Days Gone offers players an expansive post-apocalyptic Oregon filled with relentless Freaker hordes, dangerous human factions, and grueling survival mechanics. To give veteran players a fresh reason to jump back into Deacon St. John's journey, developer Bend Studio introduced the New Game Plus (NG+) mode. This feature allows players to replay the core narrative while retaining their hard-earned upgrades and equipment from previous playthroughs.
What Carries Over in New Game Plus
When starting a New Game Plus file after completing the main story, players retain almost all of their character progression. Unlocked skills, weapon arsenals, NERO injector upgrades, and crafting recipes carry over directly into the new playthrough. Additionally, camp trust levels, accumulated credits, collectibles, and bike upgrades from Manny's workshop are available early on.
However, story-specific progress and consumable resources are reset to maintain narrative consistency. Quest-related inventory items, crafted supplies, and Freaker ears must be gathered again during the new run. This balance ensures players feel powerful without completely breaking the fundamental survival loop.
Exclusive Unlockables and New Weaponry
One of the standout additions in New Game Plus is access to exclusive gear not available in standard playthroughs. Players unlock the specialized BND-150 sniper rifle, a powerful weapon featuring various ammo types like gas clouds and explosive darts. This weapon provides versatile tactical options when clearing out ambush camps or clearing Freaker nests.
Players can also unlock new motorcycle decals based on PlayStation titles like Syphon Filter and Horizon Zero Dawn. Earned challenge mode patches also carry over, granting passive bonuses such as increased health or better ammo penetration. These enhancements reward dedicated players who completed extra tasks prior to starting NG+.
New Difficulty Levels and Extra Challenges
To offset the advantage of starting with an end-game inventory, Days Gone introduced additional difficulty settings. Modes such as Hard II and Survival II offer tougher enemies, increased damage, and restricted HUD features for maximum immersion. These difficulty options provide a rigorous test of skill for experienced survivors looking for higher stakes.
Specialized challenge modes like Speedrun and Permadeath have also been highlighted for thrill-seekers. In Permadeath mode, losing Deacon means restarting entirely, creating high-intensity gameplay. These additional modes drastically expand replayability for both casual fans and hardcore completionists.
Platform Availability and Access Requirements
New Game Plus is fully integrated into Days Gone across all supported platforms, including PlayStation and PC. The feature is included via title updates, meaning all players who own the base game can access it at no additional cost. Access requires finishing the "I'm Never Giving Up" storyline on any valid save file.
Once unlocked, players simply select New Game Plus from the main menu and choose their preferred difficulty setting. PlayStation 5 players can also enjoy enhanced hardware integration, including adaptive trigger support and haptic feedback during their NG+ adventures. Whether returning after years or diving back in immediately, NG+ offers a complete, tailored survival experience.
