Elden Ring has been with us for more than a year, with over 20 million copies sold worldwide. That’s quite a success! But to the delight of many, in February this year, From Software announced a piece of new content – the anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

Last year’s role-playing game from From Software features action set in the dark Lands Between, where players try to survive and become an Elden Lord. Like in Dark Souls, Bloodborne, or Demon’s Souls – enemies spawn everywhere. But the high difficulty level is the FromSoftware games’ flagship feature – and that’s part of why players worship it so much. No wonder the Erdtree add-on, announced on February 28, 2023, aroused so much excitement. However, the news is quite blurry, and little is known about what it will contain. But with this quick guide, you can learn more in minutes!

The Legacy of the ER Game

ER game became such a huge success that even its director – Hidetaka Miyazaki – doesn’t know exactly how it happened. At the PlayStation Partner Awards 2022, the game received two prizes and a Game of the Year title at the 23rd annual Game Developer Choice Awards to rise as a massive critical and commercial wonder.

Soon, it earned an average of 94/100 on Metacritic and praise from IGN, GameSpot, and The Guardian for its gigantic and engaging world. As it turns out, this achievement originated in the fan community’s trust in the Japanese studio’s work, based on satisfying experiences from previous titles.

We can confirm that all FromSoftware games provide absolutely unique gameplay. Their worlds are dark, with little bits of story scattered everywhere, combat highly challenging, and enemies possessed by madness literally around every corner.

That is why all similar titles from other developers, like Remnant: From the Ashes, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, or Titan Souls, belong to the increasingly popular ‘soulslike’ subgenre. It proves Demon’s Souls creators know what they are doing. And they did it again with the brilliant Elden video game, becoming another milestone in their fascinating career.

Setting the Stage: The Lore Behind the Erdtree

So what is this famous Erdtree? It is a gigantic, luminous tree visible from every part of Lands Between, drawing power from the titular ring. Seemingly, it represents the order of the Greater Will, illuminating everything with its golden grace. But the truth is quite enigmatic because Erdtree may or may not have different purposes than its earlier version.

A crucial part of this lore is Queen Marika summoning Tarnished (the playable hero) to return and become an Elden Lord under Melina’s protection. To avoid further spoilers for those who still need to play the game, know the entire story and its outcome depend on the player’s choices.

So, what could the new downloadable content be about? Speculations and rumors concern one teaser photo, but fans eagerly develop alternative theories. We can see a long-haired figure riding a white horse with a massive ruined tree in the background. There is no sun, glow, or any other source of light. The land looks deserted and forgotten. All this indicates the expansion may occur in a completely new location or even a different timeline. Players assume the person riding the horse (probably Torrent) may be Miquella or Queen Marika herself. But why is this tree so dark? Some suspect it may be the sacred Miquella tree twining around the golden Erdtree. Or just a dream depicting such an event. Others are more than convinced that this is the version of burned Erdtree after the base game ending. Whatever it is, it sure looks absolutely intriguing!

What to Expect: Gameplay Enhancements

Considering the extra content has been in development longer than any other add-on for previous FromSoftware games, we can assume it will also be more extensive.

We can probably expect a new location, but no one knows whether it will be the one in the picture or somewhere else. Regarding mechanics and skills – expect small changes. The basic game used players to known solutions, and the expansion will likely feature them in that form.

New Enemies?

Some fans pointed out a few surprising facts. The player character didn’t have to defeat Miquella to get his shard. Until the very end of the game, this particular demigod remained inactive in his egg, unfamiliar with his family’s situation. As many suspect, he will be furious in the future and may become the main boss of the upcoming expansion.

Alternatively, this encounter may lead through Mohg, the Blood Lord. Especially since one observant YouTuber, Quelaag, discovered that the weeds in the teaser picture resemble those standing in Miquella’s Haligtree praying room. FromSoftware doesn’t do things like that without a purpose, so it is one of the most likely scenarios.

Conclusion

Previous From Software add-ons did not change the ending, instead supplementing it or providing an alternative (additional) summary. But overall, none disrupted the plot flow revealed in the base game. We can assume the Erdtree downloadable content will follow a similar path, filling in the lore gaps with additional storylines and new bosses. We don’t know the exact release date today, but it could happen around 2024. That’s a while! And that’s why every eager fan should spend this time revisiting the base game, which is probably still full of secrets and little hints.