Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creative director and studio boss of FromSoftware, is known for underselling the success of their games. In an interview with Eurogamer, Miyazaki described the success of the Souls games as players simply enjoying them. This comes as no surprise considering Miyazaki’s humble beginnings with Demon’s Souls, which went on to become one of the most influential series in video game history.
Recently, Miyazaki teased the upcoming DLC for Elden Ring, titled Shadow of the Erdtree. In an interview with IGN, he compared the DLC’s main area, the Land of Shadow, to the base game’s opening area, Limgrave, stating that it is “comparable” if not larger. However, this statement is quite vague as there are no clear borders or indications of the size of these areas. It leaves fans wondering just how expansive the Land of Shadow will be, especially considering FromSoftware’s tendency to create intricate and detailed worlds.
Miyazaki’s estimation of Elden Ring’s playtime has also raised eyebrows. He previously stated that the game would take around 30 hours to beat, provided players don’t take any detours. However, many players have found that their first playthrough took significantly longer, with some even surpassing 100 hours. Miyazaki’s estimate may have been based on a speedrun or a playthrough without dying frequently. The more accurate estimate from How Long To Beat puts the main story of Elden Ring at just under 60 hours, which aligns more closely with players’ experiences.
Considering Miyazaki’s history of underselling and the tendency for FromSoftware to create expansive and intricate worlds, it’s safe to assume that the Land of Shadow in the upcoming DLC will be more involved than initially implied. The sheer landmass may not be the only factor determining its scope, as FromSoftware aims to deliver denser and richer level design this time around.
Some argue that the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC should be the curtain call for Elden Ring, marking the end of its journey as an action RPG. However, fans eagerly await the release of the DLC to explore the new areas and challenges it will bring. Only time will tell if Miyazaki’s underselling continues to surprise players or if the Land of Shadow truly lives up to its potential.