Valor Mortis Priced at $40 Because Fall Is Absolutely Stacked, Dev Says

Ever feel like your wallet is about to take a beating this fall? You're not alone. With GTA 6 looming in November and a ton of other big games dropping, October is going to be brutal for anyone on a budget. So how does a new game stand out? For Valor Mortis, a $40 price tag and day-one Game Pass availability might just be the winning combo.

Developer One More Level and publisher Lyrical Games explained the decision in a statement. "We've had many discussions over the past year about the price of Valor Mortis," they wrote. "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." They also mentioned cosmetic packs coming in the next few months, and a Deluxe Edition that includes unique weapon skins, the base game, and a major story expansion in 2027.

Speaking to The Game Business, Lyrical Games boss Blake Rochkind said the $40 price comes from confidence in the game. "We find ourselves as one of the only new IPs launching in what is objectively the craziest fall in the history of this business," he said. "Not only do you have GTA looming large in November, now you have the Zelda remake, Control coming out in a couple of weeks, Silent Hill: Townfall, Phantom Blade Zero, Gears of War, Call of Duty--by virtue of the development schedule, the cards we’ve been dealt is that we are one of the only new IPs launching this fall."

Rochkind added that selling Valor Mortis for $40 allows it to be an "and game," something players could add to their basket while picking up one of the high-priced titles out later this year. Having it launch day one through Game Pass also helps it reach players who might have ignored it otherwise. "Game Pass has reached a maturity point in this business where there are 'Game Pass gamers'--people who play games on Game Pass and were unlikely to buy the game day and date anyway," Rochkind explained. "We're happy to be on Game Pass, and I’m not really concerned about cannibalization. For every game that is ‘cannibalized’ by Game Pass, another game gets amazing word-of-mouth because of it."

If you missed it, Valor Mortis was announced last year as a new souls-like with a twist: it's in first-person. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, you explore European battlefields infested with strange monsters caused by a mysterious, plague-like substance. As a revived Grande Armée soldier known only as William, you'll master strange new skills and powers to stay one step ahead of Napoleon's monsters and their telegraphed attack patterns. Originally set for September 24, the game now launches on October 13 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

With so many games vying for your attention, a $40 price and Game Pass availability might make Valor Mortis an easy pick-up. Will you be adding it to your wishlist, or are you saving up for something else? Let us know in the comments!