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What the June 2024 preview covered
Eric Whelan, Content Communications Manager at Sony Interactive Entertainment, described a limited pre-release slice of the expansion in a June 4, 2024 PlayStation Blog preview. The material he explored included Belurat Tower Settlement and Castle Ensis, as well as encounters with the Divine Beast Dancing Lion and Twin Moon Knight. His impressions and counts below should be read in that preview context.
The expansion takes place in the Land of Shadow, reached from the base game by touching a mummified arm in Mohgwyn Palace. Whelan characterized the new region as both distinct from and connected to the Lands Between, with landmarks visible across open areas and more compact, folded-over dungeons and fortresses that conceal shortcuts.
How the Land of Shadow changes exploration
The preview’s strongest environmental contrast is between the region’s broad views and its tightly arranged interior spaces. Visible landmarks give players destinations to orient around, while the compact layouts and hidden routes promise the layered navigation familiar to Elden Ring. The locations named in the account are examples from the explored slice, not a complete list of the expansion’s areas.
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What combat and enemies look like
Whelan described enemies that sprint, leap, and close distance quickly, writing, “Enemies move fast.” His account suggests that frequent dodging is important in the encounters he saw. That is a preview impression, not a quantified difficulty comparison with the base game.
The preview reported more than ten full bosses, alongside additional side bosses, and named the Divine Beast Dancing Lion and Twin Moon Knight among the two it faced. This is the pre-release account’s figure, not a comprehensive final-game tally.
New weapons and fighting styles
According to Whelan, the expansion adds around one hundred new weapons across eight new weapon types. Those figures are his preview estimates. His examples illustrate the variety: a greatsword-sized katana that deals fire damage, a spiked battle shield, and Martial Arts, a category built around bare-handed punches and kicks.
Rank #2
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For players who want to change how their character approaches combat, the notable addition is not only a larger weapon selection but also new ways to fight. The preview does not establish how every weapon or type performs across the finished expansion.
How Shadow Realm Blessing works
Shadow Realm Blessing is a regional progression system powered by Scadutree Fragments. The preview says fragments are found in the world and used at Sites of Grace to provide a stackable boost to damage dealt and damage negated in the Land of Shadow. The boost is optional and has no effect outside that region.
That makes the blessing a separate lever for progression within the expansion rather than a permanent upgrade that carries back into the Lands Between. The preview does not specify the size of each boost or how many fragments are needed for particular increases.
Rank #3
![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.
Access, platforms, and what a purchase includes
FromSoftware announced a worldwide release date of June 21, 2024, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam. The expansion requires the Elden Ring base game, and players must progress through that game to a certain extent before accessing the DLC, according to the announcement.
Current platform and edition listings can change, so verify the store page for the platform and territory where you plan to buy. Bandai Namco America’s product page lists a standalone expansion, an edition bundling the base game and expansion, a Deluxe Edition, and a Nintendo Switch 2 Tarnished Edition bundle. The page describes the Tarnished Edition as Switch 2 only.
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|---|---|---|
| Standalone expansion | Expansion; requires the Elden Ring base game. | Listed on Bandai Namco America’s product page; confirm current availability and platform on the store page. |
| Base game plus expansion edition | Base game and expansion. | Listed on Bandai Namco America’s product page; confirm current availability and platform on the store page. |
| Deluxe Edition | Edition listed by Bandai Namco America; the cited page should be checked for current contents. | Confirm current availability and platform on the store page. |
| Tarnished Edition | Bundle described by Bandai Namco America as the Switch 2 Tarnished Edition. | Nintendo Switch 2 only, according to the cited page. |
| Physical Shadow of the Erdtree Edition | Base game plus expansion. | Bandai Namco Europe documents physical retail versions for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. |
| Collector’s Edition | Expansion code, 46 cm Messmer statue, art book, and soundtrack voucher; it does not include the base game. | Physical collector’s package documented by Bandai Namco Europe; availability may vary. |
| Digital premium versions | Art book and soundtrack app. | Bandai Namco Europe describes these inclusions; check the applicable store listing. |
Bandai Namco Europe’s edition announcement documents the physical and premium-edition details. If you already own the base game, the standalone expansion is the relevant product type; if you do not, check that the edition you choose explicitly includes the base game. Do not assume the Collector’s Edition is in stock.
What the numbers do—and do not—tell you
The expansion’s preview figures are distinct from shipment announcements about the broader game. FromSoftware said on February 22, 2024, that more than 23 million units of the base game had shipped worldwide; that number was not a count of expansion sales, players, or owners. In July 2025, FromSoftware said more than 10 million units of Shadow of the Erdtree had shipped worldwide, including digital versions and Steam downloads. Neither figure should be treated as a current sales total. The announcements are available from FromSoftware’s release-date announcement and its July 2025 milestone announcement.
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