Elden Ring DLC launches to "Mixed" reviews as players bemoan difficulty, PC performance in Shadow of the Erdtree: "There's a big problem with balancing"

Elden Ring.

What you need to know

• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a massive 30-40 hour DLC for FromSoftware's 2022 Game of the Year-winning open world ARPG, complete with a huge new map and 10 new major bosses to challenge.
• Though it launched as the highest critically reviewed expansion of all time, it currently has a "Mixed" review score from players on Steam.
• Most players bemoan the DLC's difficulty, which is very high even for a Souls-style experience. Many also complain that its enemies and bosses fight unfairly, and some report PC performance issues such as framerate drops and stutters.
• Having reviewed Shadow of the Erdtree from start to finish, I think players need to have more patience and understand that they have to be active and aggressive while fighting bosses, rather than passive. If you're struggling, try rolling through their attacks towards them so you have more time to get hits of your own in.