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Rosslyn Elliott
Rosslyn Elliott has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and in-house journalist. She earned a B.A. in English from Yale University and has written professionally in many fields including technology and IT. She has won kudos for her work helping tech startups establish their brands. Having lived all over the USA, Rosslyn has first-hand knowledge of the strengths and quirks of top internet service providers. She now writes on all things internet, including Wi-Fi technology, fiber infrastructure, satellite internet, and the digital divide. As a TV fan, she also enjoys reviewing channel choices and cool gadgets for satellite TV and streaming services. Her personal experience as a researcher, career changer, and remote worker inspires her to guide others to their own online opportunities. After work, she likes to kick back with a good craft beer and speculate about A.I. with friends.
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Shadow of the Erdtree Release Date
The gaming world is buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming release of Shadow of the Erdtree, the expansion to the wildly successful Elden Ring game. Set to launch on June 21, 2024, this downloadable content (DLC) promises to deliver a thrilling new chapter in the Elden Ring saga. Players will have the opportunity to explore the mysterious Land of Shadow and uncover the secrets of Miquella, a key figure in the game’s lore.
The original Elden Ring game was based on original worldbuilding by George R. R. Martin, the popular author of Game of Thrones. Though the expansion does not add new material from Martin, the world he created for the first version of the game was so detailed that it provides plenty of inspiration for the expansion. Martin told TheGamer.com that he wrote 5000 years of the history of The Lands Between to set the scene for the original game.
Advance Testers Praise Elden Ring Expansion’s Scope
Gaming journalists who have previewed Shadow of the Erdtree are raving about the expansion’s massive scope and opportunities for discovery. Shaun Prescott from PC Gamer notes, “Coming away from Shadow of the Erdtree, it’s obvious FromSoftware understands that a big part of this RPG’s appeal is not only the scale of its playground, but also the way the land folds in on itself in fascinating ways." Prescott praises the intricate level design, with hidden paths and secrets waiting to be uncovered by intrepid explorers.
Exploring the Land of Shadow
The Land of Shadow itself is a sensory triumph, with its muted color palette and melancholic atmosphere. The design and aesthetics are truly top-notch, bringing gamers the thrill of moving through a surreal landscape that blends artistic influences from Doré, Bosch and pulp fantasy.
The official trailer describes the Land of Shadow as “a place obscured by the Erdtree. Where the goddess Marika first set foot. A land purged in an unsung battle. Set ablaze by Messmer’s flame."
This description alone would be enough to pique the interest of Elden Ring fans, who are eager to unravel the mysteries of this new realm.
New Weapons, Armor, and Spells
One of the most exciting aspects of Shadow of the Erdtree is the introduction of new weapons, armor, and spells. Mitchell Saltzman from IGN writes, “The new weapons were very cool too, with some really unique properties and weapon arts that made them behave quite differently from anything in the main game." Saltzman highlights the Heavy Smithscript Axe, which can be thrown without any cost or resource usage, and the Backhand Blade, which can be split into two swords for dual-wielding.
Other new weapons include martial fists, dueling shield, throwing ax, heavy katana, beast claw, and light greatsword.
Challenging New Bosses and Enemies
Of course, with new weapons come new challenges, and Shadow of the Erdtree does not disappoint in this regard.
The expansion contains ten major bosses to put up a tough fight for players.
Gaming journalists, who warn players to expect a significant challenge, even with high-level characters and endgame gear.
Fortunately, you can bring all your weapons and your level from the main game into the DLC. The game designers recommend that your character be at level 120-150 before you enter the Land of Shadows.
In order to get into the expansion, you will have to defeat the original game’s bosses Radahn and Mohg. This test serves to make sure you are powerful enough to take on the dread enemies that await in Shadow of the Erdtree.
The Story of Miquella and Messmer the Impaler
The story of Shadow of the Erdtree revolves around Miquella, a demi-god who played a significant role in the lore of the base game but never made a proper appearance. Miquella is the son of Marika and brother of Goddess of Rot, Malenia. Players will follow in Miquella’s footsteps, uncovering the reasons behind his journey to this new land and the sacrifices he made along the way.
