Hidetaka Miyazaki has talked a lot about the upcoming Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, before its release. One of Elden Ring’s main highlights was the wonder and magic in discovering the world and the DLC will attempt to re-ignite that flame. And while there has been no official information outside of trailers and previews, leaks and rumors indicate that it will be massive.
Elden Ring’s massive world had a sense of grandeur, and with Shadow of the Erdtree being two years in the making, it needs the same magic. Miyazaki mentioned that the new map’s size and complexity were part of recapturing that magic.
The Land of Shadow in Elden Ring‘s DLC Could Be Bigger Than Expected
During his interview with PC Gamer, Miyazaki hinted at the true scale of Shadow of the Erdtree. The first few crumbs of information regarding the DLC hinted that the Land of Shadow would be the size of Limgrave. But could that have been a bluff? Could it actually be bigger?
There’s a chance that FromSoftware has downplayed the actual size of Elden Ring‘s DLC to exceed player expectations. Miyazaki talked about the idea that went into designing the Land of Shadow. He said:
We wanted that sense of scale for this map, because we wanted an experience for the player that was going to match that of the base game. We wanted them to experience that sense of discovery, and that sense of wonder and exploration again. We needed a map that was going to uphold that and bolster that.
Miyazaki talks about the importance of granularity, a word used to describe the density and detail of the new map. According to him, Shadow of Erdtree’s design philosophy focused on creating a map that reflected the scale and complexity of the base game.
This approach was taken to recapture the sense of scale, but with fresh details that make exploration just as rewarding as in the original game. They wanted a different kind of granularity for the Land of Shadow, mixing together legacy dungeons and the open world in creative ways.
Elden Ring fans are excited about the DLC, with many hoping to return to the world that previously provided countless hours of exploration. The warm reception from fans reflects the community’s high expectations for the expansion.
The Wait for Elden Ring‘s Shadow of The Erdtree Has Been Long and Patient
The ideas that Hidetaka Miyazaki talks about have been confirmed from early previews of the DLC. The Land of Shadows is not only larger than anticipated, but also more complex. There will be cliffs, valleys, and hidden passages that challenge players. The map design technique focuses on dense, connecting areas.
Hidetaka Miyazaki says Shadow of the Erdtree had to be big, because he wanted Elden Ring players ‘to experience that sense of discovery and that sense of wonder’ all over again
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Reddit users praise the game’s ability to invoke a sense of nostalgia and the thrill of adventure in a similar manner to RPG classics like Morrowind. Players can’t wait to see if the DLC can recapture that magic.
Shadow of the Erdtree promises to deliver the same level of detail. The new weapon types and gameplay features shown in previews promise to add to FromSoftware’s reputation for providing exciting and demanding combat.
The expansion will be a must-play for fans when it comes out on June 21st!
