Elden Ring's DLC Ignites Woes Over Difficulty

Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC: A Debate on Difficulty

Following the release of Elden Ring's highly anticipated expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, a wave of online discussion erupted, with players of all skill levels voicing concerns about its challenging difficulty. Many criticisms centered on the new bosses, described by some as excessively difficult or "overtuned." Johan Pilestedt, CCO of Arrowhead Game Studios (developers of Helldivers 2), recently weighed in on FromSoftware's design philosophy.

Pilestedt, also the creative director of Helldivers 2, publicly agreed with streamer Rurikhan's perspective that FromSoftware intentionally crafts challenging bosses to maximize player engagement and evoke strong emotional responses. He emphasized that compelling game design prioritizes emotional impact over broad appeal. Responding to criticism that this approach alienates a significant portion of players, Pilestedt succinctly stated, "a game for everyone is a game for no one," advocating for developers to remain true to their target audience.

FromSoftware's Stance on Difficulty

Even before the DLC's launch, Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki had forewarned players that Shadow of the Erdtree would present a significant challenge, even for experienced veterans. He explained that boss balancing assumed players had substantial progress in the base game. FromSoftware also analyzed player feedback from the main game, considering which boss encounters were perceived as enjoyable versus frustrating.

The DLC introduces the Scadutree Blessing mechanic, enhancing player damage and reducing incoming damage within the Land of Shadow. However, despite in-game explanations, many players seemingly overlooked or disregarded this mechanic, prompting Bandai Namco to issue reminders to level up their Blessing amid the difficulty complaints.

Mixed Reception

While Shadow of the Erdtree holds the top spot on OpenCritic as the highest-rated video game DLC, surpassing even The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Blood and Wine, its Steam reception has been more divisive. Negative reviews frequently cite both the demanding difficulty and newly introduced technical issues.