Shadow of the Erdtree: A Rocky Launch on Steam
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the long-awaited expansion to FromSoftware’s sprawling RPG, has encountered a mixed reception on Steam just days after its June 21, 2024 release. Despite critical acclaim, many players returning to the Lands Between are expressing frustration.
As of this writing, Shadow of the Erdtree sits in the “Mixed” category on Steam, with 62% of roughly 25,000 reviews being positive. A significant portion of the negativity centers around the expansion’s difficulty. While FromSoftware titles are known for their challenge, Shadow of the Erdtree is perceived by players as a significant leap in difficulty compared to the base game. Bosses in particular are being called unfair in numerous reviews.
Performance issues on PC seem to be another major concern. Many players report frame rate drops and frequent stuttering exceeding what they experienced in Elden Ring. Interestingly, filtering reviews to English only paints a different picture. Shadow of the Erdtree’s rating jumps to “Very Positive” with 81% approval from nearly 14,000 reviews. This suggests a potential cultural divide in player reception, though translation of negative Chinese reviews reveals similar complaints about difficulty and PC performance.
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It’s worth noting that despite the frustration, many negative reviews still acknowledge positive aspects of Shadow of the Erdtree. World design, new items, and the soundtrack are all receiving praise. While the expansion recommends a high character level, it introduces a separate power scaling mechanic called Shadow Realm Blessings. Unlike the base game’s focus on rune levels, these blessings significantly impact damage dealt and received. Unlike exploring for levels in Elden Ring, finding specific items — Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes — seems to be the key to progression in Shadow of the Erdtree.
Even the expansion’s introductory bosses, the Blackgaol Knight and the Gravesite Plain Furnace Golem, are proving to be formidable challenges. Difficulty has always been a central theme in FromSoftware games, known for their “tough but fair” philosophy. However, Shadow of the Erdtree’s “Mixed” reviews suggest that many players feel this fairness hasn’t translated well from the base game, considered the most approachable Soulsborne title to date. FromSoftware’s legacy of notoriously difficult DLC continues with Shadow of the Erdtree, and only time will tell if players will overcome the new challenges and embrace the expansion.