Dark Souls 2 Has a Hidden Connection to Elden Ring’s Erdtree That is Further Proof it’s All One Hidetaka Miyazaki Universe

There’s no doubt that Elden Ring‘s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is one of the best DLCs we’ve ever seen for a game. The expansion added to the already epic base game with the classic FromSoftware magic that gamers had been desperate for years now.

The latest Elden Ring DLC has also proven to be a delight for all Easter egg hunters, as it’s packed with bridges, items, hidden walls, and a lot more. Gamers have even gone back to older FromSoftware titles to find references to the expansion. One of these discoveries connects the game with FromSoftware’s legendary Dark Souls 2, proving that it’s all part of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s plan.

Elden Ring‘s Erdtree Reference in Dark Souls 2

Well, the opinions vary widely on FromSoftware’s Dark Souls 2, depending on who you ask. Some gamers have called it as the worst Dark Souls game to date, while others have praised it as the black sheep of the series. Still, according to Hidetaka Miyazaki, it shaped many ideas that were carried forward to the legendary Elden Ring.

On Reddit, when one gamer was adventuring in Drangleic Castle, they ran into a tree motif on the castle’s door, which might seem similar if you’ve played the Erdtree expansion.

The true Erdtree was in DS2 all along.
byu/Peppe1203 inEldenring

While the tree motif represents the Cycle of Life and Death in the Dark Souls sequel, it’s a clear reference to the magical tree from the Elden Ring expansion. FromSoftware has cleverly picked such unique aspects in previous hits and brought them to the expansion.

That’s not all! Erdtree expansion brings several more references to the Dark Souls sequel, such as Aldia’s Keep being Midra’s Manse. Dragonbarrow is clearly a throwback to Dragon Aerie, and Rauh plays in the same way as Forest of the Fallen Giants.

Ever since Elden Ring hit the shelves, it has often drawn comparisons to the Dark Souls franchise. Right from the philosophy that your destiny may be of a ruler/monarchy to both games emphasizing freedom exploration, alongside mechanic stuff such as Power-standing, both games have a lot in common, so it’s not surprising to see Elden Ring being dubbed as a Dark Souls 2-2.

Hidetaka Miyazaki Might not Direct The Next Souslike Game

It’s a known fact that Miyazaki has played a crucial role in giving us the most legendary titles, such as Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring. It’s all due to his efforts and cleverness that these games are connected in one way or another. However, there’s a chance that might not be the case in the future.

In an interview with IGN, Miyazaki stated that it’s highly likely that FromSoftware “delegates the responsibility of director” for the next Soulslike projects to other people within the studio, with him stepping away even from supervising duties for the games.

Yes, I think it’s very likely that we’ll see new directors going forward. And I think if we do that, I’d like to step away from that supervisory role and give them full direction and full control over those projects. I think really this is the best way and the easiest way for them to flourish within that environment and with those new projects.

FromSoftware is not yet ready to reveal its next project, but the company is learning from its previous success when developing its next game. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that even without Miyazaki’s magic, the future titles do end up breaking records again.

With that said, have you found any other references to Erdtree in older FromSoftware titles? If so, let us know in the comments below.