It has been nearly eight months since Elden Ring tweeted about the development of their expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree. We were promised news down the line, and it has been almost a year with no updates or information about this expansion.
In this Elden Ring video, we’ll discuss when we might expect to see more about Elden Ring, such as actual footage, trailers, gameplay, or release dates. So to date, there have been only a few tweets on Twitter mentioning the development of Shadow of the Erdtree, along with a screenshot that revealed a mysterious tree and character, sparking speculation.
Elden Ring DLC Content
However, there is limited information about the expansion’s content. Given the prolonged development time, it’s safe to assume that this expansion will be large, possibly including a large landscape, new mechanics, weapons, and boss designs. There has to be something keeping this expansion from releasing at a faster pace, and one can assume it’s the sheer scope and size of it.
Moreover, Shadow of the Erdtree will probably be the only expansion for Elden Ring. This is especially true considering the time it is taking them to develop DLC. We are approaching the 20-month mark since Elden Ring’s initial release, and if the expansion comes out in the next two to four months, it will be approximately two years since the game’s release. This lengthy development period suggests the expansion’s substantial size and content.
Shadows of Erdtree Release Date
As for a potential release date, it’s unlikely that Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree will launch within the next two months, making a release this year improbable. We haven’t seen any CGI trailers, gameplay, announcements, or anything. It seems odd that they’d still try and announce something and immediately release it this year, but Bandai Namco and From Software have done stranger things in the past.
Looking ahead, the most likely release window might be in the first quarter of the next year, possibly in February or March. This aligns with the timing of previous From Software releases as they would likely want to release before the end of the fiscal year. The fiscal year in Japan ends in March so all the sales and profits from that expansion would be on this year’s tally. However, if we don’t receive any news by the end of this year, a release in the summer of the following year becomes more likely.
One possible event to watch for more information is The Game Awards in December, where we might expect to see CGI or gameplay trailers or a mix of the two for the expansion. From Software has a history of collaborating with the event, making it a plausible platform for an announcement for Shadow of the Erdtree. If we don’t see anything on Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree in the Game Awards then we may not see anything else about it until possibly the summer of next year.
Other Game Considerations
Considering other game releases in the same window, it seems that Elden Ring won’t have too many direct competitors, except for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second part of the remake, at the end of February. However, this is unlikely to pose a significant problem for Elden Ring.
The only other possible title that could compete with Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree would be Black Myth: Wukong, which is supposed to be released sometime next year. But From Software shouldn’t be too worried about this affecting them, especially since Elden Ring is much larger and much more popular between the two.
From Software’s lengthy development cycle might also have something to do with their most recent release, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. Even though they are from completely different genres, the developer could be giving the project its well-deserved time in the spotlight.
Shadow of the Erdtree Speculation
So what else can fans expect for Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC? We can safely assume that the expansion will have some considerable new areas in the form of new dungeons and landmasses. There are also highly likely to be tons of new weapons, armor, spells, bosses, NPCs, and other upgrades.
Warning: this section may contain spoilers. Because nothing else but an image was shown off, we can speculate a few things. The poster image for Shadow of the Erdtree is a twisted version of the tree, blackened and bleeding gold. This would highly likely point to the DLC taking place after the game’s main storyline, after the destruction of the tree in one of the possible endings of the game. As the tree has ashes raining down, it is also quite likely that this takes place post-burning.
The other major element of the teaser is a horse that looks like Torrent, being ridden by possibly Miquella. This character is specifically called out because of the hairstyle as well as being surrounded by the “abundance” of a rich and lively wheat field.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Release – Final Thoughts
In summary, while specific release dates and details about Shadow of the Erdtree remain uncertain, keeping an eye on announcements, especially during The Game Awards, is a good strategy for fans eager to learn more about the expansion’s release. If we don’t hear anything by the end of the year, we’ll be quite shocked.
It might be an agonizing wait for From Software fans, considering the DLC could be released as early as February 2024, or as late as the summer months. In the meantime, there should be a lot of choices for fans of the soulslike genre, even if nothing can match the gargantuan nature of Elden Ring. Just this year we’ve had Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Lies of P, and Lords of the Fallen.
Hopefully, though, we get info on an Elden Ring Shadow of Erdtree release date quite soon.
