Will the Elden Ring DLC be free?

While a free update added the Colosseum battles last year, FromSoftware has now confirmed the first major story expansion for Elden Ring, called "Shadow of the Erdtree", will be paid DLC when it releases in 2024. Given the game‘s incredible success, selling over 16.6 million copies, additional paid expansions are highly likely in the future as well.

Elden Ring By the Numbers

To understand FromSoftware‘s approach to Elden Ring‘s post-launch content, it helps to grasp just how popular and profitable this game has been:

For context, the entire Dark Souls trilogy has sold just over 27 million copies total across 12 years and 3 games. Elden Ring has crushed those numbers in just over 12 months. It‘s also one of the best-selling PlayStation titles, second only to 2018‘s Spider-Man.

Past Games‘ DLC – Paid Content Sets a Precedent

FromSoftware has released paid DLC for all their recent major titles:

• Dark Souls 1 & 2 – "Artorias of the Abyss" etc.
• Bloodborne – "The Old Hunters"
• Sekiro – No DLC, but an expanded "Game of the Year" edition

There is a clear precedent of paid expansions adding new dungeons, bosses, gear, and more. The Old Hunters DLC for Bloodborne could almost be considered a full sequel, with how much content it added.

So while the Colosseum update for Elden Ring offered free DLC in the form of new PvP modes, substantial PvE story content has always come at a price point.

Upcoming Expansion: Shadow of the Erdtree

Shadow of the Erdtree, announced on February 28th, 2023, represents Elden Ring‘s first major paid expansion focusing on PvE content. Details remain scarce, but here‘s what we know so far:

• New story content expanding on Elden Ring‘s lore and world
• Unveils more of the game‘s backstory and origins
• Release date TBA, but likely Q3/Q4 2023
• Will be paid DLC, not a free update

Given FromSoftware‘s track record, it‘s reasonable to expect a sizable add-on here that could run 10-20 hours with new dungeons, enemies, and boss fights to take on.

Of course as a passionate Elden Ring fan myself, I understand any reluctance to pay extra for content updates after already purchasing the core game. But From‘s post-launch support has always been substantial enough to feel "worth it" for devoted players hungry for more.

What Does the Future Hold?

It‘s highly probable that Shadow of the Erdtree is just the start. In a press release, FromSoftware called Elden Ring the "start of a new franchise" and given the runaway financial success here, the business case for add-on content is extremely compelling.

I predict Elden Ring will follow a similar DLC model to The Witcher 3 – two major paid expansions adding 10-30 hours of quests apiece, followed by free updates adding quality-of-life tweaks, gear, etc. With a vast open world ripe for expansion, the possibilities are endless.

Of course I‘d also love to eventually see a fully-fledged sequel. But in the meantime, Elden Ring DLC will deliver our fix of fresh content while staying true to From‘s design ethos. Just don‘t expect it for free when there‘s clearly big money to be made!