The long-awaited release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has finally arrived. FromSoftware has scored a major hit with this DLC release, bringing many players back to the Lands Between — or more accurately, the Lands of Shadow. The number of souls-like fans returning to Elden Ring has truly exploded on Steam. According to data from SteamDB, nearly half a million players have returned to Elden Ring in the past 24 hours, crushing the charts on Steam with 90% positive reviews on the day of release.
However, just a few days later, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has garnered a "Mixed" rating on Steam for several reasons.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has a "mixed" review status on Steam b/c players say it's too hard. pic.twitter.com/eE6glgfHfL
— Niche Gamer (@nichegamer) June 23, 2024
Many players have pointed out significant performance optimization issues. Players have encountered lag and frequent FPS drops during gameplay, even on the latest hardware. Some have reported that the new update has made the game almost unplayable on the Steam Deck, and FromSoftware is currently working hard to fix these issues.
Other criticisms come from players who have experienced the DLC in the past few days and noted the lack of balance. Despite having high-level characters, many players feel their characters are still at a disadvantage against enemies. Small enemies deal excessive damage, and bosses often wipe out characters' health bars with just one or two hits. Many players also express frustration with bosses' overwhelming and complex attack patterns, which shift the challenge from skill-based gameplay to memorization and reaction. The game's new upgrade system, intended to adjust difficulty, is seen as flawed and unnecessary. Some players also complain about the abundance of useless items in various areas, feeling disappointed when they solve puzzles and find chests, only to discover mundane upgrade stones or recipe books instead of new weapons or spells.
FromSoftware has always been known for its challenging games with high difficulty, but Elden Rings release brought their titles to a broader audience. Many players express difficulty in completing the game. Nevertheless, many consider Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is the best and biggest DLC FromSoftware has ever made.
Despite the ongoing issues, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree remains a major success, as evidenced by its 95 Metacritic score from critics and 8.4 from users. If you enjoy challenging games, this might be what you're looking for. Use our price comparison tool to find the best deal for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and embark on an adventure to the Land of Shadow to uncover its hidden secrets.
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