Over the years, FromSoftware has introduced several popular intellectual properties (IPs), many of which have thrived due to sequels. Their first IP, King’s Field, launched in 1994 and remained a staple for about a decade. Meanwhile, Armored Core has been going strong for over 25 years, and the Dark Souls trilogy captivated audiences for five years. These successes were largely sequel-driven. Elden Ring, however, is breaking the mold.
Almost three years after its release, Elden Ring is still widely discussed, not because it spawned sequels but due to its strategic post-launch content. Instead of going the usual sequel route, Elden Ring expanded its story with a massive expansion and teased an upcoming multiplayer spin-off. This approach could set a new precedent for future FromSoftware titles.
When it comes to DLCs, FromSoftware isn’t new to the game, as shown by the post-launch content that accompanied the Dark Souls trilogy, keeping those games in the spotlight for years. Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, however, has set the bar even higher for what players can expect from future DLCs by the company.
This expansion introduces a vast new world to explore, over 80 fresh boss battles, eight new weapon classes, and numerous new questlines. Essentially, Shadow of the Erdtree feels like a half-sequel to the original game released in 2022. The enormous excitement surrounding this expansion has reignited interest in Elden Ring, even years after its release, and the abundance of new content will likely keep it relevant for a long time.
Developing Shadow of the Erdtree took about two years, which is potentially a shorter time frame than creating a full sequel to Elden Ring. By leveraging existing assets and the game’s core structure, FromSoftware managed to deliver substantial new content. This approach of large-scale expansions could serve as a model for future FromSoftware IPs that may not justify a sequel but still have enough popularity to warrant additional content.
Looking ahead, FromSoftware is keeping the Elden Ring brand alive with the upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign. This spin-off is a 3-player co-op roguelike designed for high replayability. While it’s yet to be seen how successful this venture will be, Elden Ring Nightreign’s development illustrates how IPs can be extended beyond the conventional sequel or expansion, offering fans fresh experiences.
In the past, several FromSoftware IPs, despite their popularity, were not expanded upon after just one installment, which left a lot of potential untapped. Bloodborne and Sekiro are prime examples. Though Bloodborne did receive a well-received DLC, both games seem to have unfulfilled potential that might have been unlocked had they followed a path similar to Elden Ring’s post-launch journey.
