FromSoftware's Elden Ring has achieved success never before seen by the company. Selling over twenty million copies in about a year, it was easy to see that post-launch content was a matter of when, not if. Souls veterans always figured that Elden Ring DLC was coming based FromSoftware's modern track record. Finally, confirmation of an expansion has arrived, even if it's currently just an image and accompanying text teaser. Dubbed Shadow of the Erdtree, more information about it is expected in the coming months, possibly including updates on Miquella's place in the Lands Between.
The excitement is palpable, as is evident from the performance of the announcement on social media. Despite how huge Elden Ring's world was, people are still clamoring for further adventures. An old Bandai Namco leak indicated that this would come in the form of Barbarians of the Badlands, but whether that was fake or reworked into its current form as Shadow of the Erdtree, it seems fans will be getting something even more enigmatic. Theories on the nature of this DLC are already running wild, but the art accompanying its announcement has come with one especially big hint.
Evidence of Miquella's Relevance Keeps Growing
In the bottom right corner of the image, a rider is seen atop a horned horse. The horse resembles Torrent without its usual saddle, but the rider also resembles an existing major character. Comparing this person to illustrations seen in Elden Ring's opening, it has a high likelihood of being Miquella, the eternally young son of Marika and Radagon, and twin brother of Malenia. When fans last saw him, he was stuck in a death-like state within a cocoon of Mohg and the Formless Mother's creation. However, Sir Gideon Ofnir theorized that Miquella was only sleeping, and his waking would not bring anything good.
It makes a lot of sense that Shadow of the Erdtree would focus on Miquella, as he stands out as the largest hanging thread left by the base game. Elden Ring sees players systematically killing off most of the royal demigods ruling over the Lands Between. Ranni is one of the exceptions and can become the player's ally, though in pursuing her they may encounter Godwyn. Now known as the Prince of Death, Godwyn doesn't appear able to act consciously, and is thus unable to fight the player. Miquella is similarly disabled, having been forced to mature out of his cursed youth by Mohg. There are other outstanding mysteries in Elden Ring such as the Gloam-Eyed Queen, but Miquella's situation has the most relevance to the known story.
Elden Ring Could Explore Anything Through Miquella's Powers
Evidence to suggest that Miquella will be relevant in the future has existed since Elden Ring's launch. Miquella may carry on his family's tradition of dual identities, being implied to take the name of St. Trina by a few items. Trina is known for affiliation with the Sleep status effect, and supposedly a game-spanning questline was cut from Elden Ring where the player entered important NPCs' dreams. Cut dialogue for Malenia painting her as an ally, alluded to by her waking up from an unknown dream to fight the player, could have been meant for that very quest.
It's possible that the strange, timeless vision of a ruined Lands Between depicted in the Shadow of the Erdtree artwork is a result of Miquella's dream world. The player could be able to interact with characters like Miquella, and possibly even Godwyn, in forms that they otherwise would not have. There would also be more to do throughout the open world, as it potentially twists into surreal forms akin to the Hunter's Nightmare in Bloodborne. All this could open the possibility that the player will be able to succeed where Mohg failed, prompting an alternate ending through placing Miquella on Marika's throne. Whether as a passive observer or an active combatant, Miquella still has plenty to offer Elden Ring, and it looks like FromSoftware intends to capitalize on it.
Elden Ring is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
