Elden Ring has gained a reputation for being a challenging game, but the release of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion has taken that difficulty to a new level. The fan reaction to this new content has been divisive, with the game currently holding a ‘Mixed’ rating on Steam based on over 12,000 user reviews. This contrasts sharply with the base game, which received a glowing 93% positive reception from 627,000 reviews.
Despite only being released two days ago, Shadow of the Erdtree has already made a significant impact. Publisher Bandai Namco claims that the expansion rivals the scope of a standalone game, offering players 20-30 hours of gameplay. However, the sheer size of the expansion may not be enough to offset some of the frustrations players are experiencing.
Many user reviews have pointed out issues with the new content, including wonky performance and an unfairly inflated difficulty. Players have reported bosses that deal one-shot kills, even against characters with previously overpowered builds. The attack patterns of these bosses have also been criticized for being deliberately hard to read, making it challenging for players to adapt and succeed.
One Steam user, Chanddy, expressed frustration with the need to drastically change their playstyle in order to progress in the expansion. They called for an “immense damage crunch and balance patch” to address the issues they encountered. Another player, Ravaaga, compared the difficulty of the expansion to the base game, noting that Shadow of the Erdtree feels “ridiculously difficult and frustrating to play.”
FromSoftware president and Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki had warned players that the studio was pushing the boundaries of player endurance with this expansion. Despite these warnings, even seasoned Elden Ring players found themselves struggling mere minutes into the new content. Miyazaki’s statement serves as a reminder of the studio’s commitment to creating challenging gameplay experiences.
Overall, the release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has sparked a mixed reaction among fans. While some players are enjoying the new content and embracing the heightened difficulty, others are finding it frustrating and overwhelming. As the development team continues to monitor feedback and make adjustments, it will be interesting to see how the reception of the expansion evolves over time.
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