Highlights
- Elden Ring 's massive success has redefined FromSoftware's reputation and solidified itself as one of the most influential video game releases in recent years.
- The upcoming DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, is expected to continue the story of the base game and build upon existing characters, such as the enigmatic Godwyn.
- Godwyn, with his mutated and monstrous form, has the potential to become a memorable boss encounter and a worthy opponent for the expansion. The narrative conclusion involving Godwyn aligns thematically with the game's overarching goal.
Redefining FromSoftware's reputation through its massive success, Elden Ring has become one of the most influential video game releases of the past few years. Having released back in early 2022, the attention the title has maintained since then is a testament to the lasting quality of The Lands Between. Following the legacy of FromSoft’s previous Soulsborne games, Elden Ring is set to see its hype continue even further with an upcoming expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree.
Details surrounding Elden Ring’s DLC are still scarce, but it's almost certain to continue the story laid out by the base game in similar fashion to prior FromSoftware DLC expansions. With only a teaser image that accompanied its announcement available to speculate from, fans have already begun to theorize about which existing figures could be key to Shadow of the Erdtree. Several characters seem to have been set up for future development throughout the base game, and the enigmatic Godwyn is a prime candidate.
FromSoftware's History of Setting Up Characters for DLC
Prime examples of figures only mentioned in the base game who appeared prominently later on, characters like Artorias and Ludwig have since become key parts of their respective titles' identities. The DLC of a Soulsborne game is what marks the true completion of the game for many fans of the genre, with encounters such as Orphan of Kos and Slave Knight Gael often seen as true final boss experiences that complement an expanded look at the world. The conclusion of Elden Ring leaves several story threads hanging, but a particular area of the lore has likely driven the most speculation.
Never properly met by the player in Elden Ring, both Miquella and Godwyn are in states of grotesque corruption that have compromised their ability to appear in humanoid form. Although both have the potential to return as bosses or NPCs, Shadow of the Erdtree’s teaser image could indicate a scenario that sees a restored Miquella attempting to give Godwyn a true death, with a blonde figure riding towards a corrupt tree resembling Deathroot.
Godwyn is Already Fit for a Boss Battle
As shown in the base game, Godwyn’s body has mutated into a monstrous, eldritch form within the Deeproot Depths, the point from which Deathroot has spread into the world. Evoking the deformed monstrosity that was Ludwig the Accursed, along with the corrupted darkness seen with Manus of the Abyss, the abomination seen in Elden Ring could easily become an intimidating and memorable boss encounter. Also said to have previously been a powerful demigod warrior of light that could match the might of the dragons he befriended, even a less horrific form of Godwyn would be an opponent worthy of a FromSoft expansion.
Despite the bleak tone presented in The Lands Between being continued by what has been seen of Shadow of the Erdtree’s imagery so far, the potential overarching goal of uniting Godwyn's body with his soul in death is a noble pursuit at its core. He may have been a mostly unseen presence throughout Elden Ring, but the Night of Black Knives in which he was assassinated was essentially the inciting incident of the entire game. It would make perfect thematic sense to now also conclude the narrative with Godwyn, a mystery with the potential to live up to icons like Artorias once Shadow of the Erdtree eventually arrives.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Series X/S.
