The video game market has been experiencing endless growth for several years now.
Fantastic titles continue to emerge, captivating millions of players worldwide to the extent that they demand sequels to the stories they’ve experienced in games. The creators enthusiastically respond to this demand by releasing additional DLCs and expansions for games. What are the most anticipated DLCs of 2023?
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What game add-ons are players currently awaiting? Which DLCs are the most eagerly anticipated and will be coming soon?
| Game | Release | Genres | Developer | Trailer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree | 2024-06-20 | RPG | FromSoftware Inc. | |
 | Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail | 2024-07-02 | MMORPG | SQUARE ENIX | |
 | Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty | 2023-09-26 | Action & Adventure | CD PROJEKT RED | |
 | Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred | 2024-10-08 | Hack & Slash | Blizzard Entertainment | |
 | Destiny 2: The Final Shape | 2024-06-04 | FPS | Bungie | |
 | Victoria 3: Sphere of Influence | 2024-06-24 | Strategy | Paradox Development Studio |
1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Elden Ring is an action RPG released in early 2022, belonging to the Soulslike/Soulsborne subgenre, which was initiated many years ago by the game’s creator, FromSoftware. This title focuses on the adventures of one of the Tarnished, an exile who is trying to return to their homeland and, by finding all the pieces of the shattered Elden Ring, prove their worth.
Like all Soulslike games, it features a challenging but satisfying level of difficulty, a complex and mysterious storyline, and intricate gameplay mechanics. These qualities made the game a hit within weeks of its release. The release of a DLC was just a matter of time.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a narrative expansion that will allow players not only to explore new locations, but also likely participate in events from the past. In addition to new storylines, new bosses, equipment items, and weapons are expected to be added to the game.
FromSoftware announced that the DLC will be released at the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024. However, the exact release date and related details are not known at this time. We can only wait with anticipation!
2. FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail
Final Fantasy XIV, released in 2013, is the fourteenth installment of the legendary jRPG series created by Square Enix since the mid-1980s. The game was released as an MMO, allowing players to cooperate and explore the world and adventures awaiting them.
Over the past 10 years, the game has received four major DLCs: Shadowbringers, Heavensward, Stormblood, and Endwalker.
Now, players are eagerly anticipating the fifth expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. This add-on is expected to introduce a new, dungeon-filled and mysterious land, a new storyline, and several new character classes. Character development will also be expanded.
From the official trailer released in August 2023, we know that this DLC is set to be released in the summer of 2024.
3. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
]Cyberpunk 2077 is an action RPG released in 2020, created by the Polish studio CD Projekt RED, known primarily for the phenomenal Witcher series.
The game is based on the Cyberpunk pen & paper role-playing system. Although Cyberpunk 2077 had a rocky start due to issues and bugs, the developers made every effort to make the game successful, and… they succeeded. The game quickly gained fans worldwide!
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is the first and, according to current information, the only planned expansion for CP77, which will have a spy thriller atmosphere.
In this DLC, players once again take on the role of the mercenary named V, who is contacted by a mysterious netrunner named Songbird. She promises to help V, but first, he must undertake a mission to rescue the President of the New United States of America, Rosalind Myers. Solomon Reed (Idris Elba) will assist him in this task.
All those waiting for Phantom Liberty are certainly looking forward to it! The release date for this highly anticipated DLC is set for September 26, 2023. The game will be available on PC and the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles, but it will not be released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
4. Minecraft x Dungeons & Dragons
Minecraft, released in 2011 on PC, is a sandbox game that combines adventure, survival, crafting, educational, and RPG elements.
It is a title that has enjoyed enduring popularity and affection among players of all ages for over 10 years. Over the years, the game has received many DLCs and expansions, including those that added new armour, characters, weapons, storylines, and even new worlds!
So far, Minecraft has also been involved in various collaborations, resulting in various mash-ups inspired by hits such as Super Mario Bros., Adventure Time, and Toy Story.
However, players are now eagerly anticipating something even better. During the 2023 D&D Direct event, Mojang and Wizards of the Coast revealed that Minecraft would receive a 10-hour Dungeons & Dragons campaign. In this title, players will visit the famous Forgotten Realms world, battling beholders and mind flayers, and even… rolling dice from time to time.
At the beginning of the year, developers announced that the add-on would be released in the spring of 2023. Spring has long passed, and unfortunately, there is no sign of the DLC on the horizon. There is no denying that this anticipation only intensifies players’ appetites.
5. Diablo 4 DLC
Diablo IV is a hack ‘n’ slash RPG released in early June 2023, marking the fourth installment of the phenomenal series created by Blizzard Entertainment since the 1990s.
The game itself was highly anticipated and quickly gained a large fan base after its release. While Diablo IV is not a direct sequel to its predecessor, it was set in the same gloomy, dark fantasy world, like the previous installments. The realm is engulfed in war, where players must confront the diabolical Lilith and her minions.
Blizzard stated before the release of Diablo 4 that the game would receive updates in three-month intervals, known as seasons, ensuring that the game will continuously receive free updates and new content. They also announced that players could expect a major paid expansion after four seasons.
For now, we know that the current Season of the Malignant is set to end on October 17, 2023, followed by the Season of Blood. Predictions suggest that the fourth season will conclude around July/August 2024, when we can expect a new DLC.
What do we know about it? Not much at the moment. We don’t even have information about the DLC’s name. However, it is certain that it will introduce a new area, a storyline, new equipment, and character skills, as well as a new character class.
Speculations point to a “holy warrior” character, similar to the Paladin or Crusader from previous installments, but these details have not been confirmed yet.
Summary
As you can see, some eagerly awaited DLCs for our favourite games will require a bit more waiting, while meanwhile, players can enjoy the Cyberpunk 2077 expansion and hope that the promised DLCs for Elden Ring and Minecraft will indeed be released before the end of the year. What the creators promise, however, looks very auspicious!