Good news for those of you still fighting your way across Pandora; Gearbox’s latest update and DLC combo has gone live, meaning you’ll finally be able to level your hero past that restrictive level 50 cap. Bad news? You’re going to have to pay for it.
The Ultimate Vault Hunter mode allows you to level to 61, and adds an extra layer of challenge for those who’ve already completed the game on True Vault Hunter. It’s free to Season Pass holders, but the rest of you are going to have to shell out 400 MS banana dollars. It’s available in the US right now, and will be available to the rest of us soon.
Here’s what’s New! and Improved!
- Adds new items to the Black Market:
- One additional ammo upgrade for each ammo type, at 50 Eridium each.
- Two more backpack storage space upgrades, at 50 and 100 Eridium respectively.
- Two more bank storage space upgrades, at 50 and 100 Eridium respectively.
- Increases the maximum amount of Eridium players can hold from 99 to 500.
- Adds a new playthrough balanced for top-tier play: Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode.
- Various bug fixes
- Raises level cap to 61, allowing characters to gain 11 additional levels.
- Characters gain a skill point with every level from 51 to 61, for a total of 11 more skill points.
- Powerful new "Ancient" E-Tech relics and rare Pearlescent-grade weapons can be picked up in Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode.
Gameplay changes in UVHM
- Enemy health generally increased 4x.
- Enemies now have a moderate amount of health regeneration.
- Increased duration of slag damage multiplier effect.
- Upped the damage that slagged enemies take from 2x to 3x.
- Weapon swap speed increased to better facilitate slag use.
- Enemies now more likely to drop ammo.
- Loot Midgets are now "Legendary Loot Midgets" that can drop Legendary and other top-tier gear.
I think it’s pretty fantastic that Gearbox has continued supporting this game (at the expense, perhaps, of some other projects) – but paying for a level cap increase just seems a bit off. Of course this does mean that those of you brandishing top-tier Level 50 gear, like The Bee and Babymakers are going to hate that your gear no longer matches your level.
As an aside, my love for the game was recently rekindled after playing through the second and third campaign DLC’s add-ons, which is good, because the first – that Pirate Booty nonsense – nearly made me swear off it for good.
Last Updated: April 3, 2013
Sargon
April 3, 2013 at 11:25
UVHM is insanely challenging. It is going to take me a while to finish that playthrough once. And with all the DLC – I’ll be playing this for many many many more hours.
Slag has also just become a necessity in UVHM. Even non-Badass enemies have insane amounts of Health.
BL2 forever. Can’t wait for last DLC package with my season pass.
Matthew Holliday
April 3, 2013 at 12:42
Many many more hours.
New I shouldnt have sold my Torgue slag shotgun.
just gna have to respec my turret to slag bullets again
Sargon
April 3, 2013 at 12:49
At least you have an option for some serious slag damage via the turret. Zer0 does some serious critical hit damage – so I needn’t really worry about slagging my enemies until they get close – but no more one shot crit kills.
Matthew Holliday
April 3, 2013 at 12:55
not yet atleast
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 3, 2013 at 11:33
BA…NA……..NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 3, 2013 at 11:33
*sigh* how long until the GOTYE releases?
I wanna play this!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 3, 2013 at 12:50
Not too long now, old bean…
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 3, 2013 at 12:59
Rather, old fruit
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 3, 2013 at 13:16
Verily, ol’ sock!
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 3, 2013 at 13:29
Wot is great, what old chap
BacchusZA
April 3, 2013 at 11:37
It seems it’s already live here. I can’t speak about the increased level cap, as I’ve yet to get a toon to 50, but the irridium limit is definitely increased, and the new items on the black market store are also live.
Sargon
April 3, 2013 at 11:44
It is live already. I played the new mode last night.
umar bastra
April 3, 2013 at 11:53
will just wait for it…
Sir Captain Rincethis
April 3, 2013 at 12:01
Yay! This warms me loins!
BeatzByChrisBrown
April 3, 2013 at 12:27
“Various bug fixes”
So you have to pay for bug fixes now?
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 3, 2013 at 13:00
LOL
Trevor Davies
April 3, 2013 at 12:28
Finally. Two turrets with double machine guns, slag bullets & rocket launchers here I come.
Matthew Holliday
April 3, 2013 at 12:34
Difficult as shit.
played some last night.
probably going to play more when i get home today aswell.
and probably the day after that aswell.
Im gna need more gunz
Johan du Preez
April 5, 2013 at 15:06
damn im only level 30 now 🙂 will have to put some serious time in it again. I loathe my backlog :/