FromSoftware’s latest add-on, Elden Ring Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows, has shot past the one-million mark in no time, yet angry comments are piling up on Steam. The co-op, roguelike-flavored spin-off already proved itself a solid expansion of the Elden Ring universe, but many players feel the new DLC asks for too much and gives back too little. The stats look fantastic, yet the “Mixed” rating and frustrated reviews suggest this is not the triumphant victory lap FromSoftware was hoping for.

It has not been long since the launch of Elden Ring: Nightreign, but the co-op spin-off with roguelike mechanics has quickly shown that it is a worthy addition to the Elden Ring universe. On its own, the game already delivered a complete, satisfying experience, yet fans understandably wanted a larger expansion with extra areas, fresh bosses, new classes, and striking environments. That wish is what the newly released DLC, The Forsaken Hollows, is supposed to fulfill, although its reception so far has been anything but unanimous.

Record Sales, “Mixed” Reviews

The raw numbers tell a very clear story. Elden Ring Nightreign remains a money-printing machine, with more than 5 million copies sold worldwide, and its first DLC is not doing badly either. Bandai Namco has confirmed that the debut expansion, The Forsaken Hollows, surpassed 2 million units sold just 48 hours after its December 4 launch. This is particularly impressive because the game’s retention rate is extremely high, with a large percentage of Nightreign owners immediately picking up the DLC as well.

The Steam ratings, however, are far less flattering. The DLC currently sits at a “Mixed” verdict, with only around half of the posted reviews marked as positive. On paper, the package does not look especially stingy: it introduces two new playable characters, the Scholar and Gravedigger classes, a dynamic new zone, two major bosses, and some extra content that slightly reshapes certain areas of the launch maps. All of that comes at a price point of about €15.

The real trouble starts with how the content feels in practice. A large portion of the community describes a strong sense of recycling. Many players complain that the new class weapons are basically redesigned versions of a basic hammer and a basic sword from the base game, without fresh mechanics or distinctive moves that would justify the purchase. One Steam user puts it bluntly: “How is it possible that there are no new weapons other than the two features that the new characters bring? And those are just redesigned versions of a basic hammer and a basic sword. It’s very disappointing.”

The other main target of criticism is the new map, which many describe as overly convoluted and downright frustrating. Another player writes that the area is “incredibly difficult to traverse. I felt as empty as the Shifting Earth while playing this content. I’m deeply disappointed with FromSoftware, as I expected higher quality from them, even if it’s a cheaper DLC.” Verticality is pushed to the extreme, and it is easy to die from seemingly pointless falls into gigantic chasms scattered throughout the level.

The experience is further complicated by a frequently appearing freezing fog that can chip away at your health long before combat even starts, making fights harder and constantly slowing down progression. Many players report that it is not so much the enemies, but the environment and “invisible” traps that turn the DLC into an exercise in frustration, with paths that look like the correct route often turning out to be dead ends.

Even so, most fans agree that the boss fights still deliver what people expect from FromSoftware. Once you manage to survive the platformer-like hell of the new map, the major encounters are spectacular, memorable, and retain the intense level of challenge that made so many players fall in love with the studio’s games. The Japanese developer may respond quickly with patches to smooth out the roughest navigation issues and perhaps expand the weapon lineup to address current complaints.

In the end, The Forsaken Hollows feels like both a success and a warning sign. Financially, it has enjoyed a powerful start, yet the audience is clearly signaling that sheer quantity is no longer enough. FromSoftware now has to prove that behind the enormous brand name there is still the creativity and freshness that turned Elden Ring and its siblings into modern legends in the first place.

Source: 3djuegos