Social deduction game Death Note: Killer Within is set to receive an update containing a new map and player roles later this week.
Released on November 5, the anime series-inspired online game has become a bit of a sleeper hit for Bandai Namco since quietly landing on PlayStation Plus for free. The title is also available to purchase outright for $9.99 on PS4, PS5 and Steam.
Described by some reviewers as Among Us with a twist, Death Note: Killer Within has been popular amongst streamers for its simple but addictive Mafia/Werewolves-style gameplay and quirky characterisation.
Players are randomly assigned to roles within the heroes of team L or the villains of team Kira, with the former being required to investigate and hunt out the latter before they all fall victim to the eponymous death note.
Mello update set to add vigilante gameplay
Now, the game is set to receive a free update that brings a little bit of added complexity to proceedings. Data miners shared the following information via the Leziu Discord channel, which is corroborated by achievements listed on Steam DB that refer to a ‘Mello kill count’, and ‘winning by emergency’.
Per the in-game text discovered:
- The new “Mello” role’s objective is to beat Team L to the punch by killing Kira first.
- Mello can fire his gun once per action phase, so try to kill the player you think is Kira.
- (You don’t need an ID to shoot someone).
With the vigilante-style addition effectively acting as a third team in the game, mistrust and frantic searches to hunt out team Kira look set to be turned up significantly.
The leak also teases additional roles such as X-Kira, Kira spokesman, NPA Chief, Watari, and Near, all with their own unique abilities – although we don’t have secondary sources to confirm these just yet.
Train level evokes Murder on the Orient Express
Not only that, but Killer Within is also set to receive a new map update to supplement the current Downtown location. Bandai Namco confirmed this with a post on X yesterday, teasing a giant bag of potato chips alongside a moving train as set-pieces on the new in-game level.
I’ll steal IDs with my right hand and write names with my left. I’ll take a potato chip and eat it… on the train!
Here’s a taste of the new map coming November 27 to #DeathNoteKillerWithin! pic.twitter.com/2t4BXcGZC0
— Bandai Namco US (@BandaiNamcoUS) November 22, 2024
The new map is set to drop on November 27, and we’d expect to see the Mello update drop at the same time, or at the least shortly thereafter.
