The world of gaming is bracing itself for a second almost total eclipse at the hands of ELDEN RING this June, this time with the arrival of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Details have been thin, but still enough to incite a new wave of feverish anticipation for FromSoftware’s extension of the universe created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin. There’s no doubt that the expansion will take us deeper into the lore of the Lands Between, introducing new areas, bosses, and storylines. How deep remains to be seen. Here’s what we know.
Miquella’s Mysteries
A significant focus of Shadow of the Erdtree will be on Miquella, a character shrouded in mystery in the base game. According to recent announcements from Bandai Namco, you’re going to learn more about Miquella’s past as we step beyond the Lands Between into the Realm of Shadow. Expect this expansion to provide a deeper understanding of this enigmatic figure and his role in the game’s lore. What exactly he’s up to is anybody’s guess, but it’s probably something mysterious and cool.
New Realms
Alongside the extra story color, there’s a whole new area to explore with the kinds of expansive landscapes, deadly dungeons, and epic architecture we’ve come to expect in worlds crafted by FromSoftware. New areas mean new bosses, and with FromSoftware’s well-deserved reputation for creating memorable and challenging encounters, we’re expecting some uncompromising tests of patience and skill in Shadow of the Erdtree. Bosses aren’t the only previously unseen bad guys — there will be other fresh enemies to dispatch with some freshly-minted magical skills to help you do it.
More Toys
The new weapons, equipment, skills, and magic promised for Shadow of the Erdtree should provide a bunch of enticing new ways to fight and explore, while also enriching the base game to make that experience richer, too. With these additions, there’s a good chance you’ll need to adapt your strategies when diving into the new content. Given the developer’s history of meaningfully evolving gameplay with each update, we’d expect nothing less.
Bandai Namco has been cagey with details, so there is no doubt plenty more for the legions of eager fans to discover once they dive into Shadow of the Erdtree. We’re excited to get our hands on this expansion of one of the most impressive video game experiences in recent times. Realm of Shadow, we’re ready for you.
