Darktide Hive Scum DLC Releases Dec 2 - New Class, Toxins & Free Missions
Fatshark Celebrates 10 Years of Tide with New Darktide Content
Fatshark is marking a decade of its “Tide” series with major updates for both Warhammer: Vermintide 2 and Warhammer 40K: Darktide. While Vermintide 2 was recently offered for free and received a new map, Darktide is about to launch a paid DLC introducing the Hive Scum class, following the successful Arbites class release.
Meet the Hive Scum Class
The Hive Scum our newly added badass class are a gang of criminals from Tertium’s Hive City, now teaming up with the inquisitorial warband to battle chaos. This class brings a bold, aggressive non-stop action playstyle, setting it apart from other Darktide classes. Players can extensively customize their Hive Scum characters with new faces, hairstyles, tattoos, and a unique face paint system, giving the players an opportunity to showcase their personality when creating a character. You can also represent different cartels, adding more personality to your character.
Gameplay Features
Hive Scum specialize in rapid dual-wielding pistols for ranged combat and shivs or a crowbar among other handy tools, for that more up close and personal melee combat. Pistols can be fired in a frenzied mode or with greater accuracy using “brace mode.” Dual blades allow switching between blunt and pointed grips, changing attack patterns. The overall style is fast-paced and gritty street-gang inspiration.
Abilities and Progression
The class offers several thematic abilities:
• Desperado Ultimate: Grants unlimited ammo and invincibility.
• Rampage: Boosts melee attack power and can be refreshed by hitting enemies.
• Stimm Supply: Deploys a crate that buffs the group, with effects chosen via the new Stimm Lab system.
The Stimm Lab is a class-specific progression system where players craft a custom “Cartel Special” Stimm, gaining points with each level to select bonuses. This replaces standard Stimms if you opt in, and the cooldown increases with more powerful effects. Using the Stimm Lab is optional.
New Damage Type and Talents
Hive Scum introduce “toxins,” a new damage type that deals damage over time and weakens foes. Their Blitz abilities include:
• Blinder/Blackout: A concussive grenade for crowd control.
• Boom Bringer: A missile launcher for eliminating elite enemies.
• Chem Grenade: Creates toxic zones and chain reactions.
Talent trees support three playstyles: gunslinger Desperado, melee-focused Ruffian, and Chemist specializing in toxin damage.
Development Insights and Future Plans
Fatshark revealed that creating a new class like Hive Scum takes six to twelve months, with teams of 10–25 people. The studio promises ongoing support for Darktide, including more missions, factions, and features. While PvP modes (like those in Vermintide 2) aren’t planned right now, they may be considered in the future, though likely not soon.
Free Update for All Players
Alongside the Hive Scum DLC (available December 2 for $11.99 Standard, $18.99 Premium), all Darktide players get a free three-mission story arc. This update features trench warfare, tank escort missions, and classic Warhammer 40K environments. The missions include new story elements and voice-overs, and require you to unlock part of the main campaign before jumping into the action, but can be played in co-op.
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