8 things we learned about Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

destructoid.com:

Two years after Elden Ring was released, we finally got our first look at the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. From cryptic teases to ghastly enemies, it had it all, and it sounds like there will still be some challenges in store for those seeking more of them.

Through interviews at IGN and Eurogamer with director Hidetaka Miyazaki and other places, including the trailer itself, we’ve got a clearer picture of what’s waiting for us in this new adventure.

For those of you looking for a challenge, Miyazaki has good news, as he states to IGN: “To our more hardcore players, they will find optional bosses who have been tuned in a similar way to the likes of Malenia, who I’m sure you remember from the base game, who are not crucial.”

Knowing Miyazaki as we know him by now, I’m betting he’s being overtly humble by talking about bosses who are more or less as hard as Malenia. DLC bosses in Souls games tend to be much harder than in the main games, so we’re about to meet something devious. Can you imagine Manus from the original Dark Souls DLC with Malenia’s dual Katana? Or the Fume Knight with her speed? I can.

In the same interview with IGN, Miyazaki states that the DLC will figuratively and literally follow the footsteps of Miquella, confirming the set up made by the base game after we defeated Mohg. That’s cool, but it also spells a bunch of trouble, as Miquella is the brother of Malenia, famously the most challenging boss in the history of Souls games.

This does, however, seem to entail that Miquella himself might not put up as much of a challenge as Malenia, as he’ll likely be a mandatory boss. Though I could very well be wrong about this — the difficulty part — I mean.

Though Miyazaki doesn’t talk about it in the interview, the trailer for the DLC closes out with the silhouette of a shining figure. Who could that be other than Marika, the elusive goddess of this world? Could it really be her? Could it be that the DLC has a deity waiting for us as the true final enemy?