You’re Going To Regret Counting Down The Days Until Elden Ring’s DLC Release

Elden Ring‘s much anticipated DLC, titled Shadow of the Erdtree, has made its players wait for its release. 2022’s Game of the Year was released two years ago, and in the time since, FromSoftware remained relatively quiet about its expansion until recently. Since the drop of the latest trailer for the DLC, it has many fans counting down the days until they are able to once again delve into the Lands Between, but is this something that the community will regret?

FromSoftware is currently one of the gaming industry’s darling developers, producing hit after hit ever since the break-out title that was Dark Souls. Since then, the studio has worked at a vigorous pace to put out six Soulsborne games in 11 years. The wait for Shadow of the Erdtree‘s release has actually been roughly as long as the wait for Dark Souls 3 after the famed series’ second entry, and could point to FromSoftware slowing down to make its games bigger than ever.

FromSoftware’s Next Game After Elden Ring May Be On Next-Gen Consoles

PlayStation And Xbox Already Have Next-Gen Plans

Elden Ring uses FromSoftware’s own propriety engine, creatively named the FromEngine. It is the same engine that the developers used for the Dark Souls series and Bloodborne, making it well over a decade old. It is impressive that it can still be used now, but the cracks are beginning to show, especially graphically, with Elden Ring often being compared to the 2020 remake of Demon’s Souls (developed by Bluepoint Games using FromSoftware’s original code) in terms of visuals and coming second best. Thankfully, the strong art direction has propped up the game’s graphics.

With Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon being released in 2023, there could be quite a wait for the next FromSoftware game, especially if the developers decide to upgrade or make a new engine for the next console generation as many other studios such as Rockstar have had to do in recent years. Following the pattern of previous releases, it is expected that the wait for the next title could be around three years, assuming that another Elden Ring DLC isn’t being planned. Three years without a game by Hidetaka Miyazaki could prove to be even more agonizing than the wait for Shadow of the Erdtree, especially given the larger audience Elden Ring managed to reach.

Both Sony and Microsoft have discussed their plans for the next generation of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, with the former stating that the PlayStation 5 entered the “latter half of its life cycle” earlier this year. Therefore, as both consoles launched in late 2020, this would suggest a new console generation could come as soon as 2026, so if FromSoftware does have to do major overhauls and enhancements to its engine while developing its upcoming titles, there’s a possibility they may be released alongside these newer devices.

FromSoftware Has Several Projects In Development

But Nothing About The Titles Has Been Revealed

As for where the studio could go after Elden Ring, FromSoftware producer Kenneth Chan revealed he is part of a new project at the studio on LinkedIn in March 2023 (via Game Rant), with his Experience section showing that the studio has been working on a yet-to-be-announced project since at least January 2022. The studio also revealed it was hiring new employees for several projects that same year, suggesting the studio has plenty lined up for fans.

With the proximity to Elden Ring‘s release – which was released in February 2022 – and Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon being released in 2023 long after work on this mystery project began, it seems unlikely that it is related to either franchise. However, Dark Souls 4, Bloodborne 2, Sekiro 2, King’s Field 5, or a completely new IP are all possible choices. Hopefully, with these projects currently being developed, there’s some chance a new game could be out sometime between 2024, 2025, or 2026, provided the studio doesn’t majorly overhaul its engine or technology in the meantime.

Waiting For A New FromSoftware Game Is The Worst Part

There Have Been No Release Date Announcements For Future Titles

Until From Software reveals what projects it has in store and provides a better idea of its upcoming release schedule, all players can do now is patiently wait and enjoy Shadow of the Erdtree when it releases. Soulsborne titles tend to be unique compared to the rest of the industry, and many FromSoftware fans crave its return whenever a new title is slated for release. The painful interval between Elden Ring’s DLC and the next FromSoftware game may make some players regret counting down the days to Shadow of the Erdtree’s release, but at least it looks like it will be worth all its hype.