I’m Glad Atlus & SE Changed Dates To Avoid Competing With Shadow Of The Erdtree

The gaming industry is an extremely competitive space where timing holds great significance. Many titles, considered great by fans and critics alike, have failed to find their legs because of performance issues and release windows. Two years after shaking the firmament, Elden Ring is about to make history once more with Shadow of the Erdtree.

But the interesting part here isn’t the DLC itself, it’s what happened to the other high-profile names releasing around the expansion this June.

Yes, I’m talking about Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance and Final Fantasy 14’s next expansion—Dawntrail.

Shadow Of The Erdtree Left A Mark With Its Announcement

Elden Ring is perhaps one of the most, if not the most, influential games within the last decade. FromSoftware has continually left a mark in the industry with its Soulsborne titles and definitive mastery of the genre it pioneered, something that many have tried to replicate in vain.

When it comes to DLCs, the studio has missed only twice. Curious? The first time it missed was Ashes of Ariandel in Dark Souls 3. Second was Sekiro because it didn’t get any post-launch expansions.

What do y’all think about shadow of the erdtree trailer!
byu/chadbozeb2 inEldenring

Shadow Of The Erdtree has been the talk of the town since the launch of Elden Ring back in February 2022, when it was all speculation and the name was unknown. Fast forward to the announcement tweet and the lore theorists had a field day with just one picture.

People have their opinions and I have mine. You won’t have to look far to find individuals who loathe FromSoftware’s cryptic storytelling and creative choices.

I’m not one of them.

I believe it’s a highly intriguing way to tell a story that fits well with the worlds this studio crafts. Additionally, it builds a sense of community where people often band together to theorycraft possibilities and that’s nothing if not jolly cooperation.

Fromsoft’s style of telling stories (or rather not telling stories) is fine and it’s an important part of what makes these games uniquely appealing
byu/jearley99 inEldenring

Rarely do games manage to live up to their hype. Elden Ring delivered on and surpassed it. Shadow of the Erdtree is poised to do the same.

But this is where my concern arises for other titles, particularly SMT V: Vengeance.

I Believe SMT V: Vengeance Needs A Clear Shot At Going Multiplatform

Atlus is widely known for the Megami Tensei games. Yet, the only thing in the franchise that managed to go mainstream is the Persona spin-off series. Following the creative & aesthetic overhaul in the original third entry, the studio has seen astronomical growth in its Western audience, with a decent bit even discovering the mainline titles.

Despite that, Shin Megami Tensei is still fairly niche in comparison to what Persona has become. After the disappointment of Soul Hackers 2 (another Megami Tensei title), Atlus needs a clean shot at going multiplatform once more as SMT V: Vengeance nears its launch. 

Nothing spells a “clear shot” better than staying away from Shadow of the Erdtree. I don’t have to explain what makes this expansion a game killer, especially when the potential new audience is FromSoftware fans observing your title with curiosity or Persona fans who probably can’t get past the lack of Social Links and dark themes of Shin Megami Tensei.

June 14th, 2024 ✅

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is arriving one week earlier! Harness your power and dictate the fate of all existence: https://t.co/jCr9hPK47d pic.twitter.com/86WEZZFuDE

— Official ATLUS West (@Atlus_West) March 21, 2024

Horizon games have had a bad luck streak with releasing on the most inopportune times & Soul Hackers 2 was a disappointing experiment. Plus, SMT V originally had a ton of issues which are being addressed in this re-release along with the obvious benefits of being released from the Nintendo Switch prison.

Moving on to Square Enix, delaying Dawntrail is a rather interesting gesture. Here’s why.

Yoshi-P Delayed FF14 Dawntrail For The Elden Ring DLC

Final Fantasy 14 has a dedicated audience of players. You’d think Shadow of the Erdtree wouldn’t have an impact on it but that’s false. Players are drawn to experiences; many in the FF14 community enjoy FromSoftware titles and what better way to show general respect and courtesy than to respect your fanbase’s time? Granted it’s likely a business decision, but the factors were considered regardless.

During the FFXIV: Dawntrail showcase. Yoshi-P announced that the expansion would be delayed by a week to allow people to play Shadow of the Erdtree
byu/Fluffy_957 inEldenring

FF14 is an MMORPG, something that’s time-intensive by default. On the other hand, Elden Ring is a punishing title that requires commitment and repetition. If tradition and history tell us something, it’s that FromSoftware dials it up to 11 with the DLCs. That tells me all I need to know about Shadow of the Erdtree. 

Coming back on topic, Yoshi-P delayed the release of his project stating that people would be inclined to play the Elden Ring DLC so he gave them one week. That’s a respectful gesture and shows why more developers need to be aware of the industry and its consumers.

Having someone who loves playing games just as much as they love making them is the only thing that can get this space out of the funk it’s in.

Conspiracy theorists might want to believe otherwise but some indicators prove the authenticity of his gesture. Besides, delaying its launch will ensure greater interaction by both old and new players. How do I know? Thanks to an anecdote. 

Incompatible Release Windows Are Never Favorable

Back when Elden Ring was about to hit the shelves, my friend and I found ourselves rushing to clear the latest Savage Raid in FF14 so we could enjoy The Lands Between in peace. Square Enix launched the Endwalker expansion in December of 2021 and we faced some difficulty during raid progression in the first two months of 2022. 

It was sheer chaos as anticipation for Elden Ring continued to build along with the stress of real life and FF14. That pressure is what you shouldn’t put on players; having good release windows helps with that.

After how Atlus and Square Enix set an example, I hope more companies will make it a point to have a better launch schedule for their games.