A recent backend update to Elden Ring’s Steam page has fans speculating that long-awaited DLC news could be imminent. But concrete details remain scarce.
Key Highlights:
- Elden Ring’s major expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, was announced in March 2023.
- Fans have eagerly awaited details and a release date since.
- The Steam page recently added an unknown DLC package file.
- Some believe this likely indicates the expansion is coming soon.
- Previous rumours hinted at a February 2024 launch.
- But FromSoftware has not confirmed any timing specifics.
The expansive open world of Elden Ring has consumed fans since its February 2023 launch. But after hundreds of hours, many yearn for fresh challenges within The Lands Between.
That hunger grew sharply when developer FromSoftware announced the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC last March. Besides a brief teaser image, details remain nonexistent nearly 12 months later.
As the game’s 2nd anniversary approaches, fans watch for any hints at long-awaited news. A recent update to the Steam backend provoked theories that release is drawing nearer.
Analysing Cryptic Clues
The smoking gun stemmed from dataminer Ziostorm discovering a new downloadable content package added to Elden Ring’s Steam page.
With no other DLC announced beyond Shadow of the Erdtree, speculation points to this representing the expansion. Some believe it signals an imminent announcement.
The timing coincides with prior rumours of a February 2024 launch based on a product listing leak. That would mark two years since Elden Ring’s original arrival.
Of course, this is all still circumstantial until FromSoftware confirms specifics. This solid evidence should please fans who have been waiting around for a very long time for the promised downloadable content.
Tempered Expectations
The game’s community has endured fake leaks and misinformation before. Premature reactions to The Game Awards proved emblematic of a fanbase desperate for updates.
While the Steam findings seem promising, some express warranted caution about reading too much into patch notes and data files. FromSoftware plays its cards notoriously close to the chest.
Nonetheless, the developer confirmed Shadow of the Erdtree is progressing smoothly back in November 2023. Significant new content takes time but keeping the public waiting too long could prove costly.
The Cycle of Hype and Speculation
Elden Ring’s secretive development and cryptic storytelling lend itself perfectly to ravenous fan theories about what lies ahead. This culture inevitably manifests around DLC as well.
FromSoftware likely anticipated hungry fans would pick apart every new update for clues. But at some point, concrete details must emerge to satiate the player base.
The crescendo of speculation highlights the passion the fantasy title still inspires. When substantive news finally arrives, the hype cycle will reach fever pitch.
For now, the tarnished continue combing through sparse trailheads, ever hopeful these rumblings signal adventures yet to come. All an anxious community can do is continue to let the hype consume them as they await revelation of secrets that loom just out of reach.