The Surprising Obstacle That Will Test Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

The hype surrounding the upcoming DLC for Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree, is through the roof thanks to the game's enduring popularity. As an open-world action-RPG with mechanics and themes borrowed from the Dark Souls franchise, it has captured the hearts and minds of gamers across the globe. Fans are eagerly anticipating what FromSoftware has in store for the expansion, as the Souls series has a history of saving its most impressive content for DLCs. While new areas and enemies are expected, the biggest challenge for Shadows of the Erdtree may be living up to the high expectations set by its predecessor.

For long-time fans of FromSoftware, Elden Ring's unprecedented success came as no surprise. Since the release of cult classic Demon's Souls in 2009, Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team have been on an incredible trajectory, with newer titles like Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice proving to be the developer's most successful yet. The more experience the studio gains, the better their games become, and Elden Ring has surpassed all previous records in terms of global sales and popularity.

Elden Ring's DLC Will Carry The Heavy Burden of Fan Expectation

With the success of FromSoftware's recent games comes the pressure to deliver even more with Elden Ring's DLC. Previous Soulsborne games have all had at least one paid expansion, each adding new challenges and lore to the game. In fact, some of the most memorable characters and boss fights have come from these DLC offerings. Dark Souls 2's Crown of the Old Iron King DLC, for example, introduced the formidable Fume Knight and the brilliantly designed Brume Tower map, elevating the overall experience of the game. Similarly, Bloodborne's The Old Hunters DLC has been praised as one of the best paid expansions ever released. With such high expectations, Shadow of the Erdtree has a lot to live up to.

The bosses in Elden Ring present varying levels of difficulty, and the game offers several mechanics to ease the challenge. Despite this, Elden Ring can still be a demanding experience, and it is likely that the upcoming expansion will follow suit. Fans are eager for answers to lore questions left unanswered in the base game, particularly regarding Miquella, the twin sibling of the game's toughest boss, Malenia. While Shadow of the Erdtree may shed light on Miquella, players are also hoping for more information on other enigmatic characters and locations such as the gloam-eyed queen and the Badlands. Fulfilling all of these expectations may prove difficult, but FromSoftware has a track record of delivering exceptional expansions, and fans are understandably excited for what Shadow of the Erdtree has in store.

Elden Ring is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.