Separate Ways follows the mysterious, independent spy Ada Wong, who often runs her own missions concurrently with Resident Evil protagonists like Leon Kennedy. She always has her own agenda, which can either help or harm the main protagonists depending on her mood. Her motives are almost always hidden, and Resident Evil 4 is no exception. However, the remake adds a bit more color to Ada's character, better explaining what exactly she's doing in Spain and why she wants the Las Plagas virus. Between that and the numerous changes already performed on the base game, it's easy to think that Ava's story might look a little different in the updated DLC.

Related: Resident Evil 4 Remake Review: Missing A Right Hand

Resident Evil 4 Remake Separate Ways DLC Release Date

The Separate Ways DLC for Resident Evil 4's remake will be released on September 21, 2023. That comes just a week after its official announcement on September 14, which is surprisingly soon. However, it'll be out just in time for October. It's the perfect time of year to settle in with a spooky game like Resident Evil 4, especially one that plays on so many classic horror tropes like cavernous, haunted castles and brainwashed, cultish zombies. The free update to the Mercenaries mode will be available on the same day.

Resident Evil 4 Remake Separate Ways DLC Price

No price has been announced yet for the Separate Ways DLC, and it's hard to guess at just how much it might cost. No store pages have gone up for it at the time of writing. It was included for free with the original game, but since it's being released separately this time, it may come with an additional fee. Still, it's nice to imagine that it might be free along with the Mercenaries update.

This is also the first time any of the Resident Evil remakes has had such an expansive DLC release, so there's no baseline to compare it to. Some of them, including the remake of Resident Evil 4, did get Extra DLC packs. These cost $19.99 USD, but mostly included cosmetic in-game items. As a full story expansion, taking at least three hours to beat in the original game (but possibly longer in the remake), its price could be on the steeper side.

Resident Evil 4 Remake Separate Ways DLC Possible Changes

The original Separate Ways largely follows events that transpire before and during the course of the game, except from Ada's perspective instead of Leon's. Ada arrives before Leon does, and is the first to encounter the Chainsaw Sisters and ring the church bell. She attempts to save Luis, but gets sidetracked when she hears Leon is also in the neighborhood and has been captured, too. She runs into Luis after Leon frees him, using his advice to track Leon down and reveal herself. Finally, she aids in the final battle against Lord Saddler, before snatching the Las Plagas parasite sample from Leon and taking off.

Resident Evil 4 remake changes the original characters and story, so it's safe to say some of these will be reflected in Separate Ways as well. Luis and Leon stay together longer, so Ada may not be able to run into him without Leon seeing her earlier. The white wolf whom Leon can save now has a more significant role in his campaign, and could do the same in Ada's as well. There may be other changes based on other things that were cut, added, or tweaked in the remake, but for the most part, the story is a faithful adaptation that doesn't need too much alteration.

The remake also changes the depiction of its most maligned character: Ashley Graham, the US President's daughter whom Leon has been charged with rescuing. RE4make changes Ashley to be less of a swooning damsel in distress, giving her a bit more agency in the story. There are other problems with Ada's characterization as a femme fatale, but if there's one thing she's always had in spades, it's agency. She even serves as a knight in shining armor when Leon is in distress during his battle with Kra. Still, her character writing may also be tweaked in the Resident Evil 4 remake.

Ada plays somewhat differently in the original Separate Ways, so those changes will likely carry over to the remake, creating a whole new way to experience Resident Evil 4. Ada is quicker on her feet than Leon, and has her own style of melee attacks. Ada also has a grappling hook, which allows her to gain access to areas normally restricted to Leon. This means a number of new areas will be added to the remake, some of which may be carried over from the original, and some of which may be entirely new. Some could even add new secrets to the Resident Evil 4 remake.

The Resident Evil 4 remake also adds a post-credits scene that depicts Ada on her helicopter taking a phone call from Albert Wesker, a recurring villain in the series. When he tells her his plans for the Las Plagas parasite, Ada changes her mind, and forces the pilot to change course. This teases what happens to Ada after RE4, and could factor into the DLC in a major way. The remake of Separate Ways could extend her story beyond its original scope, explaining where she's headed and what she plans to do with the parasite specimen.

Whatever the remake will look like, players won't have to wait long to find out. More information about the faithfulness of the updated Separate Ways DLC for Resident Evil 4, along with what it changes, will become clear when it's available on September 21, 2023.

Source: PlayStation/YouTube