In a recent interview, FromSoftware’s acclaimed director Hidetaka Miyazaki has revealed that the highly anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree expansion for the blockbuster hit Elden Ring will be the game’s first and only downloadable content.
Speaking to Chinese publication Zhihu, Miyazaki explained the rationale behind releasing Elden Ring’s new content as one comprehensive package rather than multiple smaller expansions. He cited the game’s vast open world and emphasis on unrestrained exploration as key factors.
“Elden Ring emphasizes exploration and adventure in a big world. In order to provide such an experience, a vast and huge setting is inevitably needed,” Miyazaki stated. “Therefore, instead of splitting it into several parts, it was better to simply make one big [expansion]. If they were sold separately, the freedom of exploration and sense of adventure would be reduced.”
Fans of the notoriously challenging Souls series may be surprised by this departure from the model of multiple DLC releases employed for past entries like Dark Souls 3. However, Miyazaki’s comments suggest FromSoftware is taking a tailored approach to preserve the core appeal of Elden Ring’s sweeping open world.
The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is also set to introduce a new “level element” mechanic to account for players with fully leveled characters or multiple New Game+ cycles under their belt. This optional system will constrain players’ power levels to an appropriate degree, ensuring the new content provides a suitably robust challenge.
While Miyazaki confirmed that Shadow of the Erdtree marks the end of Elden Ring’s downloadable roadmap, he stopped short of ruling out the possibility of a full-fledged sequel somewhere down the line, stating “there could well be something in the future.”
The long-awaited expansion launches on June 21st for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, representing one final, massive adventure in the unforgiving Lands Between for Elden Ring’s astonishingly successful debut outing.
As FromSoftware moves on to new projects following this ambitious culmination of Elden Ring’s content, fans are assured a fittingly grandiose sendoff that upholds the game’s core pillars of freedom, exploration, and quintessentially challenging gameplay.
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