Helldivers 2 Dev Comments on Elden Ring DLC Difficulty

Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC: A Debate on Difficulty

The release of Elden Ring's highly anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree expansion sparked a heated online discussion about its challenging difficulty. Many players, both seasoned veterans and newcomers, voiced concerns, particularly regarding the new bosses, with some labeling them as overtuned. Johan Pilestedt, CCO of Arrowhead Game Studios (developers of Helldivers 2), weighed in on FromSoftware's design philosophy.

Pilestedt, also the creative director of Helldivers 2, publicly agreed with streamer Rurikhan's assessment that FromSoftware intentionally crafts challenging bosses to push players. He argued that effective game design prioritizes evoking strong emotional responses, above all else. Dismissing concerns about alienating players, Pilestedt famously stated, "a game for everyone is a game for no one," emphasizing the importance of focusing on the intended player base.

Developer Perspectives on Difficulty

Even before the DLC's launch, Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki cautioned players in interviews that Shadow of the Erdtree would present a significant challenge, even for experienced players. Miyazaki explained that boss balancing assumed players had already made substantial progress in the base game. FromSoftware also carefully considered player feedback on enjoyable and frustrating aspects of the original game's boss encounters.

The DLC introduced the Scadutree Blessing mechanic, enhancing player damage and reducing incoming damage within the Land of Shadow. Despite this explanation, many players seemingly overlooked or forgot this crucial element, prompting Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco to issue a reminder to level up their Blessing amidst the difficulty complaints.

Critical Reception: A Mixed Bag

While Shadow of the Erdtree achieved the highest rating of any video game DLC on OpenCritic, surpassing even The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's acclaimed Blood and Wine, its Steam reception proved more divisive. Negative reviews frequently cited both the heightened difficulty and the introduction of technical problems.