The Plot Thickens: Elden Ring’s Highly Anticipated Expansion
What’s a gaming universe without its fair share of drama, speculation, and, of course, leaks? As gamers worldwide navigate the treacherous yet awe-inspiring Lands Between in Elden Ring, whispers of the new DLC, ‘Shadow of the Erdtree’, have set the community ablaze. We’ve heard a myriad of rumors, some more credible than others. But here we are, sifting through the noise to bring you what could be the closest thing to the truth until an official release date gets etched in stone.
“We live for the drama of it all though so read on to get the juicy grapevine gossip about the upcoming Elden Ring DLC, what it will be about and if it will be a paid expansion or free.”
So, grab a seat by the bonfire, dear Tarnished, and let’s dissect what we know, what we don’t, and what could be pure fantasy.
The Confirmation We’ve Been Waiting For
At long last, the prayers of the Elden Ring community have been answered. On a fateful day—Tuesday, 28th February 2023—publishers Bandai Namco and the famed developers FromSoftware took to Twitter and the official Bandai Namco website to spill the beans.
“It has now been confirmed that Elden Ring will receive a major post-launch DLC expansion named Shadow of the Erdtree.”
The tweet wasn’t just a mundane announcement. It was accompanied by some rather eerie and tantalizing concept art. The teaser image promises what looks like new territories in the Lands Between and possibly a whole set of new challenges and foes.
“Rise, Tarnished, and let us walk a new path together… We hope you look forward to new adventures in the Lands Between.”
This leads us to believe that ‘Shadow of the Erdtree’ is likely to offer not just new playgrounds but also a considerable extension to the main storyline. Are we excited? Well, that’s an understatement.
Rise, Tarnished, and let us walk a new path together.
An upcoming expansion for #ELDENRING Shadow of the Erdtree, is currently in development.
We hope you look forward to new adventures in the Lands Between. pic.twitter.com/cjJYijM7Mw— ELDEN RING (@ELDENRING) February 28, 2023
Decoding the Rumor Mill: Release Date Buzz
A character shrouded in mystery and fueled by a track record of reliable leaks, Twitter user Ziostorm, has stepped onto the stage of speculation. He suggests that we might hear something concrete about ‘Shadow of the Erdtree’ at none other than The Game Awards on 7th December 2023.
“unverified sources have told him that we can expect Shadow of Erdtree to release onand that the announcement will be made at The Game Awards on 7th December 2023.”
As with all rumors, a healthy dose of skepticism is advisable. Geoff Keighley’s recent visit to the FromSoftware studio adds another layer to the story, but until official word comes out, it’s all speculative stardust.
Unverified sources are telling me that Elden Ring DLC is planned to be shown at The Game Awards with a release date of February 5th, 2024.
These sources have shown signs of insight, but nothing concrete. Consider this just a rumor for now. pic.twitter.com/KI1mQIfzMs— Ziostorm (@Ziostorm1) October 9, 2023
Unlocking the Mysteries: What Could ‘Shadow of the Erdtree’ Be About?
With nothing but an enigmatic teaser image and an even more cryptic caption, there’s a lot left to the imagination. Could the figure on the horse be Miquella or Queen Marika? And what’s with the gold on the tree?
“Let us walk a new path together”, too, suggests that we’ll be discovering something and somewhere new in the Lands Between.”
Fan theories run rampant, suggesting everything from new character arcs to the possibility of diving into post-ending scenarios. The only consensus? Expect a deep dive into the Elden Ring lore, which could be a third of the size of the base game if past FromSoftware DLCs set any precedent.
For context, this was shared with me before Geoff Keighley posted that he’d visited FromSoftware and that he’d gone to Japan to finalize plans for TGA.
— Ziostorm (@Ziostorm1) October 9, 2023
Pricing Details: Get Ready to Loosen Those Purse Strings
Let’s address the elephant in the room: will the DLC be free? While no official confirmation has been made, it seems unlikely.
“As Shadow of the Erdtree is described as an expansion, we’re expecting big things from the DLC – and this won’t come free.”
Given its anticipated scale, estimates put the ‘Shadow of the Erdtree’ price somewhere between £15-£35. Of course, once the details are ironed out, we’ll be updating you faster than you can say “Praise the sun!”
Final Thoughts
The chatter around Elden Ring’s ‘Shadow of the Erdtree’ DLC is growing louder by the day. Whether it’s deciphering teasers or tracking unconfirmed leaks, the excitement is real. While we wait for an official word, one thing’s certain: the Lands Between are about to get a whole lot bigger and far more intriguing. Keep those eyes peeled and ears open; the next big revelation might just be around the corner.
