Elden Ring Director Stands Firm on Difficulty Amid Shadow of the Erdtree Backlash

The newly released Shadow of the Erdtree expansion for Elden Ring has been making waves in the gaming community, with players diving back into the challenging world of the action-RPG. The DLC, which launched on June 21, has been testing players’ skills and patience, sparking discussions about its difficulty level.

Many players have voiced their complaints about the tough nature of the expansion, prompting game director Hidetaka Miyazaki to address the issue. In an interview with The Guardian, Miyazaki explained that lowering the difficulty of Elden Ring would fundamentally change the experience of the game.

Miyazaki emphasized that the sense of achievement players gain from overcoming challenges is a crucial aspect of the game. He stated that lowering the difficulty would diminish this sense of accomplishment, ultimately breaking the game itself.

Elden Ring, like other FromSoftware titles, is known for its steep learning curve and lack of a traditional difficulty setting. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion continues this trend with some of the toughest boss encounters the studio has ever designed.

While the difficulty of the expansion has divided players, with some finding it too punishing, others have welcomed the challenge. Publisher Bandai Namco has offered tips for struggling players, such as leveling up the Scadutree Blessing to tackle the toughest challenges.

Overall, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has received widespread acclaim, becoming the highest-rated DLC of all time with a score of 95 on Metacritic. Despite the mixed reviews and debates over difficulty, the expansion has captured the attention of gamers across platforms.

The question remains: is Shadow of the Erdtree truly too difficult, or is it designed to provide a rewarding and challenging experience for players? As the gaming community continues to explore the expansion, the debate over difficulty will likely persist, shaping the ongoing discussion around Elden Ring and its latest content.