Summary
Elden Ringhas made history as the most successful release from prolific RPG developer FromSoftware. A continuation of the legacy set by the Soulsborne games that preceded it,Elden Ringbrought the genre into the forefront of the mainstream and set the tone for content-rich open-world experiences. The game has maintained relevance for over a year since its initial launch, but its mysterious DLC expansion on the horizon has received its own attention recently.
Following the legacy ofprevious Soulsborne releasesunder the studio’s belt, Shadow of the Erdtree is the highly anticipated DLC forElden Ringthat has now taken the longest to develop when compared to any of its predecessors. FromSoft has only revealed one teaser image to confirm the production of the expansion, leaving fans to speculate on the smaller details the developer is known for. The image has some key points of interest that are telling of the DLC’s potential focus, but one subtle aspect of the picture has begun to drive theories.
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Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s Potentially Bleak Setting
The teaser image seems to depict a figure ridingTorrenttowards a withered tree, but the complete lack of a sun in the darkened sky is a concerning detail as well. The Lands Between has never been depicted in pure darkness with a tree as its only source of light, showing that wherever Shadow of the Erdtree ends up taking place could be far different from the more bright and colorful locations throughout the base game.
The details around the expansion’s narrative are still unknown, but the environment seen in the teaser could be the biggest key to understanding the scenario of the story. It’s unlikely that the DLC will follow up on themultiple endings ofElden Ringdue to the different permutations required, but Shadow of the Erdtree’s dark world hints at a focus on several key figures from the base game.
How Shadow of the Erdtree’s Teaser Image Connects to Foreshadowed Characters
Due to the seemingly young, blonde figure and the decaying, gold-dripping tree seen in the teaser, many fans have theorized thatMiquella and Godwynwill be integral to the events of the expansion. Hints at a greater story are found in Castle Sol and the descriptions of various items potentially related to Godwyn’s undead status, piecing together a narrative in which Miquella attempted to beckon an eclipse to give Godwyn a true death. This plan seems to have failed given the apologetic ghost at the castle and the Prince of Death’s continued cursed status but could be depicted as finally succeeding after all within Shadow of the Erdtree’s teaser image.
Despite the strength of the main speculation regarding the DLC’s focus, some fans have even proposed that it could be Marika herself in the image in a time period prior to the prosperity of the Erdtree seen in the base game. This may seem like a reach to newer players, but FromSoftware’s record of time-related storylines in Soulsborne expansions has set a precedent for expanding its worlds through historical context.
It may be the primary fixture of the base game, but the Erdtree is confirmed to not be the first of its kind in the contentious,Outer God-controlled Lands Betweenthat has seen several lords over different ages. Whether it delves into the continued struggle to give Godwyn a true death, Miquella’s own broken body, or even the past prior toElden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree’s dark sky has set the tone for whenever the expansion finally does release.
Elden Ringis available now for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Series X/S.
