Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Skipping The Game Awards Could Be a Blessing in Disguise

Highlights

• FromSoftware’s silence at the 2023 Game Awards disappointed fans who were expecting news about Elden Ring’s DLC and other potential announcements.
• Little is known about Elden Ring’s DLC, and its absence from the Game Awards casts doubt on the common theory that it will release in February 2024.
• The prolonged silence regarding the DLC may indicate that it is a large and ambitious expansion, which could meet fan expectations and be worth the wait.

Many fans were expecting to hear something from famed Dark Souls creator FromSoftware at the 2023 Game Awards. Even if the studio only had its lone 2023 release, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, nominated for one category, there was plenty of news it could steal the show with. Whether that was an AC6 content update, a look at FromSoftware’s rumored next game, or an Elden Ring DLC trailer, a big FromSoftware announcement was anticipated. Elden Ring‘s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion was due for a full reveal, so most bets were on that.

However, even after Armored Core 6 won the award for Best Action Game, no reveals came. Despite a recent history of major trailers at Geoff Keighley shows, leaks and rumors pointing to a Game Awards trailer, and even activity on Elden Ring‘s Steam backend, FromSoftware stayed silent. Producer Yasuhiro Kitao’s statement at the PlayStation Partner Awards one week prior about Elden Ring‘s DLC needing more time proved more accurate than many hoped. Elden Ring fans felt disappointed by the lack of news, but the upsides to Shadow of the Erdtree’s silence are worth considering.

No Date For Elden Ring’s DLC Crosses Out Some Rumors

Until further notice, very few details exist about Elden Ring’s DLC. All fans have had to go off was an image released early in 2023, which immediately disproved a prior rumor claiming the expansion’s title was Barbarians of the Badlands. Nearly everything known about Shadow of the Erdtree is couched in the analysis of this artwork or rumors, many of which are nonspecific and hard to verify. The Game Awards have cast doubt on the common theory that Shadow of the Erdtree would make Elden Ring’s second anniversary in February 2024, and nothing its community currently knows is able to coalesce into a new release window.

Shadow of the Erdtree’s Absence Isn’t As Bad As It Sounds

It’s a somewhat dour time to be an Elden Ring fan now that Shadow of the Erdtree has joined Hollow Knight: Silksong in the camp of missing Soulslikes. All is not lost, however, as Elden Ring‘s absence at the 2023 Game Awards may have been the best result. The few credible Shadow of the Erdtree leaks claim it started development shortly after Elden Ring‘s launch, and may have been conceptualized as multiple DLC episodes. This paints it as FromSoftware’s largest paid DLC yet and its prolonged silence as entirely necessary.

The Advantages Of Elden Ring DLC Having Nothing To Show

Building an open world with FromSoftware’s attention to detail was no easy task, and Elden Ring wasn’t finished until five years after Dark Souls 3’s launch. The game had more content than two Souls games combined, and even then it had to frequently reuse enemies like Elden Ring’s infamous Ulcerated Tree Spirits. Mitigating that in an expansion while still offering new areas with fresh terrain, equipment, and monsters like every FromSoftware DLC would take proportional effort even with the foundation done. Throw in Elden Ring’s open-world format, and it’s no wonder why Shadow of the Erdtree is still under wraps.

Why Shadow of the Erdtree Will Be Worth The Wait

Ultimately, the longer it takes for Shadow of the Erdtree to reappear, the likelier it is that it will meet fan expectations. If Shadow of the Erdtree’s development lasts two years, almost half as long as Elden Ring‘s, and ends up a third of the game’s size, that’s still one-third of Elden Ring‘s 60-80 hour run time. Judging by its development length and the likelihood of multiple new regions, Shadow of the Erdtree’s sheer ambition could shape it into Elden Ring’s sequel rather than typical AAA DLC. With that in mind, Elden Ring fans should have their patience rewarded with interest once Shadow of the Erdtree has more to show.