The developers behind Death Howl have released a free update that asks players to bow before death once more. Titled the Rebirth update, the patch is now live on PS5 and introduces two new ways to play: Rebirth Mode and Custom Mode.

Death Howl is described as a "unique soulslike deck-builder," blending the deliberate, punishing combat of the soulslike genre with card-based mechanics. The base game already asks players to manage a deck of cards while dodging and striking in real time, a hybrid that has found a niche audience since its launch. The Rebirth update doubles down on that challenge.

Rebirth Mode

Rebirth Mode is the headline addition. According to the official description on the PlayStation Store, this mode "elevates the challenge even further" by throwing reimagined and stronger enemies at the player. It also includes reshaped cards and revamped battles. That means the cards in your deck — the abilities, items, and modifiers you rely on — have been altered, likely to break established strategies and force new ones. The enemies themselves have been redesigned to be more aggressive, requiring fresh tactics.

The result is effectively a remixed campaign. Veteran players who have mastered the original enemy patterns and card synergies will have to unlearn and adapt. The description does not specify whether any of the core progression systems change outside of combat, so the focus appears squarely on the moment-to-moment fights and deck composition.

Custom Mode

For players who prefer to tailor the difficulty, Custom Mode offers a suite of sliders. According to the announcement, you can meddle with:

• Ro's health (the player character)
• Enemy health
• The maximum number of cards you can hold in your hand

These are the three confirmed toggles. The phrasing "and more" suggests additional parameters exist, but the store page does not list them explicitly. Custom Mode gives you granular control over how forgiving or punishing a run feels. Want a squishy Ro with a gigantic hand size? You can try it. Prefer a tanky Ro with limited card draws? That is also on the table.

The inclusion of a custom difficulty mode is notable for a soulslike. The genre is often associated with a fixed, uncompromising challenge. Allowing players to adjust core combat variables runs counter to that philosophy in a healthy way. It opens the game to players who might be interested in the deck-building mechanics but are intimidated by the soulslike pacing, while also giving veterans a tool to create unfair scenarios for fun.

What this means for players

The Rebirth update is free, which means anyone who already owns Death Howl on PS5 can download it immediately. No additional purchase or season pass is required. The update arrives at a time when the soulslike deck-builder subgenre is still relatively small. Games like Across the Obelisk and Griftlands have explored deck-building with difficulty modifiers, but few have blended real-time action with card management the way Death Howl does.

The dual introduction of a harder preset mode and a fully customizable mode is a smart move. It caters to two very different player motivations: the desire for a curated, heightened challenge (Rebirth Mode) and the desire for experimental, self-directed challenge (Custom Mode). The latter also serves as a built-in sandbox for content creators or speedrunners who want to push the game in unintended ways.

What the update does not say

The store page does not list a changelog or patch notes beyond the two modes. It is unclear whether the update includes bug fixes, balance adjustments to the base game, or quality-of-life improvements. Those details may arrive via developer social media or a separate blog post, but the PlayStation store entry is the only source provided to us.

Similarly, the update is described as "now live" with no specific date or version number. Given the promptness of the announcement, it is safe to assume the patch has already deployed to all PS5 owners of Death Howl.

The bigger picture

Free updates of this scale are becoming more common among indie soulslike and deck-building titles. They serve as both goodwill gestures and retention tools, keeping the player base engaged between potential expansions or sequels. For Death Howl, the Rebirth update essentially adds two modes that extend the replayability without asking for money. That is a solid value proposition for existing owners.

If you are new to Death Howl, the base game is required to access the update. The PlayStation Store listing is for the game itself; the update downloads automatically when launched. The store page does not list a price for the base game, but as a PS5 title, it is likely available for standard retail pricing.

For those who have already conquered Death Howl's base campaign, Rebirth Mode offers a reason to return. For those who bounced off the difficulty, Custom Mode might be the gateway. Either way, the update respects player choice, and that is a rare thing in a genre built on strict rules.

The tooltip on the PlayStation store sums it up: "Bow before death with a new, free update." Whether you bow willingly or fight every step of the way is now entirely up to you.