First steps: demo bonus, difficulty and Carnage

Wes Fenlon’s September 3 firsthand guide reports the following procedure. PowerPyx agrees that either initial difficulty can unlock Carnage; its Action recommendation is preparation advice, not a requirement.

These are launch-period reports, without exact platform/build identifiers. Kingy has not tested the menu path, unlock or difficulty lock. Preserve your completed save and inspect the on-screen warning before starting another run. No carryover list or save-recovery procedure is verified here.

1. For a first campaign, choose Story or Action. To switch between them later, use a save point.
2. Complete the campaign, then select Carnage for New Game+.
3. Before committing, note the reported restriction: Carnage cannot be lowered to Story or Action.

The store lists Kubi Akari as a saved-data reward and explains that equipped charms strengthen Musashi. It does not describe a separate permanent stat award.

Kingy recommendation: retain the demo save until you have checked the reward in your full game. These sources do not establish a completion requirement, a prelaunch deadline for the demo reward, or cross-platform eligibility. We have not tested redemption.

The August 25 PS5 announcement adds playable areas and Daidara. The older July notice about an update with no new content does not describe this later expansion.

The inspected PS5 store still lists a free demo. Check your own region and platform; this is not a tested availability matrix.

Kingy has no verified repair or claim-menu sequence. Preserve the save and check your platform's current bonus instructions before changing or deleting saved data. Demo content and full-game progression may differ.