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Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree finally arrives this June

A wicker man boss in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Bandai Namco Entertainment

We finally got our first full look at Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the expansion for FromSoftware’s critically acclaimed 2022 open-world game. Thankfully, we don’t have to wait too much longer for it, as publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment confirmed a June 21 release date.

The Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree trailer is full of gameplay, showing the new area that players can explore, many different bosses and combat encounters, and some awesome new weapons. Standouts include a boss that’s a giant burning wicker man, a large hippo-like creature that can grow sparks out of its body, and a powerful-looking flaming crossbow weapon. The trailer also shows the player dying many times, so it looks like Shadow of the Erdtree will feature a lot more of the satisfying, yet difficult gameplay loop that the original offered.

ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree | Official Gameplay Reveal Trailer

It’s hard to discern too much about the story from this trailer, although the trailer’s description reads, “In the Land of Shadow, Miquella awaits the return of his promised Lord.”

At the end of the trailer, it’s confirmed that Shadow of the Erdtree launches on June 21. Its pre-order bonus is the Ring of Miquella in-game bonus gesture. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Edition, which includes both the base game and the expansion, and a Collector’s Edition that comes with a hardcover art book and Messmer the Impaler statue will launch on that day as well.

Elden Ring is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Shadow of the Erdtree adds to the experience across all of the same platforms on June 21.

Tomas Franzese
Tomas Franzese is a Staff Writer at Digital Trends, where he reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…
How long is Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
A furnace golem looms in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

Elden Ring's first and only expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, brings a heap of new content to From Software's highly acclaimed open-world RPG. Not only is there an entirely new map to find and uncover, but players also receive a fresh story, tons of additional weapons and spells to use, and a variety of all-new bosses to take down along the way as they make their way to the end of the journey. It's quite a lot to explore, so it's understandable if you're curious about how long it'll take to see all of this new content. Your mileage will vary, naturally, but we've got estimates below regarding how long it'll take to beat Shadow of the Erdtree.
How long is Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
It goes without saying that, due to the inherent difficulty of Elden Ring, your skill level within the game will play a significant role in the amount of hours you'll spend completing Shadow of the Erdtree. The average player just seeking to see the main story of this new expansion can expect to spend between 20 to 30 hours reaching its conclusion.

Those looking to take in everything Shadow of the Erdtree has to offer, however, will spend a lot more time with the DLC as they navigate the new map, checking every nook and cranny for new gear, spells, and well-hidden secrets. If that sounds up your alley, you can count on up to 50 hours of exploration and combat in the Land of Shadow.

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Shadow of the Erdtree preload guide: release time, file size, and preorder
A furnace golem looms in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

Every Elden Ring fan has been preparing their characters and honing their skills for when the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC finally arrives. This is the longest it's taken for FromSoftware to add DLC to one of its games, and hype has reached a boiling point in the weeks leading up to release.

As excited as we all are to enter the Lands of Shadows for the first time, it isn't just your Tarnished that needs to be battle-ready. Making sure you have the content preloaded, and enough space to hold it, before launch will ensure the only road bumps you hit are the new enemies and bosses. Let's break down all the preload information you need to know before Shadow of the Erdtree breaks your spirit.
Shadow of the Erdtree release time
Shadow of the Erdtree is scheduled to release on June 21, but no specific time has been given just yet. If we had to guess, we would say it will come out at midnight ET time, but we will let you know when specific times are listed.
Shadow of the Erdtree file size
https://twitter.com/PlaystationSize/status/1798320557706076525

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Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is already wiping the floor with me
Elden Ring gameplay

Elden Ring was unanimously 2022’s Game of the Year. While many other fantastic games were released throughout the year, Elden Ring shut down all competition when it dropped in early March. It swept at awards shows and even landed a Game of the Year spot here on Digital Trends. It was the undisputed champ. Two years later, it’s now getting the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. If a DLC ever had a chance at winning the top prize at The Game Awards, it could be this one.

Ahead of its June 21 release, I spent three hours with a hands-on preview of Shadow of the Erdtree. While it doesn’t offer anything drastically different from the base game, it’s still more of the same Elden Ring you love. It has an excellent atmosphere, fun exploration, and difficult bosses. More of the same isn’t a bad thing when that “same” is as beloved as this.
Return to the Lands Between
For those looking to pop in right on June 21, Bandai Namco clarified that players will need to have already beaten the bosses Starscourage Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood in order to access the expansion. Additionally, there are over 100 new weapons, some of which are not found in the base game.

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