For Little Nightmares III, the DLC The Backstage is out now as of June 12, 2026. Bandai Namco confirms that this is a real extra chapter. It adds a new setting, Dime as a temporary ally, and The Puppeteer as a new threat. You can also browse the latest gaming news for more current releases.
Key points
- Bandai Namco Europe announced on June 12, 2026 that The Backstage is now available.
- The Backstage adds Dime, her Torch Hat, and a new enemy called The Puppeteer.
- The DLC is included in the Secrets of the Spiral Expansion Pass and is also sold separately.
- Bandai Namco also says another piece of additional content is planned for later in 2026.
Bandai Namco Europe also makes the buying options clear. The Backstage is included in the Secrets of the Spiral Expansion Pass, but it is also sold separately. Low meets Dime, who carries the Torch Hat. The chapter takes players into the backstage area of the Carnevale with a tighter and darker mood.
Little Nightmares III DLC: what The Backstage adds
The Backstage sends Low behind the curtains of the Carnevale. The area looks more enclosed, darker, and more oppressive than parts of the base game. Bandai Namco highlights Dime and her portable light source. That immediately changes how players read corridors and traps.
The official trailer focuses on discomfort more than spectacle. That fits the series well. The visuals lean into worn wood, twisted shapes, and dirty light. The name The Backstage also makes the idea clear: this chapter goes behind the show.
Dime does not look like a minor story prop. Her Torch Hat appears tied to gameplay. In a game built around shadows and spatial reading, that light source could reshape the feel of each room. For more features, you can also check more gaming articles.
Little Nightmares III DLC: standalone purchase or Expansion Pass
The most practical question is the purchase model. The official post says The Backstage is included in the Secrets of the Spiral Expansion Pass. It also says the chapter can be bought on its own. Both options are officially confirmed.
The choice mostly depends on how much post-launch content you want to follow. Bandai Namco already mentions another piece of additional content later in 2026. If you only want this chapter, the standalone option is the simpler route. If you expect to follow the full roadmap, the pass looks more sensible.
The safest way to verify the confirmed details is the official availability post and the official release-date announcement. The official YouTube trailer is also useful if you want to judge the tone first. For broader coverage, you can still open our news section.
Is this the right time to return to Little Nightmares III?
Yes, if you wanted a solid reason to revisit the Spiral. No, if you expected a huge overhaul. The Backstage looks like a focused horror chapter instead. Its main value comes from tone, tension, and its new enemy.
The bigger takeaway is simple. This DLC does not look like filler. It tries to push unease, pursuit, and visual dread back to the front. That makes it easier to recommend to players who wanted a sharper extra chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did The Backstage release?Bandai Namco Europe published the availability announcement on June 12, 2026. That is the clearest official release marker in the provided sources.
The official material lists PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
No. The Backstage is included in the Secrets of the Spiral Expansion Pass, but Bandai Namco also says it is sold separately.
It adds the backstage area of the Carnevale, Dime with her Torch Hat, and a new enemy called The Puppeteer.
Dime's Torch Hat stands out first. The light source appears central to movement, visibility, and danger management in dark spaces.
Yes. Bandai Namco says another piece of additional content is planned later in 2026.
The official trailer is available on YouTube through Bandai Namco Europe. It is also embedded at the top of this article.
The most reliable places are the official DLC post, the official game announcement, and the official YouTube trailer.
Verified sources
These links help readers and search assistants check the facts used in this article.
