Summary
Many fans were expecting to hear something from famedDark Soulscreator FromSoftware at the 2023 Game Awards. Even if the studio only had its lone 2023 release,Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, nominated for one category, there was plenty of news it could steal the show with. Whether that was anAC6content update, a look at FromSoftware’s rumored next game, or anElden RingDLC trailer, a big FromSoftware announcement was anticipated.Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion was due for a full reveal, so most bets were on that.
However, even afterArmored Core 6won the award for Best Action Game, no reveals came. Despite a recent history of major trailers at Geoff Keighley shows, leaks and rumors pointing to a Game Awards trailer, and even activity onElden Ring’s Steam backend, FromSoftware stayed silent. Producer Yasuhiro Kitao’s statement at the PlayStation Partner Awards one week prior aboutElden Ring’s DLC needing more timeproved more accurate than many hoped.Elden Ringfans felt disappointed by the lack of news, but the upsides to Shadow of the Erdtree’s silence are worth considering.
No Date For Elden Ring’s DLC Crosses Out Some Rumors
Until further notice, very few details exist aboutElden Ring’s DLC. All fans have had to go off was an image released early in 2023, which immediately disproved a prior rumor claiming the expansion’s title was Barbarians of the Badlands. Nearly everything known about Shadow of the Erdtree is couched in the analysis of this artwork or rumors, many of which are nonspecific and hard to verify. The Game Awards have cast doubt on the common theory that Shadow of the Erdtree would makeElden Ring’s second anniversary in February 2024, and nothing its community currently knows is able to coalesce into a new release window.
It’s a somewhat dour time to be anElden Ringfan now thatShadow of the Erdtree has joinedHollow Knight: Silksongin the camp of missing Soulslikes. All is not lost, however, asElden Ring’s absence at the 2023 Game Awards may have been the best result. The few credible Shadow of the Erdtree leaks claim it started development shortly afterElden Ring’s launch, and may have been conceptualized as multiple DLC episodes. This paints it as FromSoftware’s largest paid DLC yet and its prolonged silence as entirely necessary.
The Advantages Of Elden Ring DLC Having Nothing To Show
Building an open world with FromSoftware’s attention to detail was no easy task, andElden Ringwasn’t finished until five years afterDark Souls 3’s launch. The game had more content than twoSoulsgames combined, and even then it had to frequently reuse enemies likeElden Ring’s infamous Ulcerated Tree Spirits. Mitigating that in an expansion while still offering new areas with fresh terrain, equipment, and monsters like every FromSoftware DLC would take proportional effort even with the foundation done. Throw inElden Ring’s open-world format, and it’s no wonder why Shadow of the Erdtree is still under wraps.
Why Shadow of the Erdtree Will Be Worth The Wait
Ultimately, the longer it takes for Shadow of the Erdtree to reappear, the likelier it is that it will meet fan expectations. If Shadow of the Erdtree’s development lasts two years, almost half as long asElden Ring’s, and ends up a third of the game’s size, that’s still one-third ofElden Ring’s 60-80 hour run time. Judging by its development length and the likelihood of multiple new regions,Shadow of the Erdtree’s sheer ambitioncould shape it intoElden Ring’s sequel rather than typical AAA DLC. With that in mind,Elden Ringfans should have their patience rewarded with interest once Shadow of the Erdtree has more to show.
Elden Ring
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
