FromSoftware's latest DLC for Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree, has gained a reputation for its punishing difficulty, leaving even the most seasoned gamers questioning their abilities.
While some streamers are pushing through the challenges of Shadow of the Erdtree, others have decided that enough is enough. Here's a look at who's sticking it out and who's calling it quits.
Streamers Who Quit
Asmongold
Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has proven to be too much of a challenge for popular streamer Asmongold. During a stream on June 22, when asked if he was done with the game, Asmongold replied, "I might give it another day, but I don't know. I think I'm pretty much done." He explained his decision by saying, "I think the DLC is too hard to be fun. If every single attack combo stuns you, and then you get locked into an animation, and then you get insta-killed... I could beat it, but I just don't really want to". This admission led to criticism on Reddit, with users mocking his choice and pointing out a perceived lack of hypocrisy.
Jynxzi
Twitch streamer Nicholas 'Jynxzi' Stewart also abandoned his Elden Ring marathon after just two days. Despite promising a marathon stream until he finished the game, Jynxzi admitted defeat after struggling for three hours to defeat Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy. On the stream, he confessed, "I'm a quitter. I'm a quitting piece of s**t," admitting that the game "broke" him. Although Jynxzi plans to continue playing Elden Ring, it will no longer be in the marathon format, which his followers see as an admission of defeat.
Streamers Who Almost Quit
Mizkif
Twitch streamer Mizkif faced his own trials with Elden Ring. His journey was filled with numerous deaths, culminating in a nearly disastrous encounter with the final boss, the Elden Beast. After 4.5 hours of defeats, Mizkif finally overcame the beast, but not without a dramatic near-quit moment. Exhausted from his long session, Mizkif's frustration peaked when he was on the brink of victory, only to be struck down by the boss at the last moment. He expressed his frustration on social media, saying, "I hate my life." Despite the setback, he eventually triumphed, being the stubbornness that many find necessary for Soulslike games.
Streamers Still Playing the DLC
Kai Cenat
Ultra-popular Twitch streamer Kai Cenat dove headfirst into the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, launching a marathon stream to tackle the new challenges. Laughing off suggestions that the DLC is overly difficult, Cenat commented, “It’s a skill issue. Put your big boy pants on, get out there, and go fight.” Since the DLC's release, Cenat has been engaged in a relentless stream, already hitting the 55-hour mark with over 620 deaths. Despite the grueling gameplay, he remains positive and determined to conquer the final boss.
Of course, he is not the only streamer still biting his teeth on the Elden Ring - you can see many other streamers trying to defeat the bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree on Twitch.
Streamers Who Finished the DLC
xQc
After several public ragequits, xQc finally completed the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, racking up 614 deaths in the process. The final boss, Promised Consort Radahn, proved particularly challenging, accounting for over a hundred of those deaths. Frustration led xQc to quit temporarily, but he ultimately returned and finished the DLC on June 23. In his review, xQc criticized the prevailing positive opinions, suggesting that players feel pressured to conform. He described the experience as less than perfect, stating, “It’s not a 10 out of 10.”
As the "Shadow of the Erdtree" DLC continues to test the limits of players, it remains to be seen how many will rise to the challenge and how many will step back.