Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree's Map Boasts a "Better Sense of Verticality"

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is just around the corner, and in typical FromSoftware fashion, it promises to be a monumental release. The expansion aims to significantly enhance the acclaimed 2022 open-world action RPG, introducing new weapons, summons, dungeons, bosses, and more, all within a sprawling new map for players to explore.

This new map is not just a substantial addition to the game's already expansive world; it also offers a fresh experience thanks to a new design approach by FromSoftware. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, director Hidetaka Miyazaki shared insights into this innovative design philosophy.

Miyazaki explained that with Shadow of the Erdtree's map, the developers aimed to blend the design elements of legacy dungeons with Elden Ring's more open-ended areas. This approach creates open field areas with greater variety and enhanced verticality.

"What we tried to achieve this time is something that's not a quite open field and not quite legacy dungeon, but something that kind of blends the two together and creates that better sense of verticality," Miyazaki said. "While you do have the large open field area, we wanted to not just capture the sense of scale and granularity, but the sense of variety as well. We tried to add to the variety of how we space out and structure the open field and legacy dungeons."

The new design aims to provide players with a richer exploration experience, combining the vast, open landscapes typical of Elden Ring with the intricate, multi-layered environments found in legacy dungeons. This integration is expected to deliver a more immersive and engaging gameplay experience, with diverse terrains and elevations that challenge players in new ways.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree launches for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC on June 21. For details on the exact release times in different regions across the world, you can check MMOexp to ensure you're ready to dive into the new content as soon as it goes live. MMOexp also offers Elden Ring Runes and Elden Ring Items. If you want, get involved and get the best game experience by purchasing the cheapest Elden Ring Runes from MMOexp.