The opening sequence of Elden Ring shows a brief history of the important bits that caused The Shattering to take place. This is an essential part of the game’s narrative, and Shadow of the Erdtree will continue telling this story.
As fans of the game may be familiar with, Queen Marika is an important part of the Lands Between, almost responsible for creating the foundation for what the present version of this brutal landscape looks like. The DLC will continue telling this story, with its own twists and turns.
How Shadow of the Erdtree Plans on Telling Queen Marika’s Story
By default, most FromSoftware games don’t give a clear picture of everything that went down in the game’s world. Players find this out by talking to different characters, discovering new objects, becoming a part of new quest lines, and so on.
In Elden Ring, we learn about the game’s history through many cutscenes, along with all of the above experiences. However, this is not just limited to the base game.
Full translation of the Famitsu interview with Miyazaki for Shadow of the Erdtree
byu/theangryfurlong inEldenring
According to an interview (shared by user theangryfurlong on Reddit) with Hidetaka Miyazaki, Famitsu asked him a question about Shadow of the Erdtree taking place in the past, and here’s what he had to say:
Miyazaki: No, it takes place in the same time as the main title. The setting is not in the distant past or future. The shadow lands and Queen Marika’s past will be told in the same manner as The Shattering was in the main title.
So, we can expect Queen Marika’s story to be told further through certain cutscenes at the beginning of the game.
And, if the game follows the roots of the base title, we will likely learn more about her family tree and all that led to The Shattering.
New Additions to the Game Will Help Tell the Story
From the trailer alone, fans have learned so much. From new bosses to new weapons, there are several ways Shadow of the Erdtree will expand on the base game’s potential. In a way, the DLC plans on giving fans new ways of experiencing Elden Ring, not only through gameplay but also through storytelling.
It may be simple to assume that, just like the base game, the DLC will continue telling stories in a similar light. Hidetaka Miyazaki has pointed out how it will differ in many ways, including certain themes and characters.
The Land of Shadow is a massive place (almost as big as Limgrave) and hides a lot of mysteries. While all of this is still under speculation, there’s a chance that we might learn about Queen Marika’s history.
Do you think Shadow of the Erdtree is going to highlight Queen Marika’s journey through different aspects of the game? Let us know in the comments below.