Does Elden Ring Dlc Affect Base Game

Does Elden Ring DLC Affect Base Game?

Alright, fellow Tarnished! Let’s dive into a burning question that’s probably been circling your minds: Does the Elden Ring DLC mess with the main game? It’s a totally valid concern. You’ve probably spent hours exploring the Lands Between, dodging giant crabs, and maybe, just maybe, figured out how to beat that one particularly annoying boss. The thought of some new downloadable content (DLC) suddenly changing everything can be a bit scary. So, let’s get to the bottom of this.

Understanding DLC and Its Impact

First, let’s break down what we mean by “affect.” When we ask if the DLC changes the base game, we are really asking a few different things:

• Story Changes? Will the DLC add new story elements that rewrite or change events in the main game?
• Item Changes? Will the new equipment or spells in the DLC find its way into the base game, changing the power balance?
• Map Changes? Will new areas from the DLC show up in the main game’s world?
• Gameplay Changes? Will the core gameplay systems (like combat or leveling) be altered because of the DLC?

It is important to know that not all DLC is created equally. Some DLCs are small and focused, offering new challenges in a separate area. Others can be grand expansions that change many things. With Elden Ring, we need to look at how FromSoftware has handled DLC in the past with their previous games, like the Dark Souls series.

How FromSoftware Typically Handles DLC

FromSoftware, the creators of Elden Ring, have a pretty specific approach to DLC. Usually, their DLC is like a separate adventure, linked to the main game but not mixed into it too much. They tend to:

• Create New, Distinct Areas: DLCs often introduce entirely new locations with unique looks and enemies. These areas usually feel different from the base game areas.
• Add New Items and Spells: You can expect new weapons, armor, spells, and other goodies to collect. They are generally designed to fit into the Elden Ring’s world but may also introduce new mechanics or ideas.
• Expand Lore but not Rewrite It: DLCs often add depth to the lore of the game, explaining some events and giving more insight, but they rarely change the story you experienced in the main game itself.
• Keep Core Mechanics Stable: Generally, core gameplay elements, like your character’s stats or how you fight, remain consistent. DLC adds to the game without taking away from what you are already used to.

Knowing this about FromSoftware’s way of making games, we can start to get a picture of how the Elden Ring DLC may work.

The Most Likely Scenarios for Elden Ring DLC

Keeping the above in mind, here are the most plausible things the Elden Ring DLC might bring, and how they could (or could not) impact your main game:

New Areas and How They Connect

The biggest part of any DLC is usually new areas to explore. In the case of Elden Ring, expect a new region accessible through a portal or some other method in the base game. This new region will likely have its own unique environment, enemies, bosses, and secrets. These DLC areas might be in the same world as the main game, but separated by loading screens and not seamlessly integrated into the base game map.

• Access Points: You will not simply walk into the DLC map from the base game. You will find an access point (like an NPC or item) that takes you into the DLC area.
• No Changes to Base Game Map: The core map that you are used to from the base game will stay just as you left it. Expect that the base game maps will not be changed by the DLC.

New Items and Their Integration

New items are often the most exciting part of DLC. Players will surely want cool, new weapons, armor, spells, and talismans. But, where do these items fit in?

• DLC Items in DLC Areas: You will typically get new items by playing in the DLC area, fighting enemies, and exploring its dungeons and secrets.
• Limited Base Game Integration: Rarely, if ever, will you find DLC-specific items in the base game areas. You will only get them in the DLC region itself.
• Potential Power Shifts: New weapons, spells, or gear from the DLC might be a bit better than what’s found in the base game, giving you an advantage. But that advantage comes from seeking them out in the DLC. These better items can provide new builds and playstyles in the game.
• Balanced for All Players: Game developers are often careful about making DLC items too powerful, and they make sure the power level is good for base game too. Usually, these items are balanced such that the game will stay challenging and fun.

Story and Lore Expansions

FromSoftware games are known for their deep, and sometimes very hidden, stories and lore. DLCs often add to this, but usually without rewriting the main story itself.

• Adding to the Main Story: The DLC story will more likely expand the lore or tell about a particular part of the game’s world we already know about, giving us more insight.
• No Changes to Base Game Ending: Most likely, the base game’s ending, what you saw at the conclusion of the main game, won’t change due to the DLC.
• New Character Interactions: Expect to meet new characters in the DLC. These new NPCs will give you new quests and things to think about the world of Elden Ring.

Gameplay and Mechanics

When it comes to the way the game plays, DLC usually sticks with what we already know, with a few tweaks or additions here and there.

• Core Systems Remain: The ways you fight, level up, use spells, and explore will be very similar to what you’re already familiar with.
• New Mechanics in DLC Areas: The DLC might introduce unique mechanics specific to its area. For example, perhaps an item which lets you move faster in that particular area only. But you likely won’t use this in the main game.
• Minor Balancing Adjustments: It’s possible, but not very common, that some minor game adjustments might arrive with the DLC release. These changes are intended to improve the overall experience. But these are usually not very big changes.

Specific Scenarios and Examples

Let’s dig a bit deeper and look at examples of how FromSoftware’s DLC has previously impacted their games:

Dark Souls Series

In the Dark Souls games, the DLCs were usually like self-contained stories. For instance, the Artorias of the Abyss DLC for Dark Souls was set in a totally separate area. The items from the DLC were useful in the main game, but you could only find them in the DLC area. The story of the DLC expanded on lore, but did not change the main game story.

• New Areas: Separate areas accessible through a portal in main game.
• New Items: New armor, spells, and weapons but only in DLC areas.
• Story Expansion: DLC expanded lore but didn’t rewrite the base game plot.

Bloodborne

Bloodborne’s Old Hunters DLC provided a new, intense region with some of the game’s most difficult bosses. The items you got were powerful and useful in the base game. But, again, the DLC was distinct and did not change the main game.

• Challenging Areas: DLC introduced areas that were more challenging than the main game.
• Unique Items: New items could be used in both DLC and base game.
• Lore Additions: DLC provided an exciting, new story related to the base game.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

While Sekiro didn’t have traditional DLC, it did get updates that added new features. These additions were not about new areas, but rather ways to replay the game. For example, boss rush modes. But these didn’t change the core game experience itself.

• Focus on Replayability: Updates mainly offered ways to play through boss encounters multiple times
• Gameplay Additions: Updates added modes that let you replay the game but didn’t change core map, story.

By looking at how they handled their prior DLC, we can make an educated guess that Elden Ring will follow a similar approach.

What to Expect from Elden Ring DLC

Based on what we have discussed, you can probably expect that the Elden Ring DLC will be much like other FromSoftware DLCs. Expect a new region, tough bosses, awesome items, and added lore. But, most likely, it will not change the main game experience. Here’s a recap:

• New area: The DLC will add a brand new place for you to explore.
• No main map changes: The Lands Between map we know will stay the same.
• New items: Expect powerful new weapons, armor, and spells.
• Story additions: The story will grow without making old events untrue.
• Consistent gameplay: The core ways you play will stay as is.

Think of the DLC as a new, exciting chapter of your adventure in Elden Ring, not a rewrite of the book you’ve already read.

In the end, the Elden Ring DLC won’t drastically change the base game you have come to know and love. Instead, it will add new places, enemies, and loot, giving you even more to explore in the Lands Between. So don’t be worried about your base game experience being ruined, instead, get ready for a brand new adventure, and get ready for new challenges. The Elden Ring DLC promises to be a new, challenging, and exciting adventure.