On your first Lies of P playthrough, you do not have to finish the main story to enter Overture: you need the DLC installed, must reach the end of Chapter 9, and must restore the Hotel Krat Stargazer. A later update moved DLC access forward to Chapter 5 from the second playthrough onward. Boss Rematch, however, requires you to have seen at least one ending of the base game. These are separate unlock conditions, even though both features were introduced together in June 2025.
Chapter 9, Chapter 5 or an ending: which requirement applies?
| Content | Access requirement | Must the main story be completed? |
|---|---|---|
| Overture on the first playthrough | Purchase and install the DLC; restore the Hotel Krat Stargazer at the end of Chapter 9; follow the access marker. | No. |
| Overture from the second playthrough onward (NG+) | With the game updated, reach Chapter 5 and use the entry point at Path of the Pilgrim. | You do not have to finish the current playthrough again; reaching NG+ already implies an earlier completion. |
| Boss Rematch: Battle Memories and Death March | See at least one ending of the main story; open the modes through the Hotel Stargazer. | Yes, at least one base-game ending. |
The key distinction is that Overture is paid downloadable content, whereas the boss rematch modes arrived through a free base-game update. Buying the DLC does not bypass the Boss Rematch requirement, and finishing the game does not automatically remove the expansion's first-playthrough entry conditions.
What does Chapter 9 unlock on a first playthrough?
The official Steam access guide, published on June 6, 2025, says that restoring the Hotel Krat Stargazer at the end of Chapter 9 adds a Functional item called Star’s Chrysalis to your inventory. Its quest marker in the fast-travel menu points to Path of the Pilgrim. Following that marker starts the expansion's entry sequence, without requiring a main-story ending.
The precise progression point matters: merely reaching an area labeled Chapter 9 does not necessarily mean the specified Stargazer restoration is complete. You also need the base game and access to the DLC. Steam lists Overture as downloadable content requiring Lies of P, rather than a standalone game.
Why do older guides say to reach Chapter 9 again in NG+?
The original June 6, 2025 announcement stated that Star’s Chrysalis would remain in your inventory when starting a new game cycle, but had to be reactivated by progressing to the end of Chapter 9 again. That described the launch rules; it should not be applied without taking later patches into account.
Official version 1.9.0.0 notes, posted on the game's website on July 1, 2025, changed the requirement: from the second playthrough onward, Overture can be accessed from Chapter 5 at Path of the Pilgrim. An updated NG+ player therefore does not have to work back to Chapter 9 to use this earlier entry point. The change does not grant Chapter 5 access on a first playthrough.
When does Boss Rematch unlock?
Boss Rematch is separate from Overture's story content. The launch notes give it a different requirement: reach at least one ending of the main campaign. The modes can then be opened through the Hotel Krat Stargazer. A NEOWIZ post on PlayStation Blog also makes clear that the base-game update added boss rematch modes at no additional charge.
Battle Memories lets you fight bosses you have defeated before. Death March challenges you to face three or more bosses in a row with limited health and items. Entering the DLC in Chapter 9 therefore does not automatically unlock rematches, and purchasing the expansion is not listed as a condition for this feature.
What to check in your save
If Overture is not appearing, confirm that the DLC was purchased and installed, which playthrough you are on, and whether the game has been patched. On a first run, look for the Stargazer restoration at the end of Chapter 9; on an updated NG+ run, check Path of the Pilgrim from Chapter 5. For Boss Rematch, make sure you have already seen at least one base-game ending and then check the Hotel Stargazer.
This also resolves a common contradiction between launch guides and current guidance: the original requirement to repeat Chapter 9 in NG+ was changed in version 1.9.0.0. Official notes from August 2026 likewise recommend keeping the game updated and warn of potential save-data problems with outdated versions. The rules explained here follow the cited official notices without revealing the expansion's story or bosses.
