Elden Ring Expansion “Shadow of the Erdtree” Gets Release Date, New Trailer, and Promises Massive Open World

FromSoftware’s eagerly anticipated expansion to Elden Ring, “Shadow of the Erdtree,” finally has a release date, and fans don’t have long to wait. The DLC will launch on June 21, 2024, for all platforms, and it brings with it sweeping additions to the already colossal Lands Between, including new bosses, dungeons, gear, and an entirely new open-world region.

Accompanying the announcement, Bandai Namco dropped a stunning new trailer revealing snippets of gameplay, high-stakes combat, and what appears to be the mysterious Realm of Shadow — a new area that may rival the size of Limgrave itself. The trailer showcases a haunting yet majestic landscape, filled with ruined temples, twisted flora, and a spectacle of cosmic imagery — lending credence to fan theories that the expansion would further explore the fate of Miquella, one of the game’s most enigmatic characters.

Hidetaka Miyazaki, FromSoftware’s director, confirmed in a press statement that “Shadow of the Erdtree” is the “largest expansion we’ve ever created,” and emphasized a focus on player exploration, emphasizing that the new map is “not only vast, it’s dense and full of secrets.”

The DLC is expected to introduce a new class of weapons, armor sets, and magic types, as well as over 10 new bosses — some of which were briefly teased in the trailer, including a towering golem-like warrior and a multi-winged spectral beast that seems to command the very sky. Lore enthusiasts also have reason to celebrate: several narrative threads left hanging in the base game may finally come to fruition, particularly concerning Queen Marika, Messmer the Impaler (an entirely new figure), and the mythical Golden Order.

“Shadow of the Erdtree” will be available as a digital download and part of the new Elden Ring: Deluxe Edition bundle for new players looking to jump into the full experience in one package.

With less than four months to go, the Lands Between are about to get a whole lot bigger — and deadlier.