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DLCPATCH 2026.10.18

Shadow of the Erdtree Edition and Platform Compatibility: What to Buy

By VGSources Team 9 min read

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The right purchase depends on whether you already own ELDEN RING and which platform you use. New players should choose a package containing both the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree. Existing owners generally need only the standalone expansion for their supported platform. Nintendo Switch 2 uses a separately named bundle, ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition, so do not confuse it with Shadow of the Erdtree Edition.

Choose your purchase in one minute

You do not own ELDEN RING

Buy Shadow of the Erdtree Edition. Bandai Namco defines this package as the ELDEN RING base game together with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. It is the straightforward option because you receive the game required to launch the expansion instead of having to assemble two separate purchases.

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The Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition contains the same base game and expansion, then adds a digital artbook and soundtrack for each. Choose it only if those digital extras matter to you; the listed Deluxe contents do not include gameplay content.

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You already own ELDEN RING

Look for the standalone Shadow of the Erdtree DLC listing on the same platform and account that owns your base game. The publisher’s product listing states, “Shadow Of The Erdtree requires ELDEN RING base game to play.” Buying the expansion alone avoids paying for a second copy of the base game.

#1 Best Overall
ELDEN RING - Shadow of the Erdtree - Xbox [Digital Code]
  • 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.

You are buying for Nintendo Switch 2

In an announcement dated August 28, 2026, Bandai Namco said ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition is available on Nintendo Switch 2 and bundles the original game with Shadow of the Erdtree. This is a distinct product name, not another name for the PlayStation, Xbox or Steam Shadow of the Erdtree Edition. Check the Switch 2 listing for its additional edition content before assuming it matches another platform’s bonuses.

What each purchase path contains

Purchase path Included content Best fit
Shadow of the Erdtree Edition ELDEN RING base game and Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Someone who does not own the base game
Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition Base game, DLC, a digital artbook for each and a digital soundtrack for each A new player who wants the digital bonus materials
Standalone Shadow of the Erdtree DLC The expansion only; it requires the ELDEN RING base game An existing owner of the base game
ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition Base game and Shadow of the Erdtree on Nintendo Switch 2, with additional edition content described by the publisher A Switch 2 buyer seeking the bundled release

Names and inclusions can vary by platform and format. A store page may offer several editions with similar artwork, so read the content list attached to the exact SKU in your cart. Bandai Namco does not state that bonus materials are identical across every physical and digital listing.

Platform compatibility

Platforms supported for the original expansion release

Bandai Namco’s June 21, 2024 expansion announcement lists Shadow of the Erdtree for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam. The original game was announced for those same platform families. If your hardware is in that list, search its own store for the expansion or an edition that contains it.

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Platform Expansion availability identified by the publisher What to verify before checkout
PlayStation 4 Shadow of the Erdtree and bundles were listed for PS4 at the 2024 launch Whether the listing is PS4, a cross-generation package, and whether your disc or account region matches
PlayStation 5 Shadow of the Erdtree and bundles were listed for PS5 The exact PS5 edition and any stated upgrade or entitlement language
Xbox One Shadow of the Erdtree and bundles were listed for Xbox One That the listing is for Xbox One or explicitly includes your console generation
Xbox Series X|S Shadow of the Erdtree and bundles were listed for Xbox Series X|S The exact Series X|S product and whether a physical disc is usable on your console model
PC via Steam Shadow of the Erdtree and bundles were listed for Steam PC That the purchase is a Steam license and is made on the account running your base game
Nintendo Switch 2 ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition was announced in 2026 as a bundle containing the game and expansion Switch 2-specific contents, format and regional availability in the exact listing

Switch 2 is a separate edition question

The 2026 Switch 2 announcement does not turn Shadow of the Erdtree Edition into a universal name for every platform. Nintendo’s bundle is called ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition. Treat it as its own SKU when comparing package contents, release details and included extras.

What has not been established

Platform availability is not the same as a cross-buy promise. Bandai Namco does not state that buying the expansion on PS4 grants a PS5 copy, that an Xbox purchase grants a PC license, or that a Switch 2 purchase shares ownership with another platform. It also does not state save-transfer rules, upgrade entitlements or performance differences between platforms. Assume licenses are platform-specific unless the store page for your account says otherwise.

Do you need ELDEN RING to play Shadow of the Erdtree?

Yes. Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion rather than a standalone game, and the publisher explicitly requires the base game. A DLC-only purchase therefore makes sense only when the same account or console ecosystem already has ELDEN RING.

For a new player, the requirement is handled automatically by either Shadow of the Erdtree Edition, Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition or the Switch 2 Tarnished Edition. For an existing player, confirm that the base game and DLC are being bought for the same platform family and store account. A disc, code or account from a different region may not satisfy the requirement; no universal cross-region compatibility is stated.

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Bandai Namco’s June 2024 version 1.12 patch notes document support for the DLC. Keep the base game updated on your chosen platform before launching the expansion, and use the platform’s normal update process if the content does not appear after purchase.

