The long-awaited free DLC to last years stunning indie success - Celeste - is set to release next week on Monday, September 9th. The upcoming DLC is finally coming to the game after it was announced by Celeste creator Matt Thorson at the end of 2018. Chapter 9: Farewell is a way to celebrate the success of Celeste (over 500,000 copies sold) and an exciting addition to one of the best indie games in recent memory.
Chapter 9: Farewell is promised to consist of over 100 new levels. For those that are counting, this will now be over 800 levels total in Celeste, an incredible number for an indie game. It will also incorporate a selection of new mechanics in the game, but the details for them haven’t been revealed and will presumably stay that way until the release of the DLC.
Farewell will be bringing 40 minutes of new music along with the additional levels. The music will still be composed by Lena Raine who composed the award winning soundtrack for Celeste. The music is such an integral part to the experience of Celeste and it looks like the team is doing everything right to assure that this DLC is something that will be a wonderful addition to a phenomenal game.
Farewell is considered to be a set of “very hard” levels and will look to conclude the narrative of Celeste. All signs point to the end of the development of the game - the title of the DLC being Farewell and the closing of Matt Makes Games. Thorson will continue developing games under the banner Extremely OK Games that includes a proper studio setup already has a game underway.
It’s going to be bittersweet playing through Farewell that might work as a prologue of sorts for the beautifully told narrative in Celeste. The introspective journey that you take as Madeline is the heart and soul of the game and one that helped make Celeste one of the best games (indie or not) of 2018. The way it tackled tough issues of mental health is a revelation to the gaming industry.
Chapter 9: Farewell looks to say goodbye to the world of Celeste and a way to celebrate all the wonderful success of the game. It may be closing out a story, but hopefully Thorson and company can continue to bring us wonderfully made and thought-provoking games for years to come. The free Chapter 9: Farewell DLC will be out September 9th.
