The much-anticipated Elden Ring DLC expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, has finally received its official release date: June 21st.
Hidetaka Miyazaki, the head of FromSoftware, disclosed to Eurogamer that this expansion is the largest endeavor the company has undertaken to date.
Miyazaki elaborated on the expansion in detail for Eurogamer, confirming that acclaimed author George R. R. Martin did not contribute new material for this project.
“In terms of George Martin’s involvement, it remains consistent with that of the base game,” Miyazaki clarified. “Shadow of the Erdtree draws from a segment of the original mythos he provided. It doesn’t introduce a completely new mythos tailored for this DLC; rather, it’s an extension of the original narrative that we deemed suitable for expansion.”
The genesis of ideas for the DLC emerged towards the conclusion of Elden Ring’s development when it became evident that certain concepts wouldn’t fit into the base game and would be better suited for DLC. Development commenced around the time the updates and patches for the base game had stabilized.
What can players anticipate from Shadow of the Erdtree? Miyazaki asserted that compared to previous expansions, this DLC boasts the most extensive content yet.
Set in a fresh area within a new map, the expansion retains the structure of the original game, featuring field areas, legacy dungeons, and dungeons of varying scales. “In terms of sheer expanse, one could imagine something surpassing even Limgrave from the base game,” Miyazaki remarked.
FromSoft has also refined its approach to field design, aiming for a more integrated and intricate layout that seamlessly blends field and dungeon areas. “We’ve incorporated larger open areas and legacy dungeons, but we’ve also experimented with intermediary designs to offer a more diverse gameplay experience,” Miyazaki explained.
Moreover, the expansion introduces over 10 new boss encounters, along with a plethora of new weapons, equipment, and abilities. Eight new weapon categories have been introduced to accommodate the new weapon types.
Historically, expansions for previous FromSoft titles have amplified difficulty levels, with Bloodborne’s The Old Hunters being a notable example. Miyazaki assured that Shadow of the Erdtree will maintain a similar challenge level to Elden Ring’s endgame, adhering to the studio’s approach to providing formidable challenges while granting players the freedom to tackle them as they see fit.
Miyazaki highlighted the Malenia boss fight as an example of the formidable challenges players can expect. “Players seeking such challenges will find them on par with the base game in the DLC,” he affirmed.
Additionally, a new progression element unique to this DLC area has been introduced, further empowering players to adjust their approach, level up, and return to confront challenges.
The trailer hints at the expansion’s narrative focusing on Miquella, Malenia’s brother. “I presume you, too, are eager to learn about Miquella’s intentions here,” the narrator poses, raising questions about Miquella’s true nature.
References to the Realm of Shadow accessed through a withered arm suggest new areas for exploration. The trailer showcases a range of environments, from eerie grasslands to fiery caverns and mystical ruins, along with striking new boss encounters, including a horned, beast-headed creature that unleashes lightning strikes.
Miyazaki confirmed that true to form, the expansion will feature a poisoned swamp. “Yes, indeed,” he remarked. “However, this became a point of self-reflection for me after developing the base game. It dawned on me that I have a penchant for creating poisoned swamps. So, when players encounter the poisoned swamp in the DLC, they may sense a hint of this introspection.”
Shadow of the Erdtree is slated for release across all platforms on June 21st. As for the possibility of a Bloodborne remake, potentially for the PlayStation 6, Miyazaki remained non-committal when queried about it.
