With Hidetaka Miyazaki at the helm and both games developed by FromSoftware, Bloodborne and Elden Ring already have one thing in common. But, as it turns out, these two award-winning titles share a similar development path with their expansions.

According to the famed dataminer, Lance McDonald, a reliable informant with a reputation for insider information about all things FromSoftware, the Japanese studio originally planned to release two separate expansions for Elden Ring. But, here's a fun fact: FromSoftware has since merged these two expansions into one. McDonald's claim suggests that the developers at FromSoftware took a page out of their own book, echoing a strategy it previously adopted for Bloodborne with its critically-acclaimed DLC, The Old Hunters.

McDonald's revelation is good news for those looking forward to Shadow of the Erdtree. Bloodborne fans may remember that a similar incident happened with The Old Hunters, which resulted in one of the best and most immersive expansions in any game to date.

By giving Elden Ring the same treatment, Shadow of the Erdtree has the potential to extend the narrative of Elden Ring even further.

However, this doesn't mean FromSoftware axed the original content. It's likely that FromSoftware merged all the initial elements of the multiple planned DLCs, offering multiple expansions' worth of content in one.

We might even see new major areas and legacy dungeons similar to Stormveil Castle or Raya Lucaria and get more details about the tantalizing lore of Elden Ring.

But, what made FromSoftware change its plans? While we have no official details about it, some speculate that it's a way to guarantee maximum profitability. Perhaps FromSoftware felt that releasing a single but more substantial expansion would sell more than splitting the post-launch content across multiple releases.

Whatever the reason, FromSoftware has a solid track record of knowing what they're doing.

If Shadow of the Erdtree is anything like The Old Hunters, fans are in for quite the treat.

Unfortunately, the exact release date of Shadow of the Erdtree remains just as elusive as that win over Malenia that probably took you dozens if not hundreds of tries to accomplish. The current projections range from late 2023 to sometime in 2024. FromSoftware is also working on Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, which likely takes precedence over Shadow of the Erdtree. We're hoping the upcoming Summer Game Fest event next month, where the first Elden Ring trailer was unveiled, sheds some light on this predicament.

So, dear Tarnished, prepare to don your arms once again. Shadow of the Erdtree promises to deliver an epic addition to our already record-breaking journey in The Lands Between.