Elden Ring to get major expansion

The developer behind the extremely popular Elden Ring has revealed that a new expansion for the game is in the works, but details are sparse.

Developer FromSoftware and publisher Bandai Namco have revealed that a new expansion for Elden Ring is currently under development.

As revealed on Twitter, the new expansion is called Shadow of the Erdtree, although details beyond that are very limited. No release date or window for the expansion has been set, and aside from accompanying artwork, no other inclusions have been detailed.

The artwork for the newly announced expansion shows the Erdtree, a major focal point in the base game’s landscape, in a state of disarray. The tree is charred and crumbling, with streams of lava flowing out of it — a far cry from the glowing white beacon it usually is.

The landscape shown is a lush hillscape, with ruins scattered across the land, surrounded by thousands of ghostly gravestones, usually an indicator that a player has died in the game. The player’s trusty steed is also sighted in the artwork, with a familiar maiden atop it, gazing upon the dying Erdtree.

Elden Ring’s expansion has no release date and no gameplay details yet. Picture: Bandai Namco

Elden Ring was released in early 2022 to near universal acclaim, being called one of the best games of 2022 and quickly becoming FromSoftware’s biggest game to date. It went on to sell 20 million copies after less than a year on the market, easily becoming one of the biggest game launches of the year.

The open-world game’s story and lore was a collaborative effort between FromSoftware creative director Hidetaka Miyazaki and Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin. The storytelling in particular was praised by critics and fans alike, and big names like Neil Druckmann, who works at Naughty Dog on games like The Last of Us.

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

The gameplay elements and aesthetics are direct successors to previous FromSoftware games like Dark Souls, much of which is evident in the game’s bosses, which are huge, challenging feats to overcome. The game also has multiple branching paths, with many different endings for players to explore.

In other game expansion news, The Pokemon Company recently announced new DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. The DLC will come in two waves, the first of which is set to be released in Spring, and will contain a number of new characters and Pokemon.

Written by Oliver Brandt on behalf of GLHF.