Highlights

  • Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077's expansions are robust and challenging experiences.
  • Both expansions add depth to lore, characters, and settings, making main stories better in retrospect.
  • FromSoftware and CD Projekt RED set a new standard for AAA game DLC, offering immersive, content-rich experiences.

FromSoftware's Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is perhaps the most highly anticipated DLC expansion to a AAA release ever made. Not only does Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree sit as yet another entry in FromSoftware's long tradition of producing thoughtfully crafted and meaningful expansions to its games, but it also stands as perhaps one of the most punishingly difficult DLCs in the studio's history. In terms of its size, its expansions to Elden Ring's lore and characters, and its place as a quality enhancement over the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree shares a lot in common with Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty expansion.

The Phantom Liberty expansion to Cyberpunk 2077 arrived at a time when the title was in the full swing of a complete turnaround in terms of player perception, accompanied by the huge Update 2.0 that saw Cyberpunk 2077 finally becoming the game that players had anticipated years prior. Most importantly, Phantom Liberty brought with it a brand new and intricately designed location in Dogtown, along with a captivating narrative that made the base game's story even better in retrospect. Combined with how both DLCs set a new standard of quality for post-launch expansions, Phantom Liberty and Shadow of the Erdtree are charting similar territory.

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Shadow of the Erdtree and Phantom Liberty Expand Their Respective Games' Setting and Lore

Aside from both expansions being standout experiences that each exist on their own merits and enhance the base games they add on to, Shadow of the Erdtree and Phantom Liberty both make meaningful additions to Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077's setting, characters, and conflict, respectively. Players learn bits and pieces about Miquella and the rest of the Empyreans in the main story of Elden Ring, as well as come face-to-face with both his former protector in Malenia and his kidnapper in Mohg. As a result, Shadow of the Erdtree fills in important gaps in one of Elden Ring's most interesting plot threads involving some of its most compelling characters.

Similarly, Phantom Liberty gives players much more in-depth insight into the geopolitical realities of the world of Cyberpunk 2077 and sheds light on aspects of government that are only hinted at in the main game. The cumulative effect of the important narrative enhancements both expansions make on top of what's already present in Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077's main narratives makes the main stories of each game arguably better in retrospect. On top of what both DLCs provide in their gameplay, they also add contextual knowledge that makes their worlds feel more immersive.

FromSoftware and CD Projekt RED Have Both Set a New Bar For DLC Expansions

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Both FromSoftware and CD Projekt RED (CDPR) are studios known for crafting large expansions to their games that build on an already impressive foundation. Rather than releasing smaller chunks of DLC that cynically feel like pieces cut from a whole to be offered to gamers at a later date, the expansions to games like Dark Souls 3, Bloodborne, and The Witcher 3 have all enhanced the core experience of playing those games, changing each title for the better and providing more content to enrich what's already a highly-regarded title. In effect, both studios have now set a new standard for what a large-scale DLC for a AAA title should strive for.

Phantom Liberty and Shadow of the Erdtree brought spiked player counts to their base games, invigorating interest in years-old titles through content-rich and exciting expansions that go beyond just offering more of what players loved in the full release. A fully-fledged Cyberpunk 2077 sequel is in development, and where FromSoftware goes from here now that Elden Ring is complete is anyone's best guess. For now, the expansions to both games are quality expansions and enhancements that act as pseudo-sequels and earn their place as necessary parts of a single, congruent experience.