Elden Ring is finally getting an expansion.
Game developer FromSoftware recently confirmed it is currently developing the expansion for its hit RPG Elden Ring, which would provide players "new adventures in the Lands Between."
FromSoftware's announcement comes just days after Elden Ring's first anniversary; it sold over 20 million copies and received various gaming awards, including being hailed as Game of the Year at the 2022 Game Awards, per IGN.
Elden Ring Expansion Details
FromSoftware mentioned on its official Elden Ring Twitter page that the game's upcoming expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, is currently in development and that it would provide Tarnished worldwide new adventures in the Lands Between.
Along with this announcement comes a picture seemingly depicting a woman with long blonde hair riding a spirit steed, possibly Torrent. The artwork has the mounted figure gazing out from the Badlands of the Lands Between and seeing the destroyed Erdtree in the distance as it leaks a golden liquid from its husk.
FromSoftware didn't give any more details aside from the announcement and the picture. As such, players were left to speculate among themselves when the expansion would be available to purchase and download.
Many players are already coming up with theories on the identity of the character depicted in the picture. According to Eurogamer, it could be Malenia's brother, Miquella, despite the seemingly feminine figure the picture shows.
The Erdtree could also be corrupted by Miquella's Haligtree or is part of Miquella's dreamworld. The expansion could also take place after one of the game's six endings; all speculation must be taken with a grain of salt.
Nevertheless, many Elden Ring players have long awaited FromSoftware's announcement for a year since the developer previously provided an expansion for every game it released, per Game Rant.
Despite Shadows of the Erdtree being the game's first expansion, it isn't its first DLC. That title belongs to the Colosseum update FromSoftware added in December 2022, which added multiplayer PvP battles.
Regardless, The expansion will soon become available at an undisclosed date for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and the PC via Steam, per the game's official website.
Elden Ring Awards
Aside from being The Games Awards 2022's Game of the Year, Elden Ring also received awards for Best RPG, Best Game Direction, and Best Art Direction, per a separate Game Rant article.
Online video game distributor Steam also dubbed Elden Ring as its choice for Game of The Year in its 2022 Steam Awards. Interestingly, it also won in the "The Best Game You Suck At" category in the 2022 Steam Awards, beating games like GTFO, Victoris 3, Total War: Warhammer III, and FIFA 2023.
Moreover, Elden Ring won a total of 324 game of the year awards, beating The Last of Us: Part II by just two awards following its release in 2020 for the PS4, per Dual Shockers. 281 of the 324 awards Elden Ring received came from media outlets.
Related Article : Steam Awards Hails Elden Ring As 2022 Game Of The Year