Shadow of the Erdtree, the first and only expansion for Elden Ring, has the Soulslike community buzzing. The studio has released a story trailer, but in classic FromSoftware fashion as it has functioned to only create more questions.
Despite the lack of context, there are hidden details to be found for those with a keen eye. We do get to know more about Miquella’s role in the Land of Shadow, and we also learn that we are not the only ones looking for the demigod.
Shadow of the Erdtree Will Be a Collaborative Journey
Jolly cooperation is not new to FromSoftware games. Aside from Sekiro, all of its titles have featured some form of online play. This allows players to join the worlds of others in the game to either help them complete areas and bosses or act as invaders and challenge them to duels. Cooperation wasn’t limited to multiplayer, as there were NPCs that would also aid or hinder one’s journey.
Well, it seems cooperation is an intrinsic part of Elden Ring’s DLC. FromSoftware games have always featured summonable NPCs to help against bosses. This process requires players to complete some aspect of their quest, which, as is typical from FromSoftware, is never explicitly told to you.
Towards the end of the trailer, we are shown remnants of Miquella in the Land of Shadow. From the ground, we see golden markers in the shape of a Great Rune that could replace the Site of Grace in the Elden Ring DLC. Kneeling and standing before this marker is a group of Tarnished, with the voiceover in the back asking the player, “Will you walk with us?”
This is an oddly optimistic ending to a FromSoftware trailer. Given that the core ethos of all of these games, including Elden Ring, is to perish and revive, it’s surprising to see such an explicit showing of camaraderie and togetherness.
Elden Ring’s Tarnished Band Together to Find Miquella
Hidetaka Miyazaki had previously mentioned that we are not the only ones on the trail of the demigod. Following in his footsteps, in a very literal sense in Shadow of the Erdree, will cross paths with other NPCs. Whether all of them are friendly or hostile remains to be seen, but the conclusion of the trailer points to there being some form of brotherhood on this journey.
The shadowy character of Messmer was also given screentime, and what we saw solidified why there is no mention of him in the base game. The trailer showed what appeared to be the purge of a massive city carried out by the “hero,” an act that prompted Queen Marika to strike any records of his existence and acts from the history of the Lands Between.
With just a month left for the release of the DLC, fan theories are going to abound in the next few weeks. We can expect full breakdowns of the story trailer and revelations that would have otherwise been missed. Pre-orders for the DLC have begun, and the expansion is gearing up to be a memorable experience.
How important do you think cooperative play will be in this game? Let us know in the comments below!
