Elden Ring‘s expansive Lands Between have enthralled millions of players since the game‘s launch in February 2022. As fans eagerly await official word on upcoming DLC, speculation is heating up around a potential Elden Ring add-on reveal at The Game Awards this December. Rumored leaks point to a DLC launch in February 2023 – but how credible are these inside sources? Let‘s analyze the evidence.
Reading the Tea Leaves: Deciphering Recent Leaks
In October 2022, prominent industry insider AccountNGT cryptically tweeted "February 22nd" in response to eager questions about Elden Ring‘s DLC. This date lines up with the one-year anniversary of Elden Ring‘s launch, making it a prime target for FromSoftware to release a major expansion.
Notably, AccountNGT accurately leaked key details about the game in 2021, lending credibility to their inside knowledge. However, without more context, it‘s unclear whether February 22nd refers to an announcement date or the DLC launch itself.
Enter a newer leak by Twitter user ERleaks2022 in November 2022, stating the DLC is currently planned to release in February 2023. The leaker claims to have insider development sources. But with no track record, skepticism remains.
Intriguingly, though, both leakers have suddenly gone quiet after initially sparking discussion online. This silence is fueling speculation that their sources may have been legitimate, prompting FromSoftware or Bandai Namco to crack down on leaks.
Analyzing The Game Awards‘ 2022 Plans
Industry watchers believe we could get answers straight from the source at The Game Awards on December 8. Show producer Geoff Keighley visited FromSoftware‘s headquarters in Tokyo this October, likely finalizing plans for Elden Ring‘s awards show presence.
Keighley has hinted Elden Ring news is incoming, recently tweeting a picture of him holding a miniature Elden Ring statue. As The Game Awards has a history of DLC reveals for major games like The Witcher 3, hopes are high for a first look at the expansion next month.
Using FromSoftware‘s Past as a Guide
With no official word from Bandai Namco or FromSoftware yet, speculators have turned to the studio‘s past work for clues. Looking back, Dark Souls and Bloodborne expansions arrived 11-15 months after initial launch:
- Dark Souls – Released Sept 2011, DLC Oct 2012
- Dark Souls 2 – Released March 2014, DLCs July 2014 & Feb 2015
- Bloodborne – Released March 2015, DLC Nov 2015
Elden Ring bucks FromSoftware‘s conventions in many ways though. As an open-world game that far eclipsed previous commercial success metrics, predicting DLC plans is tricky. However, a turnaround within a year for new content feels realistic given the studio‘s track record.
Piecing Together Clues of What‘s to Come
Most reports indicate the Elden Ring DLC has the working title "Shadow of the Erdtree". This aligns neatly with in-game lore – the Erdtree is the focal point of the Lands Between, the game‘s mythical world. Expanding its mythology further in an add-on aligns neatly with fan desires.
Notable leakers like ERleaks2022 allege the DLC will take us to a mysterious new land separate from the main map. Here, we‘ll uncover secrets of the Erdtree and confront destructive Outer Gods. These same leakers even claim we‘ll fight alongside fan-favorite character Miquella against the fearsome Fire Giant.
How much stock should we put in unverified leaks though? On one hand, outsider guesses often miss the mark. Yet with mounting evidence of accurate insider gameplay details leaked, it‘s hard to dismiss them entirely.
As always in the fog-shrouded world of Elden Ring though, the path ahead remains obscure. We must be patient as we watch for signs of grace illuminating the way forward. The guidance will come soon enough, and a new adventure awaits beyond the fraying roots of our Erdtree.