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Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC: A Difficulty Debate
The recent release of Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion has sparked a heated discussion about its difficulty. Many players, both seasoned veterans and newcomers, have voiced concerns, particularly regarding the challenging new bosses. This debate has even drawn the attention of Johan Pilestedt, CCO of Arrowhead Game Studios (developers of Helldivers 2).
Pilestedt, also the creative director of Helldivers 2, publicly agreed with streamer Rurikhan's assessment that FromSoftware intentionally designs difficult bosses to challenge players. He emphasized that effective game design prioritizes evoking emotional responses over broad appeal. Dismissing the notion that this approach alienates players, Pilestedt stated, "a game for everyone is a game for no one," advocating for developers to focus on their target audience.
FromSoftware's Stance on Difficulty
This perspective aligns with comments made by Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki prior to the DLC's launch. Miyazaki warned that Shadow of the Erdtree would present a significant challenge, even for experienced players. He explained that boss balancing assumed players had progressed substantially through the main game and that FromSoftware considered both enjoyable and frustrating aspects of the base game's boss encounters when designing the DLC.
The Scadutree Blessing mechanic, designed to boost player damage and reduce incoming damage in the Land of Shadow, appears to have been overlooked by many. Publisher Bandai Namco even had to remind players to utilize this feature amidst the negative feedback regarding difficulty.
Mixed Reception
Despite achieving the highest rating for any video game DLC on OpenCritic, surpassing even The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Blood and Wine, Shadow of the Erdtree's reception on Steam is more nuanced. Negative reviews cite both the high difficulty and reported technical issues. The ongoing discussion highlights the complex relationship between challenging gameplay and broad player appeal in FromSoftware's titles.
