Elden Ring Nightreign The Forsaken Hollows DLC receives mixed reviews due to its lack of new weapons. Read on to learn more about what fans think about the expansion and the future of the game.
Elden Ring Nightreign Forsaken Hollows DLC Mixed Reviews
Lack of New Content
Elden Ring Nightreign’s The Forsaken Hollows DLC was met with mixed reviews due to its lack of new content. Based on the expansion’s official Steam page, as of writing, 51% of the DLC’s reviews are negative.
Following its release, fans criticized the expansion’s lack of content, particularly the absence of new, non-character-specific weapons, Ashes of War, spells, or gear. Before the expansion’s launch, fans noticed that FromSoftware was scarce on giving information about its inclusions, which raised some concerns.
Although the studio delivered on its promise of bringing two new characters, additional bosses, and a new map, many expected the DLC to include more content, particularly adding Shadow of the Erdtree weapons. Meanwhile, in terms of the actual content, others noted that the new character-specific weapons are just reskins of a basic hammer and thrusting sword.
One review stated, "Why didn't they add the ER DLC weapons, Ashes of War, or spells? That feels like a MASSIVE mistake, and I am genuinely heartbroken that we can't get those items in this game."
The Forsaken Hollows introduces two new playable Nightfarers: Undertaker and Scholar, each with their own signature weapon. It also includes two new day-three bosses with The Balancers, a group of angelic sentinels, and The Dreglord, the final boss of the DLC.
Additionally, players can also encounter new field bosses in their expedition, such as Dark Souls’ Knight Artorias, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree’s Divine Beast Dancing Lion, and Dark Souls III’s Demon Prince.
Furthermore, the DLC introduces a new, cataclysmic map event, "The Great Hollow," which creates a deep cavity in Limveld, offering a major new area to explore. The overall map of Limveld is updated with new areas and secrets to discover, specifically tied to the new Shifting Earth condition.
With the Forsaken Hollows now available, the community is disappointed with its inclusions (or lack thereof), especially when compared to the high standard set by the studio's previous major DLCs, such as Shadow of the Erdtree for Elden Ring or the expansions for the Dark Souls series.
Foggy Future
After the Forsaken Hollows DLC, it is uncertain whether Nightreign will receive another major expansion. Considering FromSoftware’s previous titles, it is improbable that there will be a second major, paid DLC, as the studio typically concludes support for a title after one large expansion.
This trend is evident in their titles: Bloodborne received only The Old Hunters DLC, and Elden Ring released its sole major expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree. The most notable exception to this pattern is Dark Souls III (2016), which received two distinct major DLCs: Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City.
It is important to note, however, that Dark Souls III received two expansions, as it was the final game in the Dark Souls trilogy. The two DLCs were designed to wrap up the entire series' lore and story, essentially serving as a massive, two-part grand finale for the franchise, which required two separate releases.
Although it is unlikely that Nightreign will follow the rare exception of Dark Souls III, it is expected that it will continue to have smaller updates, such as integrating the new DLC bosses and the Great Hollow Shifting Earth event into the Deep of Night mode and other base game expeditions.
Further patches could also see the new Nightlords receive their own Everdark Sovereign variants and other balancing fixes. Moreover, FromSoftware will also release another multiplayer Soulslike action game in 2026 with The Duskbloods, which lowers the chances of Nightreign receiving another major DLC.
Elden Ring Nightreign’s The Forsaken Hollows DLC is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. To stay up to date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below!
Source:
ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN The Forsaken Hollows Steam page