How to buy the correct edition

  1. Identify your hardware. Write down whether you play on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Steam PC or Nintendo Switch 2. Do not rely on a product image that shows several consoles.
  2. Check base-game ownership. Look in your platform library, not only your physical shelf. A disc owned by another account or a different console family may not provide the license you need.
  3. Select the matching product type. Choose a bundle containing both game and expansion if you are new to ELDEN RING; choose the standalone DLC if the base game is already on that account and platform.
  4. Read the included-content panel. Confirm whether the listing says base game, expansion, digital artbooks, digital soundtracks or Switch 2-specific extras. Similar cover art does not guarantee identical contents.
  5. Verify format. Decide whether you are buying a physical disc, a download code or a direct digital license. Confirm that your console has the required drive or that a code can be redeemed in your store.
  6. Verify region and account. Check the country or region of the store account and the retailer listing. Bandai Namco does not state universal compatibility between imported discs, codes and accounts.
  7. Review the final platform label. Before payment, make sure the checkout page names your exact console generation or Steam. Save the order description so you can compare it with the content that appears in your library.

Physical, digital and regional checks

Physical editions

A physical bundle can contain the base game and expansion on one package, separate discs, or a redemption code, depending on the listing. Do not infer the delivery method from the title alone. Read whether the expansion is printed on the disc or supplied as a code, then confirm that the code’s store region matches your account.

Digital editions

Digital purchases are tied to the platform account and store in which they are redeemed. On Steam, use the account that owns the base game. On consoles, verify the purchasing account and the console family shown in the store. The publisher’s platform list does not itself grant a license on another device.

Imported or cross-region purchases

Bandai Namco does not state a universal rule for cross-region discs or download codes. An imported package can have a different store, language, age-rating or DLC entitlement. If the listing does not clearly state regional compatibility, ask the retailer before buying rather than assuming the expansion will attach to your account.

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Common buying mistakes and how to correct them

Buying the DLC without the base game

Symptom: You own only an expansion listing and cannot launch it. Fix: Purchase ELDEN RING for the same platform and account, or return the DLC if the retailer’s policy allows and choose a bundle.

Buying the base game twice

Symptom: An existing owner selects a complete edition and pays for another base-game license. Fix: Compare the standalone DLC price and contents first; use a bundle only when its total value and included extras make sense for your situation.

Confusing Deluxe extras with gameplay

Symptom: You expect new missions or items from the Deluxe label. Fix: The identified Deluxe contents are digital artbooks and soundtracks for the base game and expansion. Treat those as bonus media, not a separately documented gameplay package.

Assuming cross-generation or cross-platform ownership

Symptom: A purchase made for one console does not appear in another platform’s library. Fix: Check the store’s entitlement language before buying. Cross-buy, save transfer and upgrade rights are not established by the platform list alone.

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Mixing up Tarnished Edition and Shadow of the Erdtree Edition

Symptom: A Switch 2 buyer searches for the older bundle name and misses the relevant listing, or assumes the two packages have identical extras. Fix: Search for ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition on Switch 2 and inspect its own content description.

Do not confuse Tarnished Pack content with the Switch 2 bundle

Bandai Namco also described new Tarnished Pack content for ELDEN RING on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam. That announcement concerns additional content on those platforms; it is not the name of the Nintendo Switch 2 bundle and should not be used as proof that every edition includes the same extras. When two listings use similar terminology, rely on the exact platform store description.

Which edition is the sensible value?

Your situation Most direct choice Reason
No base game, PS4/PS5/Xbox/Steam Shadow of the Erdtree Edition It supplies both the required game and the expansion in one identified package
No base game and you want digital reference material Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition It adds a digital artbook and soundtrack for each game
Already own the base game on a supported platform Standalone Shadow of the Erdtree DLC You need the expansion, not another base-game license
Buying for Nintendo Switch 2 ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition The 2026 Switch 2 bundle is separately named and includes the base game and expansion

No prices, retailer stock levels or universal promotional terms are stated here, so compare the live listing in your region rather than treating one edition as cheapest everywhere. The practical test is whether the package contains the licenses and extras you actually need on the platform you will use.

Final pre-payment checklist

  • Does the listing name your exact platform: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Steam PC or Nintendo Switch 2?
  • If you are new to the game, does it explicitly include both ELDEN RING and Shadow of the Erdtree?
  • If you already own the base game, is this the standalone DLC rather than a complete bundle?
  • Are digital artbooks and soundtracks listed if you are choosing Deluxe?
  • For Switch 2, is the product called ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition and are its additional contents described?
  • Is the physical, code or digital format compatible with your account and store region?
  • Have you avoided assuming cross-buy, save transfer or upgrade rights that the listing does not promise?

Following those checks separates the expansion you can play from a similarly named package that does not match your hardware, account or ownership status.

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Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

DLCEdition GuideElden RingNintendo Switch 2PC gamingPlayStationShadow of the ErdtreeXbox

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