It seems safe to say Elden Ring has taken the gaming world by storm, offering players a brutal and challenging experience set in a beautiful and mystery-filled open world. It is still perhaps the most approachable FromSoftware game out there, due to the openness of the experience, but Elden Ring's difficulty will always be one of its biggest selling (or breaking) points.
A couple of months after launch though, Elden Ring players have likely poured hours into the game. While there’s plenty to see and do in Elden Ring’s New Game Plus, many are hoping FromSoftware releases DLC for the game relatively soon. There are rumors of a PvP arena DLC, sure, but many want FromSoftware to dive into what it does best: more story-focused DLC.
With its success, Elden Ring DLC seems more like a matter of when, not if. And that in and of itself is an exciting, yet daunting premise.
Elden Ring DLC Will Be as Tough as Nails
Generally speaking, FromSoftware DLC tends to be harder than their base games. This makes sense given players will likely have beaten the game at least once prior to release, and Bloodborne is a perfect example of this. The game is incredibly difficult, but Bloodborne’s Old Hunters DLC dials that to 11.
With bosses like Laurence the First Vicar and the Orphan of Kos, there are some boss fights that are just straight-up demoralizing (in the best kind of way). Now, there is an exception or two, but by and large, DLC being harder than the base game is true across all FromSoftware titles.
It stands to reason that any Elden Ring DLC will be designed with these very same elements in mind: players will have beaten the game. Some, including WWE’s Randy Orton, are ridiculously close to Elden Ring’s max level, and all of this will have to be taken into account in the DLC. As aforementioned, Elden Ring is perhaps the most approachable game from the developer, but that also means FromSoftware has to expect this going into DLC. It has to compensate for the possibilities of the open world, while designing a new DLC that fits into that open world too.
It would not be surprising then if every Elden Ring DLC boss was just as difficult as Malenia, and that’s saying something. Truly, FromSoftware will have to aim for similar heights so that players of any level are challenged by the new content—when/if it happens. That premise alone is incredibly terrifying, but equally exhilarating.
Elden Ring is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.