Are you ready to experience a whole new Dark Souls II experience? Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is coming soon and we put together a FAQ to help answer any questions you might have. Let’s get started!

Why did Bandai Namco Games and FromSoftware choose to produce Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin?

We wanted to give the fans an opportunity to participate again, this time in an even deeper experience in the Dark Souls II universe. With that goal in mind, in Scholar of the First Sin, we created not just a mere all-in-one package, but a completely new Dark Souls II experience.

We also wanted an opportunity to implement a multitude of features made possible now with the new generation of hardware on the market. We want users on these new platforms to be able to experience Dark Souls II, as well as all the advanced features we are now able to implement.

When will Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin be available?

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin will be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 digitally and at retailers on April 7th, 2015. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin will be available on Steam on April 1st, 2015 at 3:00 PM PST.

I’ve never played any Dark Souls games before, is this a good time to jump in?

Yes. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is the most complete version of Dark Souls II and will deliver an experiencing including all of the DLC content.

What is the difference between Dark Souls II, along with all of the Lost Crowns DLC and Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin?

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is a “Director’s Cut” of all Dark Souls II content that includes additional features. Content from all DLC packs is included along with the original game. The DirectX11, Xbox One, and PS4 versions of the game will also include:

New enemy placement, map shortcuts, and gameplay design.

Graphics, sound, and performance upgrade.

New weapons and armor for players to experiment with.

New NPC invading player’s world.

Max online players up from 4 to 6.

It is a fresh new experience that even grizzled veterans will find surprising and challenging!

What about the other content that I heard about? Additional Story NPC and elements, new item descriptions, improved online matching, improved game mechanic balance, etc.?

That content has already been made available via a free update to all current Dark Souls II owners in February. Visit Facebook.com/DarkSouls to read the full list of improvements!

Will my Dark Souls II saves carry over to Scholar of the First Sin?

Dark Souls II to Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin on PS3/Xbox360/DirectX9 - Yes

Dark Souls II to Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin on PS4/Xbox One/DirectX11 - No

What are the recommended system requirements for the DirectX9 and DirectX11 versions of Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin?

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (DirectX9)

Minimum System Requirements:

OS: Windows Vista SP2 / Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8

CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 555 3.2GHz / Intel Pentium Core 2 Duo E8500 3.17GHz

Memory: 2GB RAM

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT / ATI Radeon HD5870

DirectX: 9.0c

Network: Broadband Internet Connection

Hard Drive: 12GB available space

Sound Card: DirectX9 sound device

Additional Notes: Controller support: Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (or equivalent) recommended

Recommended Specifications:

OS: Windows 7 SP1 / Windows 8

CPU: Intel Core i3 2100 3.10GHz / AMD A8 3870K 3.0GHz

Memory: 4GB RAM

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 / ATI Radeon HD 6870 or better

DirectX: 9.0c

Network: Broadband Internet Connection

Hard Drive: 15GB available space

Sound Card: DirectX9 sound device

Additional Notes: Controller support: Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (or equivalent) recommended

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (DirectX11)

Minimum System Requirements:

OS: Windows 7 SP1 64bit / Windows 8.1 64bit

CPU: Intel Core i3 2100 3.1GHz / AMD A8 3870 3.6GHz

Memory: 4GB RAM

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 / ATI Radeon HD 6870

DirectX: 11

Network: Broadband Internet Connection

Hard Drive: 23GB available space

Sound Card: DirectX11 sound device

Additional Notes: Controller support: Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (or equivalent) recommended

Recommended Specifications:

OS: Windows 7 SP1 64bit / Windows 8.1 64bit

CPU: Intel Core i7 2600 3.4GHz / AMD FX 8150 3.6GHz or better

Memory: 8GB RAM or better

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 (700 series) or better / ATI Radeon HD 7850 (7000 series) or better

DirectX: 11

Network: Broadband Internet Connection

Hard Drive: 23GB available space

Sound Card: DirectX11 sound device

Additional Notes: Controller support: Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (or equivalent) recommended

If my computer cannot run DirectX11 and I already own Dark Souls II along with the DLC on Steam, is there any reason for me to purchase Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin?

If you own Dark Souls II and the DLC on Steam, the content update in February has already upgraded you to the Scholar of the First Sin experience for DirectX9!

With the DirectX9 and DirectX11 version launching, how do I know what version I am buying?

Two separate Steam Store pages will exist for these different versions. All relevant information and links for the other page will be present. Please read carefully and make sure you understand which version you’re looking at before buying and let us know if you have any questions!

If I buy the DirectX9 version of the game now, and upgrade my computer next year, is there a way for me to obtain the DirectX11 version of the game without buying it over again?

If you purchase the DirectX9 version of the Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin now, you will be able to upgrade to the DirectX11 version of the game through the upgrade path highlighted above. ($29.99 for existing game owners, $19.99 for existing game and DLC owners)

I’ve heard that players with the DirectX9, Xbox 360, and PS3 versions of the game cannot play with owners of the DirectX11, Xbox One, and PS4 versions of the game. Is that true?

Yes. The difference in the DirectX11, Xbox One, and PS4 versions of Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin pertaining to where enemies spawn, items are located, and other environmental differences will not allow players running newer hardware versions to connect and interact with players experiencing the game on older hardware running DirectX9, Xbox 360, and PS3.

How much will Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin cost?

Please note - These details are for North and South American territories.

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin will be $59.99 on Xbox One and PS4. If you are purchasing on Steam, you can check the details below:



Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (DirectX9): $39.99



Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (DirectX11): $49.99



DirectX11 Upgrade price for existing owners of Dark Souls II on Steam: $29.99



DirectX11 Upgrade price for existing owners of Dark Souls II and all DLC on Steam: $19.99

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