Developer One More Level and publisher Lyrical Games adjusted the pricing to help players navigate a crowded autumn release schedule packed with major titles.
Pricing Strategy for a Stacked Autumn Release Season
Developer One More Level and publisher Lyrical Games have set the standard digital version of Valor Mortis at $39.99 (or €39.99), with a UK price still awaiting clarification. According to reporting on the pricing decision, the studio deliberately chose a lower entry point than typical full-priced releases because the autumn window features a dense lineup of competing games.
The game arrives on October 13, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, and will be available on day one through Game Pass on PC and Xbox. The story centers on a fallen soldier from Napoleon’s army who rises from the dead to use his superhuman abilities to battle monsters and uncover dark mystical secrets. The developers noted that while the main campaign spans approximately 20 hours and matches traditional full-price games in technical execution and the depth of the combat system, the intense market competition required a different pricing approach.
The creators also urged audiences not to rush into pre-orders, but to make an informed purchase decision after the publication of full reviews and gameplay demos on release day.
We have had many discussions over the past year about the price of Valor Mortis. We believe the game has the quality, fidelity, and playtime in its 20-hour story to go toe-to-toe with many 'full price' titles. Still, this fall is stacked and there's high demand for your time and money.
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Navigating Competition Against Major Industry Franchises
Blake Rochkind, head of mid-tier publisher Lyrical Games, discussed the difficult pricing choice during an interview with Chris Dring on The Game Business podcast. Rochkind highlighted that launching an entirely new intellectual property during such a crowded release window carries distinct challenges.
My biggest concern was that it would send the wrong message about the game. So we wanted to make sure that we send the right message to the consumer about why this is, and hopefully help them understand that this is a decision we're making out of confidence for the game.
Blake Rochkind, head of Lyrical Games
The cards we've been dealt is [that] we are one of the only new IPs launching this fall. We are pretty confident in Valor Mortis. It is a great game. I'm very, very excited for people to play it. But ultimately, I think the worst thing we could do is not push our chips in and say, 'We want this to be a game that you can pick up alongside these other great games.' Rochkind
Schedule details note that Valor Mortis debuts close to several major titles in October 2026, including Gears of War: E-Day, Ace Combat 8, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Final Fantasy Resonance, and Phantom Blade Zero. It is also within striking distance of September releases such as Marvel’s Wolverine, Silent Hill: Townfall, and Control Resonant. Control Resonant is specifically the game that caused Valor Mortis to be pushed back to October from its original September 24 release date.
Deluxe Editions and Post-Launch Content Plans
Alongside the standard digital version, there is a Deluxe Edition priced at $60 / €60 ($59.99). This tier includes the base game, a major story DLC coming in 2027 that expands the game’s universe, and the La Grande Armée Weapon Skin Pack (including a pistol, blunderbuss, musket, claymore, rapier, and sabre). Buyers will also receive three additional weapon packs released prior to the story expansion.
Developers have also confirmed that regular free content updates will roll out for the base game in the weeks and months following the October launch.
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