Shadow of the Erdtree
FromSoft
Elden Ring has secured its place as one of the top games of the generation and FromSoftware’s most lucrative title yet. The game, void of microtransactions, is now gearing up for a major DLC expansion known as Shadow of the Erdtree, announced in February 2023.
Recent rumors suggested an early 2024 release, possibly marking the two-year anniversary of its announcement and the game’s launch. However, FromSoftware Producer Yasuhiro Kitao, via Game Watch, has clarified that the DLC is still in progress and has some time before release, despite making good progress.
Fans are left wondering about the release timeline, considering that Elden Ring debuted in February 2022 and it now looks like the DLC will take at least 2.5 years to launch. The prevailing theory is that the expansion is exceptionally substantial, thus requiring an extended production period. This is reminiscent of Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty expansion, which arrived nearly three years after the game’s initial release, albeit after extensive base game repairs, something Elden Ring did not necessitate to the same degree. For comparison, The Witcher 3 released both of its major DLCs within a single year.
Phantom Liberty
CDPR
Teasing fans with just a single glimpse, the Shadow of the Erdtree trailer features what seems to be Miquella riding Torrent. The image of the charred and molten Erdtree implies that the DLC takes place post-main game events, a development that’s not entirely unexpected, as prequel DLCs are rare. While the pricing remains unknown, it’s likely to be around $40-$50 or perhaps an $80 bundle for both the base game and the DLC.
Expansions of a certain magnitude are eligible for accolades such as the Game Awards, as demonstrated by Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty, which received nominations for Best Narrative, Best Performance, and is currently in the Top 10 for Players’ Choice, despite being dependent on the base game. Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree could potentially secure numerous nominations, despite being an expansion. However, next year’s launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 could potentially overshadow the awards, with a potential 2024 release (although 2025 remains the guess).
While exact release dates or timelines are still unknown, it’s safe to say that fans should not expect Shadow of the Erdtree in the early winter months of 2024, despite earlier speculations.
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