Sony Santa Monica has revealed a new update for their hack 'n' slash title God of War: Ascension, adding a new multiplayer mode – the versus duel Bout of Honour.

Taking to the PlayStation Blog, the new multiplayer mode will be a 1 v 1 that excludes "chests, fountains, or world weapons to aid you," leaving it up to skill alone to determine the winner. This mode also disables relics and allows for a Champion’s magic to regenerate over time, though very slowly.

The developers at Sony Santa Monica have been painstakingly crafting a mode for both fans of fighting games and the legions of Champions playing Ascension’s multiplayer to enjoy. The team has made some balancing tweaks especially for Bout of Honor to ensure matches are fought in a fair and honorable fashion. Infinites have been removed, overpowered weapons tweaked, and damage from 100% combos adjusted.

Lastly, warriors who are not quite ready to rely solely on the strength of their blade but still wish to acquire the Favor of the Gods will enjoy a brand new 4-player map – The Whirlpool of Alecto. A nod to one of the greatest moments in God of War: Ascension’s single player campaign, The Whirlpool of Alecto features a giant leviathan whose sole purpose is to unleash Alecto’s fury in the form of physical pain onto any unsuspecting warrior careless enough to venture into its domain. The level also features elevated terrain sections for knocking over, slamming, and stunning your opponents.

Along with the launch of a new mode, four new multiplayer maps specifically crafted for Bout of Honour will make their debut. Canyons of Kirra, Chamber of the Flame, Landing at Delos and Streets of Sparta will now grace the playlist for multiplayer battles, all for free.

Check out the trailer below for a glimpse of the new mode in action.