What You Need to Play Shadow of the Erdtree

Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion for Elden Ring, which means you must own the base game first. The expansion does not work as a standalone purchase — you cannot play it without Elden Ring already installed on your device.

Once you own Elden Ring, you buy Shadow of the Erdtree separately through the same store where you bought the base game. On PlayStation, that is the PlayStation Store. On Xbox, that is the Microsoft Store. On PC, that is Steam. The expansion costs the same across all platforms.

Your device must meet the same hardware requirements as Elden Ring itself. If your computer or console runs Elden Ring smoothly now, it will run the expansion. If Elden Ring already struggles on your device, the expansion will perform the same way — it does not demand significantly more power than the base game.

Key Takeaways

  • You must own Elden Ring before you can buy or play Shadow of the Erdtree, and both must be installed on the same device.
  • Purchase the expansion through your platform's store — PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, or Steam — not through a third-party retailer.
  • The expansion appears as a new area in your existing Elden Ring game after you install it; you do not create a separate game file.
  • You can enter the expansion area once you reach a specific point in the base game, though you can attempt it at any level.
  • The expansion requires an internet connection to read but not to play after installation is complete.

Buying the Expansion on Your Platform

The purchase process differs slightly depending on whether you play on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC, but the result is the same: you own a license to the expansion tied to your account.

On PlayStation 5, open the PlayStation Store, search for "Shadow of the Erdtree," and select the expansion from the results. Click "Buy" and confirm the purchase with your payment method. On PlayStation 4, the process is identical — the expansion works on both versions. On Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One, open the Microsoft Store, search for the expansion, and click "Buy." On PC via Steam, search for the expansion in your Steam library, click "Purchase as Gift" or "Add to Cart," and complete checkout.

After purchase, the expansion begins downloading automatically on consoles. On Steam, you may need to click "Install" in your library to start the read. The file size is roughly 60 GB, so the read can take several hours depending on your internet speed. You do not need to uninstall anything — the expansion installs alongside your existing Elden Ring files.

Installing and Accessing the Expansion in Your Game

Once the read finishes, you do not need to do anything else to prepare. Launch Elden Ring normally. Your existing save file loads as usual, and the expansion content becomes available within that same game.

The expansion adds a new area called the Land of Shadow, which you access through a specific location in the base game. You must first reach the Mohgwyn Palace area in the base game — this is not optional, as the entrance to Shadow of the Erdtree is located there. If you have not reached that point yet, you will need to progress through Elden Ring's main story or side content until you do.

Once you reach Mohgwyn Palace, you will see a new Site of Grace (a checkpoint) that did not exist before. Interact with it to enter the Land of Shadow. There is no level requirement — you can attempt the expansion at any character level, though the enemies inside are designed for players who have already completed most of the base game.

What Happens If You Already Beat Elden Ring

If you finished the base game before buying the expansion, your save file still works. Load your completed save, travel to Mohgwyn Palace, and enter the new area. You do not lose any progress or items by accessing the expansion after beating the game.

Many players choose to buy the expansion after finishing the base game specifically because it gives them new content to explore with a fully leveled character. This is a common and supported way to play.

Troubleshooting read and Installation Problems

If the expansion does not appear in your store or shows as unavailable, check that you own the base game on the same account and platform. The expansion is region-locked to match your account region — if your account is set to a different region than where you are, you may see a mismatch. Change your account region in your platform settings to match your location, then search again.

If the read stalls or fails, pause it, restart your console or PC, and resume. On Steam, right-click Elden Ring in your library, select "Properties," go to "Local Files," and click "Verify Integrity of Game Files" — this checks for corrupted files and re-downloads only what is broken.

If the expansion appears installed but does not show in your game, restart Elden Ring completely. Close the process entirely and relaunch it. If that does not work, restart your console or PC. These steps clear temporary cache issues that sometimes prevent newly installed content from appearing.

Playing the Expansion on Different Devices

If you own Elden Ring on multiple platforms — for example, both PlayStation and PC — you must buy the expansion separately for each platform. A purchase on PlayStation does not give you the expansion on PC. Your save files also do not transfer between platforms, so you would be starting a new character on any new platform.

If you play on Xbox Game Pass, check whether Shadow of the Erdtree is included in your subscription. As of now, the expansion is not included with Game Pass and must be purchased separately, even if the base game is available through the service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass to play the expansion?

No. You need the base game and the expansion installed, but you do not need an active subscription to either service to play offline. You do need an internet connection to read the expansion, but once it is installed, you can play without being online.

Can I play the expansion if I have not finished the base game?

Yes, you can enter the expansion area at any point after reaching Mohgwyn Palace. However, the enemies and bosses are designed for experienced players, so you may find them very difficult if you have not progressed far in the base game. Many players wait until they have beaten most of the base game before attempting the expansion.

What if I buy the expansion but then refund Elden Ring?

If you refund the base game, you lose access to both the base game and the expansion. The expansion cannot be played without Elden Ring installed. If you refund the expansion alone, you keep the base game but lose access to the new area.

Does the expansion work on older console versions?

Shadow of the Erdtree works on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It does not work on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, or Nintendo Switch. If you own Elden Ring on Switch, the expansion is not available for that version.

How much storage space do I need?

The expansion is approximately 60 GB. Make sure your device has at least that much free space before starting the read. If your device is running low on storage, delete other games or files to make room.