The Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, doesn’t have a release date yet. But FromSoftware owner Kadokawa hints at a possible release before March 2024 in a recent earnings call.
Everyone and their dog out there are waiting for Shadow of the Erdtree, the big Elden Ring DLC which was announced in March 2023. This year is steadily coming to an end, and we still don’t have a release date for the much-anticipated expansion.
Thank God for earnings calls, though. Kadokawa, the parent company of developer FromSoftware, recently revealed some numbers for their fiscal year 2023. In there, they also comment on the state of Shadow of the Erdtree and hint towards a possible release by March 2024.
Elden Ring DLC: Possible Release Before March
The Earnings Results presentation first mentions Elden Ring by stating, that “the release timing of DLC for ELDEN RING has not yet been announced”. So far, so familiar. However, it is also emphasizes that “development is proceeding smoothly.” That’s at least some good news.
When talking about their outlook for the rest of FY 2023, which ends by March 31, 2024, the document reveals that “Measures for maximizing LTV [long-term value] of ELDEN RING will be taken” by the end of that period. One of these “measures” would most likely be the release of the long-awaited Elden Ring DLC.
This would corroborate previous rumors, stating that Shadow of the Erdtree could be released in February 2024, around the two-year anniversary of the original game’s release. A first trailer is expected to be shown at The Game Awards on December 7. Let’s hope that’s actually true, a two-year wait for a DLC campaign is mad long. And I want more Elden Ring, I want it now!
In a Q&A attached to the earnings report, Kadokawa anwers the question “What is the development status of DLC for ELDEN RING and when will it be released?” by saying: “We are currently working hard on the development of DLC for ELDEN RING, but we have not announced a release date at this time.”
On a side note: the document emphasizes the “major success” of Armored Core 6 multiple times, citing a number of 700,000 sold units in Japan. The “global sales” of the game are even “expected to grow” within FY 2024, probably due to the game going on sale. Maybe a DLC for that too? Nah, let’s not get carried away now…