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There’s no mistaking that Elden Ring is one of those games that will go down as one of the all time greats. The beautiful vistas, incredibly designed world, and mechanic-rich boss battles come together to create a jaw-dropping experience.
Shadow of the Erdtree, Elden Ring’s only announced DLC, is primed and ready to enhance the base game even further, bringing additional story beats, bosses, and even more POIs to explore.
Here, we’ll take you through everything we know on Shadow of the Erdtree so you can be as informed as possible before jumping into the expansion.
What is the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree release date?
Even though Shadow of the Erdtree was announced some time ago, it didn’t have a release date. However, thanks to the official trailer for this much anticipated DLC, we now know the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree release date is June 21, 2024.
This is almost two and a half years after the base Elden Ring game launched so whatever FromSoftware has been cooking up, you know they have put their heart and soul into it.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree trailer
On February 21, 2024, FromSoftware gave fans exactly what they had been waiting for – a glimpse into what Shadow of the Erdtree has to offer – in trailer form.
If you haven’t had chance to watch it yet, here it is:

This is the only trailer that has been released for the DLC as of right now but as we get closer to launch, we expect there to be at least one more, full of exciting tidbits before the full experience releases.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree editions
Akin to the Dark Souls series that also received the DLC treatment post-launch, Elden Ring has a fresh set of editions which come packaged with Shadow of the Erdtree content.
There are four fully fledged editions of the DLC that are on sale, all including variations of the product:
Shadow of the Erdtree Edition

Elden Ring base game code
Shadow of the Erdtree DLC code

Shadow of the Erdtree Premium Bundle

Shadow of the Erdtree DLC code
Digital copies of the Shadow of the Erdtree soundtrack and artbook

Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition

Elden Ring base game code
Shadow of the Erdtree DLC code
Digital copies of the Elden Ring soundtrack and artbook
Digital copies of the Shadow of the Erdtree soundtrack and artbook

Shadow of the Erdtree Collector’s Edition

Shadow of the Erdtree DLC code
Digital copy of the Shadow of the Erdtree soundtrack
40 page hard-cover artbook
46cm statue of “Messmer the Impaler”

As shown above, the two editions that come with the base Elden Ring game, required to play the DLC, are the Shadow of the Erdtree Edition and Deluxe Edition. So, if you don’t own the vanilla experience already, this is the route you want to go down.
Pre-ordering will also net you the Ring of Miquella gesture but this can also be unlocked via playing through the DLC so don’t worry too much about missing out.
You can always purchase Shadow of the Erdtree DLC completely separate to the above editions, and is the cheapest of all the options.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree story details
Elden Ring’s story is rich and full of really intricate details if you know where to look. With intertwining family trees, lore-rich NPCs, and famous weapons and armor, you can see George R. R. Martin’s influence on the enthralling narrative.
Shadow of the Erdtree continues this, focusing more on the family aspect, delving deep into Miquella who is Malenia’s twin brother, as well as Radagon and Queen Marika’s children.
Miquella was born with the curse of never growing into an adult and as time passed, spawned his need to age in whatever way possible. This was when he utilized a cocoon and his blood to become one with the Haligtree in an effort to become an Erdtree.

However, he was not successful, and if you reach the Mohg Lord of Blood boss in the base game, you can see the aforementioned cocoon with Miquella’s arm seeping through the cracks.
It is here where you enter the DLC and into the Land of Shadow, where we expect that more will be revealed on this bloodline, hopefully clearing up Miquella’s fate.
The trailer above also showcased Mesmer – the scary looking guy dressed in warrior attire and appearing to control snakes. This is likely the final main boss of the DLC, and will likely hold the key to revealing the finale of the story.
Whatever the full story of Shadow of the Erdtree is, there’s one thing for certain – it’ll be complex and only unearthed through diving deep into every item and listening to every NPC.
How many bosses are in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?

There are at least ten new bosses that are introduced with Shadow of the Erdtree, with some potentially being as difficult as the infamous Malenia according to game director Hidetaka Miyazaki.
This will take Elden Ring’s total boss count to around 250, including both optional and required fights. Obviously this is a staggering number, and one that will likely be unmatched by anyone other than FromSoftware.
How big is Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?

