Shadow of the Erdtree is a paid expansion that takes Elden Ring players into the Realm of Shadow for a new story, new areas and dungeons, enemies, equipment, abilities, and boss encounters. The official materials establish what the expansion contains, but they do not provide a basis for claiming firsthand impressions about its difficulty, pacing, or performance. There is one important practical catch: you must own the base game and defeat two major bosses before you can enter.
What does Shadow of the Erdtree add?
The expansion moves the story to the Land of Shadow, described by Bandai Namco as a place obscured by the Erdtree and tied to Marika, Messmer, and Miquella. Its official narrative introduction begins: “The Land of Shadow. A place obscured by the Erdtree. Where the goddess Marika first set foot.” Bandai Namco’s expansion page frames this as a new setting for an all-new story, rather than a small add-on to the Lands Between.
PlayStation’s official expansion description lists new exploration areas and dungeons, enemies, items, weapons, equipment, weapon skills, magic, boss encounters, and plotlines. That is a substantial range of additions on paper. The available official descriptions do not establish how the content feels to play, how difficult particular encounters are, or how the expansion compares in quality or performance with the base game.
How do you access the expansion?
Shadow of the Erdtree requires the Elden Ring base game. To begin the expansion, PlayStation’s access guide says you must first defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood. Then interact with the withered arm emerging from the cocoon in Mohg’s boss area to start the new chapter.
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![ELDEN RING - Shadow of the Erdtree - Xbox [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41oWZz2OeeL._SL160_.jpg)
- Playable on 21st June 2024.
- Pre-order now and get the following bonus content for the expansion: ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Bonus Gesture
- Winner of hundreds of accolades including The Game Awards Game of the Year and Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year, ELDEN RING is the acclaimed action RPG epic set in a vast, dark fantasy world. Players embark on an epic quest with the freedom to explore and adventure at their own pace.
- The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion features an all-new story set in the Land of Shadow imbued with mystery, perilous dungeons, and new enemies, weapons and equipment.
- Discover uncharted territories, face formidable adversaries, and revel in the satisfying triumph of victory. Dive into the riveting interplay of characters, where drama and intrigue intertwine, that create an immersive experience to savor and enjoy.
- Own and install Elden Ring and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion on the same platform.
- Defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood in the base game.
- Go to the cocoon in Mohg’s boss area and touch the withered arm to enter the Realm of Shadow.
If you have not reached or defeated those bosses, buying the expansion will not let you jump straight into its new area. The requirement is progression through the base game, not simply ownership of the DLC.
Which edition should you look for?
The main choice is whether you need the base game as well as the expansion. Official product descriptions distinguish the DLC-only product from bundles that include Elden Ring; digital extras vary by edition. The original product listings describe these options:
| Product | What it includes | Who should check it |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow of the Erdtree | The expansion only, as listed on Bandai Namco’s official page. | Players who already own the base game on the platform they plan to use. |
| Shadow of the Erdtree Edition | The base game and expansion. | Players who do not own Elden Ring and want both. |
| Deluxe Edition | The base game, expansion, and digital art books and soundtracks for both, according to the official product descriptions. | Buyers who want the digital extras as well as the games. |
| Premium Bundle | The expansion, digital art book, and soundtrack, as described in the publisher’s release announcement. | Existing owners considering the expansion with digital extras; check the current listing for your platform and region. |
These are official descriptions of the products, not a guarantee that every edition remains available in every storefront. Before purchase, verify the platform, region, and included content on the store page. In particular, confirm whether a listing is DLC-only or includes the base game.
The expansion originally launched worldwide on June 21, 2024, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, according to Bandai Namco’s release announcement. A later Japanese official product page lists a Switch 2 Tarnished Edition containing the base game, the expansion, and additional content; that regional listing is separate from the original 2024 launch lineup. The page also notes that players still need to progress through the base game to start the DLC: Elden Ring’s Japanese product page.
What was reported at launch?
Bandai Namco and FromSoftware announced that Shadow of the Erdtree had sold 5 million units worldwide within three days of its June 21, 2024 release. That is a company-reported launch-window figure announced June 27, 2024—not a current or lifetime sales total. The companies’ announcement attributes the figure to both publisher and developer.
What came in the collector’s edition?
The publisher’s 2024 announcement described a physical collector’s edition with a 46 cm Messmer the Impaler statue and a 40-page art book. It also announced limited Messmer helmet merchandise. These details identify what was announced at the time; present-day stock, standalone availability, and current regional listings are not established by that announcement. Check a retailer’s current listing before relying on availability or contents.
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