Unveiling Elden Ring: The Hidden Secrets Behind the Enigmatic Erdtree Image

Highlights

Elden Ring has become the most successful release from FromSoftware, bringing the genre into the mainstream and setting the tone for open-world experiences.

The development of the DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, has surpassed the time taken for previous Soulsborne releases, making it highly anticipated.

The teaser, featuring a darkened sky and a withered tree, hints at a potentially bleak and distinct setting in comparison to the main game. Fans have been speculating that characters like Miquella and Godwyn will have crucial parts to play in the expansion's storyline.

Elden Ring has made history as FromSoftware's most successful release, solidifying its legacy as a continuation of the beloved Soulsborne games. This groundbreaking game has propelled the genre into the mainstream and set new standards for content-rich open-world experiences. Despite being on the market for over a year, Elden Ring continues to captivate players, and the recent buzz surrounding its mysterious DLC expansion is undeniable.

Shadow of the Erdtree, the highly anticipated DLC for Elden Ring, follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, taking considerable time to develop. While FromSoft has only released a single teaser image to confirm the expansion's production, fans have wasted no time speculating about the intricate details that the developer is famous for. Notably, this image showcases key elements that hint at the DLC's potential focus, but it is a subtle aspect within the picture that has ignited countless theories.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree's Potentially Bleak Setting

The teaser image portrays a figure riding Torrent towards a withered tree, yet the absence of a sun in the dim sky raises concerns. The depiction of the Lands Between in complete darkness, with only a tree as a source of light, suggests that the setting of Shadow of the Erdtree may differ significantly from the vibrant and colorful locations in the main game.

While the specifics of the expansion's storyline remain unknown, the environment showcased in the teaser holds potential for revealing crucial information about the narrative. It is unlikely that the DLC will directly address the multiple endings of Elden Ring due to the complex nature of the permutations involved. However, the dark world depicted in Shadow of the Erdtree hints at a focus on key figures from the main game.

How Shadow of the Erdtree's Teaser Image Connects to Foreshadowed Characters

Many fans believe that Miquella and Godwyn will play a crucial role in the expansion, based on the teaser's portrayal of a young, blonde figure and a decaying, gold-dripping tree. Clues suggesting a larger storyline can be found in Castle Sol and the descriptions of certain items possibly connected to Godwyn's undead state. These hints imply a narrative in which Miquella attempted to summon an eclipse to end Godwyn's curse of undeath. Although the plan appears to have failed, indicated by the apologetic ghost and the Prince of Death's continued cursed state, the teaser image for Shadow of the Erdtree potentially shows their success.

While the majority of speculation centers around Miquella and Godwyn, some fans have also considered the possibility that the image depicts Marika herself, in a time period before the Erdtree's prosperity shown in the base game. This idea may seem far-fetched to newer players, but FromSoftware has a history of incorporating time-related storylines into their Soulsborne expansions, using historical context to expand their worlds.

The Erdtree, although a prominent feature in the base game, is not the original structure of its kind in the divided lands controlled by the Outer Gods known as the Lands Between. Throughout different eras, various rulers have held dominion over these lands. Whether it explores the ongoing battle to end Godwyn's existence, Miquella's physical afflictions, or the events preceding Elden Ring, the somber atmosphere set by the dark sky of Shadow of the Erdtree foreshadows what awaits in the upcoming expansion.

Elden Ring is currently available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Series X/S.