GamesOpen WorldElden RingMiyazaki says Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s map is “probably” bigger than Limgrave, but he also said the base RPG would take about 30 hours and it took me 125When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesOpen WorldElden RingMiyazaki says Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s map is “probably” bigger than Limgrave, but he also said the base RPG would take about 30 hours and it took me 125When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: FromSoftware)
The Souls games, or whatever umbrella you want to put all ofFromSoftware’s action RPGs under, collectively redefined an entire genre andliterally defined a new one in the form of Soulslikes. So it is immensely amusing to hear creative director and studio boss Hidetaka Miyazaki describe this success, in an interview withEurogamer, as: “Players seem to enjoy our games.”
Miyazaki, you may have heard, has a reputation for underselling things, arguably dating back to his work on the tiny little experimental project that became Demon’s Souls and went on to ignite one of the most influential series in video game history. This quirk has become a major talking point among FromSoftware fans once again following Miyazaki’s estimation of the forthcomingElden Ring DLCShadow of the Erdtree, which was finally pushed into the spotlight with a reveal this week.
In an interview withIGN, Miyazaki reckoned that the DLC’s main area, the Land of Shadow, is “probably comparable” to the base game’s opening area, Limgrave, “if not larger.” This is already a little vague since there isn’t exactly a “Welcome to Limgrave” sign in the Lands Between indicating clear geopolitical borders. How much of the surrounding lands, not to mention the underground, are we including here?
Like many other Elden Ring fans, I also can’t help but think of the time that Miyazaki said Elden Ring, an improbably large game, wouldprobably take around 30 hours to beatprovided you don’t take any “detours.” I had to look this up just to make sure I wasn’t misremembering my own writing, and sure enough, he did offer 30 hours as a rough estimate, with the caveat that it’s a hard thing to estimate.
My first playthrough of Elden Ring took about 125 hours, but to Miyazaki’s credit, that was with every detour imaginable. That said, I don’t know anyone outside of speedrunners who beat this game in 30 hours or less. You certainly could, especially on NG+, but I just can’t picture it for a first run. Maybe Miyazaki also meant ‘without dying very much’ when he was talking about “detours.” For reference, the much more holistic data onHow Long To Beatputs Elden Ring’s main story, with no extras whatsoever, at just under 60 hours, which feels much more accurate.
Am I saying Shadow of the Erdtree’s Land of Shadow is actually way bigger than Miyazaki’s estimate implies? No, but I am seriously beginning to suspect that it will be much more involved than Limgrave, if only because FromSoftware can’t seem to help itself. I’d also wager that the sheer landmass of the DLC isn’t the biggest determinant of its actual scope, especially withFromSoftware actively pushing for “denser and richer level design” this time around.
Our own Joe Donnelly argues: As much as I’d love more,Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC should be the action RPG’s curtain call.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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1
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1
Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”