In anticipation of the release of “Shadow of the Erdtree,” the community was intrigued by FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki’s comment in a February IGN interview. He mentioned that “The Realm of Shadow” is “probably comparable, if not larger than the area of Limgrave from the base game.”
This statement sparked speculation among fans regarding whether Miyazaki referred solely to Limgrave or if it included the Weeping Peninsula, an adjacent island. Fans also pondered the impact of FromSoft’s emphasis on density and verticality on the new game’s landscape. The comparison to Limgrave initially seemed underwhelming given the long wait.
Despite the concerns, there was confidence based on Miyazaki’s previous underestimation of “Elden Ring.” Before its release, he estimated the game would take around 30 hours to complete, a figure vastly exceeded by many players who invested over 100 hours.
This context suggested that the “comparable” size mentioned by Miyazaki might not fully capture the scope of “The Realm of Shadow.” This sentiment was echoed by PC Gamer’s Wes Fenlon after discussing the game with Miyazaki at FromSoft headquarters.
“The Realm of Shadow” features a complex and intricate design, where areas that appear close together are actually separated by challenging vertical landscapes. This design compels players to take lengthy, winding routes to reach new zones, amplifying the sense of discovery and adventure. Achieving such meticulous world-building within a two-year development cycle is regarded as a significant accomplishment.
PC Gamer editor Shaun Prescott highlighted that “Shadow of the Erdtree” retains the expansive scale and sense of discovery that characterized the base game, “Elden Ring.”
This achievement is seen as the expansion’s “biggest magic trick,” demonstrating FromSoft’s ability to create an impressive and immersive world as an add-on. This sentiment is further explored in Tyler Colp’s review of the expansion, emphasizing the high quality and engaging nature of the new content.
The community’s initial skepticism turned to excitement and appreciation for the detailed and expansive world of “The Realm of Shadow.” Miyazaki’s history of underestimating game lengths reassured fans that the new expansion would offer a substantial and engaging experience.
The vertical and dense design of the new areas, along with the magic of discovery, underlined FromSoft’s prowess in game development, ensuring that “Shadow of the Erdtree” would be a worthy addition to the “Elden Ring” universe.