Helldivers 2 Devs: Elden Ring DLC 'Beyond Expectation'

Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC: A Controversial Challenge

The release of Elden Ring's highly anticipated expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, sparked a heated debate online. Many players, both seasoned veterans and newcomers, voiced concerns about its extreme difficulty, particularly citing the new bosses as overtuned. Johan Pilestedt, CCO of Arrowhead Game Studios (developers of Helldivers 2), weighed in on FromSoftware's design philosophy.

Pilestedt, also the creative director of Helldivers 2, publicly agreed with streamer Rurikhan's assessment that FromSoftware intentionally crafts challenging bosses to maximize player engagement. He emphasized that effective game design prioritizes evoking strong emotional responses, even if that means appealing to a niche audience. He famously stated, "a game for everyone is a game for no one," underscoring the importance of staying true to the intended player base.

Difficulty by Design: FromSoftware's Approach

Before the DLC's launch, Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki himself warned players to expect a significant challenge, even for veterans. He explained that the DLC's boss balancing assumed players had already progressed substantially through the main game. FromSoftware's design process involved analyzing player feedback from the base game, identifying enjoyable and stressful elements of boss encounters to inform the DLC's design.

Shadow of the Erdtree introduced a new mechanic, the Scadutree Blessing, which boosts player damage and reduces incoming damage within the Land of Shadow. However, many players seemingly overlooked or forgot this crucial element, prompting Bandai Namco to remind players to utilize and level up this blessing.

Mixed Reception: Critical Acclaim vs. Player Feedback

Despite achieving the highest rating of any video game DLC on OpenCritic, surpassing even The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Blood and Wine, Shadow of the Erdtree's reception on Steam is more nuanced. Negative reviews frequently cited both the challenging difficulty and the introduction of new technical problems. This highlights the inherent tension between critical acclaim and the diverse experiences of individual players.