FromSoftware is a studio that doesn’t hold back when it comes to DLCs. Especially with a game like Bloodborne, which was already a massive hit as a base game. However, with Elden Ring’s additional content right around the corner, the comparison between Shadow of the Erdtree and The Older Hunter is a natural one.
Both Bloodborne and Elden Ring are impressive games from the same studio but with huge differences in theme, characters, stories, and everything in between. Still, the quality of a DLC depends on many factors, and expecting nothing but the best from FromSoftware is a cultural phenomenon at this point.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree will be a long and challenging journey, but will it be enough?
From what we know so far, Shadow of the Erdtree will make use of Elden Ring’s massive world and narrative to craft a brand-new experience for players. We’re looking at perhaps more than 20 hours’ worth of content waiting to be discovered in the Lands Between. Rumors also suggest that this expansion will be the largest one FromSoftware has ever worked on.
That’s saying a lot! Especially considering how massive Elden Ring already is. It’s also important to remember that George R. R. Martin, the creator of A Song of Ice and Fire, had an important part in writing and building the game’s world.
As expected, Martin has a knack for writing lore that can expand into multiple games and expansions. No wonder Shadow of the Erdtree will be so huge. After all, there are so many stories and characters players have yet to cross paths with.
Furthermore, there are multiple theories that suggest things like time travel and the afterlife make it into the game’s mechanics. Taking a step back and looking at Bloodborne’s legacy, it feels quite reminiscent of a time when players actually spent time in a nightmare world that gave the game a new look and feel.
The Old Hunters was a clever take on the game’s already mystifying universe, and fans would expect nothing less from Shadow of the Erdtree.
Bloodborne: The Old Hunters gave the game many new twists and turns
What makes for a good expansion? That’s a question with no single answer, but The Old Hunters tried to have a crack at it by introducing players to many new aspects of the game. This included the Hunter’s Nightmare; a world full of terror and mystery, giving Bloodborne a new shade. As players explored the history of Yharnam, they went against new bosses, collected new items/weapons, and explored the game in different ways.
This is the standard for what we can expect from Shadow of the Erdtree, but perhaps twice the length and depth considering how far technology has come since The Old Hunters. In fact, games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt already set an industry standard of what a meaningful expansion should be like. Both Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone were excellent DLCs that expanded the open world even more.
Given the open world and open-ended nature of Elden Ring, the upcoming DLC will have to give players a little more than expected. This is evident if FromSoftware plans on keeping the game’s legacy alive and active as it did with Bloodborne. What are your thoughts on the upcoming content for Elden Ring? Let us know in the comments below.
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