Miquella had been cursed in the original Elden Ring game to forever have the body of a child. Will Sawyer of GamesRadar interprets the clues from the expansion’s trailer to mean that Miquella leaves his previous physical body in order to go to the Land of Shadow.
Another intriguing character introduced in the expansion is Messmer the Impaler, a fiery antagonist demi-god who seems to have caused a horrific war in the history of the Land of Shadow. Sawyer speculates that Messmer may turn out to be a sibling of Miquella and Malenia ,a potential link hinted at by his “M” name and red hair.
Ten new bosses
A Vast New Map Filled with Secrets
While the preview build only allowed journalists to explore a portion of the new map, they all agree that the Land of Shadow is vast and filled with secrets. Shaun Prescott commented after his game testing, “As big as the preview area was, I was frequently told by Bandai Namco that I was at risk of going out of bounds of the permitted play area." This play test suggests that the final release will offer even more content for players to sink their teeth into.
Pricing and Availability for Shadow of the Erdtree
Shadow of the Erdtree will be released as a standalone DLC for $39.99, with various bundled options available for those who have yet to purchase the base game. The expansion will be available on all platforms that Elden Ring was released for, including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Lottie Lynn of Eurogamer reports that the file size for the Elden Ring expansion will be 16.5 GB on PlayStation 5.
True fans can also purchase a Collector’s Edition for $249.99 that includes the Elden Ring DLC, a Messmer the Impaler statue, digital soundtrack, and hardcover artbook. If you want the soundtrack and artbook without the statue, you can purchase the expansion plus extras for $99.99.
Fan Anticipation Builds for Elden Ring DLC
As the release date draws near, fans are eagerly discussing their return to the Lands Between and the chance to explore the mysterious Land of Shadow.
Even four months ago, Reddit users posted over 380 comments speculating on what the expansion might contain.
With its captivating setting, challenging gameplay, and intriguing lore, Shadow of the Erdtree promises to be a worthy addition to the Elden Ring universe.
Power up for the new Land of Shadow
Multiplayer Option for Shadow of the Erdtree
FromSoftware has stated that the same multiplayer co-op platform (Seamless Co-op mod) that supports Elden Ring will support multiplayer interaction in Shadow of the Erdtree.
If you want to play either the original game or the expansion online, you will need adequate internet speed and low latency. Learn everything you need to know about internet speed with our resource guide.
Time is short to qualify for the Elden Ring DLC
Only a few days left to defeat both Radahn and Mohg in the original game! Those feats will qualify you to enter the expansion. After those victories, you will be able to touch a dessicated arm sticking out of a huge egg to be whisked off to the new world. So battle on and get ready for an all-new gaming experience at midnight on June 21!
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About the author
Rosslyn Elliott
Rosslyn Elliott has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and in-house journalist. She earned a B.A. in English from Yale University and has written professionally in many fields including technology and IT. She has won kudos for her work helping tech startups establish their brands. Having lived all over the USA, Rosslyn has first-hand knowledge of the strengths and quirks of top internet service providers. She now writes on all things internet, including Wi-Fi technology, fiber infrastructure, satellite internet, and the digital divide. As a TV fan, she also enjoys reviewing channel choices and cool gadgets for satellite TV and streaming services. Her personal experience as a researcher, career changer, and remote worker inspires her to guide others to their own online opportunities. After work, she likes to kick back with a good craft beer and speculate about A.I. with friends.
Which speed do I need?
Tell us what you use Internet for
How many users?
Online Gaming
Smart Home Devices
Streaming Video
Browsing & Email
Target speed: 50 Mbps
With multiple users in the house, you need a little wiggle room in your bandwidth. 50 Mbps will support all your web browsing and social media.
Your current Internet speed:
Find 50 Mbps Internet speed near you
