When loading up the game, you will see the Valhalla option above Settings and below New Game+. By choosing Valhalla, you will instantly be placed into the new content. There are no benefits or drawbacks to starting it with an existing save since you will always start with the same stats and equipment in this mode. All progress here is completely separate from the main game.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Jesse Lennox loves writing, games, and complaining about not having time to write and play games. He knows the names of more…

Gaming

How to permanently upgrade stats in God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla

Kratos standing by a stone monolith.

Despite all falling into the roguelike genre, every game within that category handles progression differently. Some have no permanent upgrades and instead force the player to simply rely on their skills and luck during each run, while others dole out buffs and tools that the player can accumulate over multiple runs to make each one a bit easier.

God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla falls into the latter category thanks to Master Seals. These special rewards allow Kratos to get permanent buffs to his base stats, easing the difficulty a bit for those who need it. Just getting the seals isn't enough, and not even Mimir will give you a clue on how to spend them, so we'll help you return Kratos to his godly status.
How to permanently increase stats

Gaming

Cyberpunk 2077: How to start Phantom Liberty DLC

A pyramid from Cyberpunk 2077.

The rehabilitation of Cyberpunk 2077 finally culminates in both the release of the 2.0 update and the substantial DLC expansion called Phantom Liberty. Between these two, plus all the changes made in the years since launch, the once unstable and buggy game is finally living up to its potential. While everything up until this point has been free, including the 2.0 changes, Phantom Liberty is the first and only piece of paid content. Giving players an entirely new area in Dogtown to explore, plus a lengthy main story and tons of new side missions, it's the biggest reason to reinstall this ambitious title. But how exactly can you start the DLC since it is meant to slot into the story of the main game rather than take place before or after? We've hacked in and downloaded all the data you need on how to start the Phantom Liberty DLC.
How to start Phantom Liberty
There are actually a few different ways to get into Phantom Liberty depending on your preference and whether or not you've played the base game. The easiest way to get directly into it is through the main menu. With the DLC installed, you will have an option to jump directly into the expansion, even if you haven't played the main game yet. This sounds great for those who want to see the new stuff right away, but it isn't recommended if you haven't played the base game at all. You will be given a character automatically leveled up and placed at the proper point in the story for the DLC to take place with no context or tutorial on how to play. Note that picking this option doesn't lock you out of any of the base game content.

For new players who want to experience Phantom Liberty more naturally, you will need to play the opening hours of Cyberpunk 2077 until you complete the "Transmission" mission before the quest that starts the DLC will trigger.

Gaming

How to start The Teal Mask DLC in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Key art featuring new characters and Pokémon that are in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Teal Mask.

The first of two announced DLC expansions for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet has hit, called The Teal Mask. Both DLCs will introduce new places, items, moves, and, most importantly, Pokémon to catch, train, and befriend. This initial adventure will take your trainer to the Land of Kitakami, but excited trainers might be at a loss for how to actually access the new area and content. Because it's integrated directly into the main game, and not an option you can select from the menu, you will need to know how to reach the DLC. This won't take long, so here's how to access The Teal Mask in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet so you can continue your Pokémon journey.
How to access The Teal Mask DLC

After purchasing and installing the DLC for your specific version of Pokémon Scarlet or Violet, either load up your save or start a new game. You will need to either play up through, or have a save already past, The First Day of School chapter. Once you are past that point, you will automatically get a call from Jacq telling you about an annual trip to Kitakami that you, as it just so happens, will be chosen to attend.