Summary
- Elden Ring's upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree expansion will feature the notorious poisoned swamps Souls fans know all too well.
- Lead designer Hidetaka Miyazaki confirmed the inclusion of a poisoned swamp but promises a new approach to challenge players in the DLC.
- Fans have expressed mixed feelings about the poisoned swamp environments in Souls games, but Shadow of the Erdtree should offer a fresh perspective.
FromSoftware's lead Elden Ring designer, Hidetaka Miyazaki, has confirmed that the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion will again feature the Souls series' notorious poisoned swamps. The confirmation follows the company's recent announcement regarding Elden Ring's first major expansion.
Shadow of the Erdtree will launch on June 21 and introduce an entirely new map to Elden Ring, located in the Land of Shadow. Its trailer revealed a handful of new enemies and locations that players can expect to see in the major expansion, which can be pre-ordered now through a variety of tiers that include various pre-order bonuses. While the trailer didn't specifically mention the inclusion of poisoned swamps, Miyazaki recently cleared the air on the matter.
In an interview with Eurogamer, Miyazaki confirmed that Shadow of the Erdtree will in fact feature a poisoned swamp, but also mentioned that players can expect a new approach to the difficult environment. "This was a little place of introspection and reflection for me," said Miyazaki, "So maybe, when players reach the poisoned swamp in the DLC, they will feel a little bit of this retrospection." Miyazaki seems to suggest that he's listened to fan feedback regarding the Souls series' infamous swamps and has adjusted them accordingly. However, it remains vague how different Shadow of the Erdtree's poisoned swamps will actually be.
Will Shadow of the Erdtree Have a Poisoned Swamp?
- Yes, according to Elden Ring's lead designer Hidetaka Miyazaki
Previously, Elden Ring's Miyazaki jokingly explained that he "can't help [himself]" when it comes to making poisoned swamp areas for Souls games. It's clear that the talented developer has a soft spot for the series' notoriously difficult environment, but fans have consistently requested the studio to tone down these frustrating areas. Elden Ring featured numerous poisoned swamps, some of which introduced Scarlet Rot, an even nastier affliction than the usual poison. But for now, fans will have to simply wait for Shadow of the Erdtree's release or additional trailers to judge whether Miyazaki's retrospection has led poisoned swamps to reach a more enjoyable state.
Poisoned swamps rank as some of the most frustrating locations in Souls games, with Dark Souls 3's Farron Keep and Dark Souls' Blighttown being particularly infamous areas. Many players find these swampy environments especially frustrating due to their decreased movement speeds and poisonous damage-over-time effects.
Leading up to Miyazaki's recent confirmation, some had hoped that Shadow of the Erdtree would finally exclude poisoned swamps. Some regard them as more of an annoyance than a challenge, and although Souls games are consistently excellent, many fans consider poisoned swamps to be a rare blemish on the series. However, fans can at least look forward to a new approach to poisoned swamps in Shadow of the Erdtree.
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. And BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.
George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