Since the FromSoftware pattern for DLC releases is usually a two-part affair, the fact that Shadow of the Erdtree is one big, complete package means that you’re going to be spending some hours in it.
In fact, Miyazaki stated that Shadow of the Erdtree is the “largest expansion” FromSoftware has created “in terms of overall volume”. This translates to a whole new area that is larger than “Limgrave in the base game” coupled with even more dungeons to explore.
In fact, Miyazaki has even managed to squeeze in one of his trademark poison swamps into Shadow of the Erdtree. If you’re feeling shudders down your spine or even fully-fledged nightmares of Dark Souls’ Blighttown, you’re not alone…
Featured image: FromSoftware
The post Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree – everything we know: release date, trailer, story, and more appeared first on ReadWrite.

Antstream Arcade, a massive library of retro games available to Xbox owners and PC gamers for an annual fee of $30/year, is adding 14 new titles to the service this month.
The app launched in July 2023 and provides subscribers with instant access to over 1,300 classic titles. The games range from the Atari, through the NES, to the Game Boy, all the way up to the PlayStation 1 (calling the PlayStation 1 retro makes me concerned I might be about to crumble into dust) and more. As well as games, the service has sweetened the pot by providing tons of extra features and continually expanding its game library.
With their subscriptions, players gain access to over 600 minigame challenges, a vast number of which Antstream Arcade is adding to every month. There are global weekly tournaments for the really competitive players, and couch co-op for people looking to recapture the feeling of a classic games night.
Although $30 for an annual subscription to such a vast library plus extra features may seem like a great deal, it gets better: you can get a lifetime subscription for just $80. One subscription allows you access across all of your devices.

That (game) belongs in a museum! Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis has resurfaced from the depths of watery bugs & is back on Antstream! Have you played this classic Indy adventure? pic.twitter.com/4uuxloUZBg
— AntstreamGDC (@AntstreamArcade) March 12, 2024

What games are coming to Antstream Arcade in March?

Bristles (Arcade)  – can you navigate Peter the Painter through the house and paint every wall?
Demons of Asteborg (Arcade) – fight the demonic hoards and save your homeland in this action platformer.
Firelord (Amstrad) – explore the cursed kingdom of Torot and recover the four charms of eternal youth.
First Samurai (C64 and SNES) – a beat ’em up platformer that sees you defeating rival swordsmen to prevail as the first Samurai.
Hobgoblin (Amstrad) – cross the swamps of the hobgoblin hoards and retrieve the stolen Golden Orb.
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (Amiga) – help Indie discover the fate of Atlantis in this classic point-and-click adventure.
Mr. Tuff (SNES) – never originally released, now is your chance to check out this action platformer.
Pitstop (Atari) – put your foot down in this semi-first-person racing game and see if you can win the championship.
Pitstop 2 (Atari) – a more complex older brother to Pitstop which adds split-screen racing for two players.
R-Type (Arcade) – dive into this side-scrolling shooter and destroy the alien threat before they wipe out humankind!
Streak Hoverboard Racing (PS1) – famed for being extremely difficult, are you up to this racing challenge?
Switchblade (Arcade) – a side-scrolling run-and-gun action platformer where you must defeat the enemies and collect the shards of the Fireblade.
Xenon (Amstrad) – become a future space pilot in this vertical-scrolling shooter to help win the war against the aliens.

Antstream Arcade has also announced multiple future titles on their way to the platform, including the ultimate game night game, Worms Armageddon. Don’t forget to grab yourself an 8BitDo keyboard for maximum retro immersion.
The post 14 ‘new’ retro classics coming to Xbox this month appeared first on ReadWrite.

