WhileElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeexpanded upon the world introduced by the base game in a largely satisfying way after a gap of two years, it also didn’t do much to change the ambiguous nature of FromSoftware’s biggest story to date. Now that a recent interview has hinted at the potential for the title to become a series in an unexpected fashion, it appears that this style won’t be coming to an end any time soon. It’s undeniable that the intrigue of indirect narrative presentation has played a major role inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s identity, and anticipating explicit plot resolution from related games in the future might be too much to ask for.
Multiple projects are apparently in development at FromSoft according tocomments from Hidetaka Miyazaki at the 2024 PlayStation Partner Awards, and it’s possible that one of these could be a “variation” onElden Ring. There are too many loose ends to follow up on in one side game alone, so this effort could prove controversial, since the developer risks ignoring parts of the first game and introducing more plot elements that don’t receive definitive conclusions of their own.
The Open-Ended Nature of Elden Ring’s Lore is Already a Double-Edged Sword
Shadow of the Erdtree’s Massive Scope Didn’t Come with Much Closure
Despite the unprecedented depth ofSotEas an expansion which sees it rivaling the size of a sequel, it still elected not to address several majorunsolved mysteries inElden Ring. This might have maintained the tone of the IP, but the disregard for delivering on the speculation that spawned around theories regarding characters like the Gloam-Eyed Queen and Godwyn made the DLC feel like more of a horizontal expansion in scope than depth in key areas.
Miyazaki’s Comments Imply an Elden Ring Spin-Off Could Be on the Horizon
WithMiyazaki hinting atElden Ringside gameswhich would likely delve into less prominent parts of the lore, clear explanations around main focuses like Marika and the Greater Will might never manifest in the long run. FromSoft appears to be interested in exploring new ideas over forming as coherent of a franchise asDark Souls, but this could mean that the base game scenario ofElden Ringbecomes overshadowed in the long run.
An Elden Ring Spin-Off Could Risk Creating More Questions Than Answers
Avoiding a Sequel Can Only Take Elden Ring in an Unconventional Direction
Although the vagueness of theenvironmental storytelling in FromSoftware titleshas driven fan engagement in a powerful way, it could ultimately hinder the ability of anElden Ringspin-off to stand on its own. It’s understandable that the studio would opt for a more self-contained narrative which facilitates creative freedom on a scale that a sequel wouldn’t allow, but there are downsides to expanding on or ignoring the enigmatic allure ofElden Ringcharacters like Radahn and Messmer alike. Leaving the Golden Order-based scenario behind might alienate players who hope to see more context around how the world state came to be, and the narrative of a prequel would have to balance the appeal of what FromSoft has intentionally left open to interpretation up until now.
Thepattern established by FromSoftware’s DLC expansionshas also proven that the developer is at least somewhat adept at adding to worlds without fully explaining them. That being said, repeating the ambiguity of Miquella’s vow, the Orphan of Kos' origin, or the timeline of Slave Knight Gael’s battle would be predictable at this point. A prioritization of creativity leading to experimentation in areas like new genres might still be able to win players over when it comes to a spin-off, but the studio will need to leverage that value with the relevance ofElden Ring’s puzzling narrative design.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
