Bandai Namco CEO Gives Massive Update on Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree

The long silence around the launch of Elden Ring DLC is finally broken. The Bandai Namco CEO has teased a massive update on the much-awaited DLC. The project has been under wraps for a while now and the developers have successfully built a mystery around the next update. The upcoming DLC called The Shadow of the Erdtree is coming to the players “soon“. 

The 2022 FromSoftware’s Elden Ring came out as a surprise for every gaming enthusiast. The Bandai Namco publication didn’t just exceed all the expectations from an action-playing RPG, it also set some new high standards across the industry. Following the enormous success of the project, a DLC release seemed only a matter of time. Well, after a long series of speculations and rumors around the DLC release, we have a hint from the Bandai Namco chief that it isn’t far away from launch. 

Is Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree in early 2024 possible? 

Ever since the developers announced a DLC for Elden Ring earlier this year, the buzz hasn’t left the social media trends. While all the different fan theories suggested various alleged windows for the DLC launch, there’s finally some credibility to the rumors. Arnaud Muller, CEO of Bandai Namco Europe, shed light on the plans of the developers following the humongous critical and commercial success of Elden Ring and Armored Core 6.

The Europe chief started answering the query with the mention of the highly awaited DLC. Further, he claimed the Shadow of the Erdtree is likely to be released soon. The previous rumors around the DLC have suggested that the makers might be planning a release in the month of February 2024. The possibility of a February launch seems highly plausible as it marks the original launch anniversary of the classic.

Moreover, with the latest revelation by the CEO, the theory makes much more sense to the community. Fans are not only counting the days for the DLC to arrive but also have made a list of expectations looking at the poster!

Depending on the assumption, here is an outline of what we can expect from the upcoming DLC – New Weapons, Armor, NPCs & Questlines, Locations, Items, Consumables, Materials, Bosses, Enemies, and possibly new effects / magic types. In the poster of the DLC, an unspecified character is seen riding a Torrent-like horse in a vast wheat-filled field, possibly Miquella or Queen Marika, due to her similar hairstyle in the cinematics.

The Erdtree bleeding gold is there as well, which hints at a post-destruction story after the ending of Elden Ring. Ash appears to fall from its branches, suggesting a post-burning or pre-corruption scene when the Golden Order was tainted. A twisted tree seems to strangle the Erdtree, possibly an extension of Godwyn’s roots. The sunless sky raises questions of an eclipse in the Lands Between. Ethereal structures on the field might be tombs of Haligtree soldiers who guided Miquella’s return.

Bandai Namco & FromSoftware’s partnership: “The variety of games we have…”

The success of the RPG completely turned the tables for the developers. It goes without saying that most of the Armored Core 6 numbers are attributed to the fanbase Elden Ring established in the industry. The experience it offered put the duo of Bandai Namco and FromSoftware in the fan spotlight. Adding on to that, the title went on to win the Game of the Year for 2022, taking the expectations from the partnership to an all-time high. 

Read More: Elden Ring Publisher’s Ambitious Future Plans May Include Acquiring Studios “If It Makes Sense”

Evidently, the impact helped Armored Core 6 dominate the sales charts all across the globe. However, this also brings a challenge for the makers. They have to keep up with the hype and expectations with every collaborated venture.

Talking about the same, the CEO gave insights into the bright layout of the partnership. “We’re very pleased with the portfolio, and the variety of games we have in our portfolio,” he said. He further added, “So, from the momentum with Elden Ring last year, that’s a lot of games to follow.” 

Undoubtedly, this is a new chapter in making for the developers of Elden Ring. The game has previously won the prestigious Game of the Year. So it will be interesting to see what the DLC brings to the table.

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