Elden Ring wasn’t just one of the best games of 2022. It’s also easily one of the best action RPGs ever made. So, how could it get any better? Well, with Shadow of the Erdtree – the first and only piece of downloadable content for the game (or DLC for short) – things are about to get way more epic.

This isn’t any old run of the mill DLC pack though. Shadow of the Erdtree is the biggest expansion FromSoftware have created to date. Which means more terrifying bosses to fight, fantastical environments to explore, and crazy weapons to wield.

To get you prepared for your quest, we’ve put together a mini guide containing everything you need to know. From the release date and price to the gruesome monsters you’ll be slaying and more. Feeling brave, Tarnished?

What is Shadow of the Erdtree’s release date?

Shadow of the Erdtree charges its way onto consoles and PC on June 21, 2024.

But make sure you’ve finished the base game first - because this expansion is going to put your adventuring skills to the test. If you want to survive the horrors that lurk in the Land of Shadow, you’ll need a high-level character with powerful abilities and gear. Or you know, you could always just get good instead…

Can I pre-order Shadow of the Erdtree?

You sure can. If you do, you’ll be able to jump into the action straight away on release day. And because it’s a piece of downloadable content, you won’t have to wait about for the postie to show up.

But if you haven’t played any Elden Ring at all (where have you been?!), you could always get yourself a physical copy below that bundles together the base game and the brand new expansion.

How much will Shadow of the Erdtree cost?

Lucikly, you won’t have to spend all of your runes to get a copy. The standard version of Shadow of the Erdtree is only £34.99. While the premium edition will cost you £39.99. And for that extra fiver, they’ll throw in some cool bonus goodies, like the digital artbook and original soundtrack. Very nice.

You’re getting plenty of bang for your buck too. The DLC is so big, that there’s practically another full game here for you to get stuck into. So, you won’t be left feeling short changed!

Shadow of the Erdtree platforms

You can get your hands on Shadow of the Erdtree on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One and PC.

Unfortunately, like the base game, this one won’t be showing up anytime soon on Nintendo Switch. So, if you want to explore the Land of Shadow, you’ll have to think about grabbing a new console.

How to play Shadow of the Erdtree

If you’ve played Elden Ring before, you’ll be right at home with this one. Not that it’s going to be a simple quest though…

You’ll journey to the Land of Shadow, a dark place dominated by the Erdtree. It’s one huge interconnected open world, stuffed full of secrets, deadly beasts, and deep lore to discover.

The more you explore, the more you’ll be rewarded. Whether that’s with a bit of armour, or a lightning spell that’d put Thor to shame. Or if you’re really unlucky, maybe you’ll stumble across a boss instead.

And these boss fights are seriously epic. With their own unique behaviours and attack patterns, you’re going to have to be at the top of your game to take them out. Precise timing, clever positioning, and complete mastery over your weapons are key to victory. If you’re not up to scratch, you won’t last very long.

All in all, it’s a DLC that really isn’t for the faint-hearted. Good luck out there.

How many hours of gameplay will Shadow of the Erdtree have?

We haven’t got an exact number to go off right now. But judging by how vast the expansion looks, you’re easily looking at a good 30-50 hours of gameplay. Especially if you’re planning on vanquishing each boss, delving into every dungeon, and hoovering up all that legendary loot.

And let’s be honest – you die in Elden Ring. A lot. Which means it’s going to take a while to see that end credits screen.

What’s new in Shadow of the Erdtree?

First off, there’s a whole new map to explore. The Land of Shadow is full of haunted ruins, fiery caves and poisonous bogs. Oh, and plenty of cursed tombs that you might not make it out alive from. Don’t say we didn’t warn you…

And of course, there’s loads of new bosses to take down – 10 in fact. I mean, it wouldn’t be a proper FromSoftware game unless you had a few boss fights that made you want to hurl your controller across the room. So far, we’ve seen a massive fire giant and a lion that’s planning on making you its next meal. Both look equally terrifying.

To defeat that lot, you’re going to need some weapons too. 8 new weapon categories will make their debut. And from the trailer up above, it looks like one is a fully automatic crossbow. Sign us up!

Add to that fresh spells, equipment and skills and you’ve got plenty of tools to experiment with.

Which Shadow of the Erdtree features are player customisable?

You’ll be taking your existing character into the DLC with you. But the big bads here are no joke - which makes customisation extra important.

Tailor your Tarnished and create a build that matches your playstyle. Equip different gear to bump up your strengths and buy (or find) deadly spells and weapons that’ll vaporise the enemy. You’ll use points to boost your stats too, giving you more health or a larger pool of magic to draw from.

The director of the expansion has confirmed that it’s going to be even more brutal and punishing than the original game was. Gulp. So, use those skill points wisely!

What are the different Shadow of the Erdtree game mode options?

You’ve got just the one big open world area to fight your way through here.

But you’re not completely on your own. Just like in the main game, if you get stuck, you can summon some other players to give you a hand. And when you’ve got a team of warriors and wizards backing you up, that can definitely even the odds. When a game’s this difficult, you’re going to need the help.

The problem is though, opening up your world to co-op allies also makes you vulnerable to invasions from enemy players. And this lot would love to kill you and halt your progress. After all, this is a Souls-like game. You didn’t think it was all going to be a walk in the park, did you?

So, watch out when you’re off adventuring. Because a sneaky player could be hiding right round the next corner…

Want to see which other great games are coming out this year? Then head on over to our upcoming games page for all of the latest info on the biggest new releases.