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 might actually be the most anticipated game ever created. The follow up to the incredibly successful GTA 5 has been something most, if not all gamers have been chomping at the bit for, seeking any shred of information.
Here, we’ll reveal all the details we have on the latest iteration of Rockstar’s biggest IP, hopefully providing insight into the release date, setting, characters, map, and much more.
What is the GTA 6 release date?
For the longest time, fans of the franchise were left completely in the dark when it came to any form of release date for what could be Rockstar’s magnum opus. However, thanks to the first official trailer, which dropped on December 3, 2023, we have a release window – 2025.
While this is still pretty vague, at least there is a year nailed down for when to expect Los Santos’ successor.
If we were to really take a look at the data, we can estimate a tighter release window. Based on previous Rockstar releases in recent times, there seems to be a trend of September-November launches thus meaning GTA 6 could fall into this same category.
Granted, anything other than the unclear ‘2025’ is speculation, and maybe trailer 2 will give us a little more insight.
All GTA 6 trailers
At this current time, there has been one trailer released for GTA 6, showcasing a bunch of details including the setting, main characters, and of course, an iconic backing track to go along with it.
Here is the aptly named ‘Trailer 1’ in all its glory:

When new trailers get released, we’ll be sure to give you direct links right here.
Where is GTA 6 set?

Contrary to GTA 5, GTA 6 is set in the fictional state of Leonida, where Vice City is also situated. This game world draws huge comparisons to that of Florida, backed up not only by the reimagining of Miami clone Vice City, but also swamplands, real-life events, and various key areas in the state.
This is a pretty big departure from that of Los Santos but one that is being welcomed with open arms by fans both new and old. Vice City has always been a huge fan-favorite area, and with Rockstar stating that what they have created is “the most immersive” world the Grand Theft Auto franchise has seen, it’s one you will almost certainly lose countless hours in.
Who are the GTA 6 main characters?

Based on GTA 6’s first trailer, there are two main characters that look to be playable – Lucia and a currently unnamed male. Both of these appear to be criminals, wanting to secure a quick buck in whatever way possible.
GTA 5 had a three-pronged affair, allowing you to switch between Michael, Trevor, and Franklin, creating a multi-layered story beloved my millions of gamers. With seemingly one less main protagonist thrown into the mix, this will almost certainly streamline any character switching, and may even offer the chance for simple co-op action if the feature is introduced.
Naturally, there will be an army of side characters that you will meet along the way to becoming the most wanted criminal in Leonida, but these will come and go, even if they do join you on various missions.
How big is the GTA 6 map?

As we’ve previously stated, you’ll be dropped into the Florida clone Leonida which encompasses various areas, including Vice City.
The real life Florida is a pretty large state coming in at approximately 140km2. So, if this is translated into game form, it would almost be double that of GTA 5’s map which is around 75km2 in size.
With this being said though, according to Bloomberg, the initial plan for GTA 6 was to have a map that spanned both North and South America. This would mean that an almost unheard of playable space could have been made available and one that would surely have been full of all types of shenanigans.
However, sadly, these plans were cut back, with a focus more on the aforementioned Leonida region.
How much is GTA 6?
Here we come to one of the hottest topics surrounding the game. There has been much speculation on the GTA 6 price, with leaks suggesting it will cost around $150. However, there has been no concrete evidence stating this figure is correct.
What is more likely is that it falls in line with the current game prices at around $70. But, considering that GTA is reportedly costing $1-2 billion to make, it could also be one of the first mainstream titles to launch with a $80-$90 price tag for the base game.
What platforms is GTA 6 on?
According to GTA 6 trailer 1, followed up by an official press release from parent company Take Two, the game will officially be launching on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles.
‘Where is PC?’ I hear you ask. Well, unfortunately, it appears GTA 6 will follow the trend of Rockstar releases where it will launch after the initial console release window. We hope this will be less than a year but it would not be surprising if the developer chose to do this, ensuring the port is as bug-free as possible.
Being a 2025 launch, as you would expect, Xbox One and PS4 consoles will be getting left in the dark on this one. But, considering the base versions of these systems will be a whopping 12 years old at that point, it’s likely a game of this ilk wouldn’t be able to run regardless.
Featured image: Rockstar
The post GTA 6 – Release date, trailers, setting, and everything we know so far appeared first on ReadWrite.