Elden Ring by Bandai Namco - DLC Shadow of the Erdtree keeps the saga alive

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree opens with a dim golden haze over the Scadutree, the new landmark that looms as your character crunches over dry, grey grass and hears distant drums from unseen enemies. The expansion sits on top of Elden Ring and pulls players into the Land of Shadow.

What Shadow of the Erdtree adds

Shadow of the Erdtree is a major paid expansion for Elden Ring, developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco. It launched worldwide on 21 June 2024 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via Steam. The DLC introduces the Land of Shadow, a new interconnected region roughly comparable in scale to several legacy dungeons combined.

Players access the new area by interacting with Miquella's withered arm in the Haligtree area, provided they have defeated Mohg, Lord of Blood, and Radahn, the starscourge. The expansion adds more than ten new boss encounters, including Messmer the Impaler, and expands character builds with new weapon types like martial arts-inspired hand-to-hand weapons and perfume-based equipment.

Hidetaka Miyazaki’s design focus

FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki has described Shadow of the Erdtree as an attempt to deepen Elden Ring’s narrative themes rather than simply stack more content on top. In interviews he emphasized Messmer’s central role and the decision to build a more cohesive, dense map design in the Land of Shadow than some parts of the original open world.

Players notice that density immediately: ruins cluster closer together, enemies patrol in overlapping routes, and ambient sound - from crackling torches to low choir-like chanting - often gives away threats before they appear on screen. This tuning aims to reward cautious exploration, a hallmark of Miyazaki’s previous work on Dark Souls and Bloodborne.

Editions, pricing and platforms

Bandai Namco sells Shadow of the Erdtree as a digital add-on and in several bundles. A standard DLC version is priced around 39.99 USD or equivalent local currency on major platforms. There is also an Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Edition that packages the base game with the expansion, giving newcomers a single purchase.

For collectors, Bandai Namco has marketed a premium bundle that includes a Messmer the Impaler figurine and art book in selected regions. This physical collector’s edition is limited and sold primarily through Bandai Namco’s own online store and selected retailers, making it more of a niche B2C product compared with the mainstream digital DLC sales.

How the DLC changes gameplay

Mechanically, Shadow of the Erdtree adds new progression systems called Scadutree Blessings and Revered Spirit Ash Blessings. These are separate from standard runes and allow players to increase damage dealt and reduce damage received within the Land of Shadow, encouraging exploration to power up before tackling late-game bosses.

New weapons include beast claws, light greatswords, and throwing weapons that open up agile melee builds. Combined with fresh Ashes of War and Spirit Ashes, the expansion gives veteran players new tools that can change the feel of familiar combat: fists crack against armor with sharper impact sounds, and perfume-based items leave lingering visual trails while buffing allies or debuffing foes.

Reception from players and critics

On Steam, user reviews for Shadow of the Erdtree have been mixed to positive, with criticism focused on high difficulty spikes and performance issues for some PC configurations. Many players praise the art direction of the Land of Shadow, citing the unsettling red swamps and fog-drenched fields as a strong extension of the original game’s atmosphere.

Specialist outlets such as Eurogamer and IGN highlighted the narrative payoff for fans who followed Miquella’s story threads in the base game, noting that the DLC ties loose ends while introducing new mysteries. They also pointed out that recommended character levels and gear make the expansion more enjoyable for experienced players rather than fresh Tarnished just starting their journey.

Bandai Namco stock context

For Bandai Namco, Elden Ring remains a key IP, and Shadow of the Erdtree is designed to extend the product’s life cycle and digital revenue over multiple fiscal years, especially through repeat sales on PC and consoles. Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. stock trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ISIN JP3778630008.