Summary
Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is without a doubt one of the best video game DLCs ever made. In fact, it has gone down in history as thehighest-rated DLC ever made, with an OpenCritic and Metacritic score of 94. Much of this is due to it feeling like a brand-new game entirely, with a new map, 70 weapons, 39 talismans, and numerous spells and armor sets. However, it accomplished something else for the legacy ofElden Ringthat Capcom’sMonster Hunter Wildsmay want to consider incorporating in a future expansion.
While it has yet to be announced,Monster Hunter Wildsis expected to receive a full-size expansion at some point, just asMonster Hunter: WorldandMonster Hunter Risedid before it with Iceborne and Sunbreak, respectively. When that expansion does finally arrive, it would be remiss not to examine what made Shadow of the Erdtree so successful, in addition to what the DLC did to counter some initial criticisms ofElden Ring.Monster Hunter Wildshas been performing admirably since its release, but it hasn’t been able to escape one of the same criticisms thatElden Ringreceived at launch that its own Shadow of the Erdtree moment could remedy.
Monster Hunter Wilds May Need Its Own Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion
Shadow of the Erdtree Was Known for Being Far More Difficult Than Elden Ring
Elden Ringis certainly an excellent game, and its enduring appeal has proven that. SinceElden Ring’s release, FromSoftware has invested even more in the IP, including the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and the upcoming spin-off,Elden Ring Nightreign, which is even more telling of the base game’s popularity. Despite its success, however,Elden Ringwas unable to avoid controversy, as it seemed to cater more to newcomers than FromSoftware veterans by offering a more accessible experience than the developer was known for.
While it has yet to be announced,Monster Hunter Wildsis expected to receive a full-size expansion at some point, just asMonster Hunter: WorldandMonster Hunter Risedid before it with Iceborne and Sunbreak, respectively.
Shadow of the Erdtree then came along a little over two years later with a solution: offer players a far more challenging experience thanElden Ringwas known for, and perhaps that controversy would fade away. As it turned out,Shadow of the Erdtree was so arduousthat it simultaneously stirred another controversy regarding its difficulty, with some players claiming it was far too hard. That being said, it was still proof that FromSoftware had been listening to feedback and chose to respond accordingly.
Monster Hunter Wilds' Difficulty Criticisms Might Be Quelled With a Challenging Expansion
Now,Monster Hunter Wildshas found itself in a similar position toElden Ringat launch, offering up what is arguably themost accessibleMonster Hunterexperience to date, and, likeElden Ringdid before it, stirring up discourse between longtime fans of the series and newcomers. TheMonster Hunterfranchise has always been known for its challenging gameplay, as it has long refrained from including difficulty sliders and instead integrates its difficulty directly into the monsters themselves. As such, only players who are committed enough to learning the behaviors of monsters and doing what it takes to survive have been able to get the most out of the series' gameplay.
At the end of the day, difficulty is subjective, but there are clear features inMonster Hunter Wildsthat do objectively make the game easier than past entries.
Monster Hunter Wilds, on the other hand, is even more accessible thanMonster Hunter: Worldwas at launch, which was also met with controversy for the same reason. In light of all this,Monster Hunter Wildsmight need its own Shadow of the Erdtree moment to rebuild trust with series veterans. This would mean offering players an expansion that is as challenging as atraditionalMonster Huntergame, and perhaps one that is even as substantial in what it adds to the base game as Shadow of the Erdtree was forElden Ring. While time will tell whetherMonster Hunter Wildsmoves in this direction with its expansion, it is at least almost guaranteed that an expansion of some kind will eventually arrive.
