Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion Receives Difficulty-Easing Patch

FromSoftware, the renowned video game developer, has released a surprise mini-patch for their critically acclaimed title, Elden Ring. This update, dubbed a "calibration update," aims to address the steep difficulty challenge posed by the game's latest expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree.

Unlocking the True Potential of Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion

Adjusting the Power Curve for a Smoother Experience

The primary focus of this patch is to address the scaling of the Shadow Realm Blessings, a crucial character advancement system introduced in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. These blessings, obtained through the collection of Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes, have a significant impact on the attack and defense capabilities of player characters and their spirit summons.According to FromSoftware, the patch has increased the value of these blessings during the early stages of the expansion's progression. This means that players will feel more powerful in the initial parts of Shadow of the Erdtree, where the first few bosses have proven to be particularly challenging for the community.Furthermore, the developer has made the progression for the second half of the expansion more gradual. This adjustment should result in a more balanced power curve, ensuring that the final boss encounter is slightly easier for players to overcome.

Addressing Performance Concerns on PC

In addition to the difficulty adjustments, FromSoftware has also acknowledged a bug in the PC version of Elden Ring. This bug causes the game's raytracing feature to be enabled when loading save data from previous versions of the game. If players are experiencing performance issues, the developer recommends checking their graphics settings to ensure that raytracing has not been unintentionally turned on.

Ongoing Improvements and Future Patches

While this mini-patch addresses some immediate concerns, FromSoftware has assured players that further balance changes and bug fixes will be coming in a future patch. The developer remains committed to continuously improving the Elden Ring experience and ensuring that players can fully immerse themselves in the challenging yet rewarding world of the Lands Between.The version number displayed on the title menu screen after applying this update should be 1.12.2, and players will need to log in to Elden Ring's multiplayer server for the changes to take effect.In conclusion, this surprise mini-patch from FromSoftware is a welcome development for Elden Ring players who have been grappling with the difficulty of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. By adjusting the power curve and addressing performance concerns, the developer aims to provide a more balanced and enjoyable experience for both new and seasoned adventurers in the Lands Between.