Where to turn Adaptive Difficulty on or off
Open Game → Game Settings → Adaptive Difficulty. The experimental option introduced in the September 5 update is off by default and can be changed at any time. It reacts to defeated enemies and deaths, with adjustments fading toward the ordinary balance as your play changes.
What changes when it is enabled?
| Your situation | Behavior described by the developer |
|---|---|
| Repeatedly winning | Enemy damage, health and resistance to posture breaks increase, potentially beyond the original difficulty ceiling. |
| Struggling | Those values decrease; an attack-damage cap prevents a single hit from killing you from full health. |
| Night Mode | The system can raise difficulty, but does not apply the easing effects. |
This is an adaptive system, not a promise of permanently easier encounters. The announcement does not provide exact scaling percentages, thresholds or a universal best setting.
Can you see the current difficulty tier?
The launch notes for this option said adjustments had no on-screen display. That description is historical: the September 24 hotfix adds tier UI support and revised indicator icons, including a clearer Night Mode icon. Check your installed build if an older guide’s screenshots do not match.
A practical way to compare settings
- Note whether you are in Night Mode and whether the toggle is enabled.
- Change one option at a time and revisit a familiar encounter.
- Keep your Shell and equipment consistent when judging the difference.
- Include platform, update date and difficulty setting when comparing boss advice.
These are comparison suggestions, not measured damage tests. For the dated changes, see patch notes.
Accessibility checks
The PS5 store lists subtitles for the main story and key characters; it does not guarantee every incidental line is captioned. Review text presentation, audio and controls on your own platform. Difficulty settings and accessibility features answer different needs, so check both before settling on a configuration.