Gaming

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree review: Game of the year again?

Back with new challenges

Published

July 5, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

Since the launch of Elden Ring in 2022, the gaming industry started a love affair with Soulslike difficulty. From the cutesy stylings of Another Crab’s Treasure to the bodacious Stellar Blade, it’s a great time for those who prefer working for their victories. But, of course, nothing beats the king. FromSoftware is back with Elden Ring’s first DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree.

After beating the Lord of Blood, the Tarnished find themselves transported to the Land of Shadow. Kindly Miquella has invited several people from the Lands Between to follow in his footsteps. In what can only be described as a perilous Stations of the Cross, players must fight tooth and nail to figure out what happened to the missing demigod. Naturally, as is always the case with FromSoftware, things are not what they seem.

A little bit of everything

Shadow of the Erdtree’s map slots nicely into the space within the original game’s map. Imagine a crescent moon. While the lit part represents the main game, the DLC is the dark part (or, quite literally, the shadow of the Erdtree).

The DLC costs quite a bit for just an addition to an already packed game. However, its sheer size makes the cost of entry more than worth it.

It also helps that the DLC has a little bit of everything you loved from the main game. Forces associated with all the demigods are converging around the area. Magic-wielding Carians, finger monsters, dragons, new weapons. It’s a veritable who’s who of the Lands Between.

Then again, it also has the things you might have hated. Scarlet rot, losing the boss because of the camera, platforming challenges that require a ballerina’s finesse. There are a lot of things that can make you pull your hair out. Then again, that’s part of the charm.

If you want to rekindle your love (or hatred) for Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree is a must-have.

Some jolly cooperation

Besides bringing back elements from the main game, Shadow of the Erdtree comes with FromSoftware’s iconic level design. Segments connect so seamlessly. In one moment, you could be riding through a vast landscape on Torrent. In the next, you’re already knee-deep inside a dungeon. The DLC resurrects that brilliant feeling of getting lost.

Yes, getting lost isn’t the best feeling. However, almost every diverging path ends in a well-deserved reward. Oh yeah, and tough boss fights.

Being a tough game, the title makes cooperation even more important. While a lot of them still troll others, a lot of player messages help others by telling them of secret passages, unseen ambushes, and preferable battle tactics. Personally, I’ve also been chatting with friends about their experiences with bosses. It’s satisfying to know that you’re not the only one subjecting yourself to such masochism.

FromSoftware knows how to make boss fights challenging but fair. Plus, even in those moments where victory seems impossible, the game relies on its wide fanbase to create that feeling of a shared experience.

A few technical difficulties

That said, there are a few segments that are poorly optimized for modern systems. Framerates will drop unexpectedly. In a tough game like this, a few missed frames can spell disaster during a tense boss fight.

Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, FromSoftware has not released a significant optimization patch to solve the issues. Bandai Namco has only issued statements asking players to turn off third-party software which might be hogging resources away from the game.

Additionally, a few boss fights don’t feel fair. One example is a knight riding a large boar. The fight starts off with the boss immediately charging at the player with a move almost impossible to dodge. It’s a battle that almost requires you to use up one health item right off the bat. Thankfully, FromSoftware has just issued a patch that changes the boss’ positioning. It means that the studio is willing to listen to its players, and it also means that the issues presented in this section might not even apply to a patched game months after this review.

Plunge into Elden Ring again

Shadow of the Erdtree is more than just a DLC for Elden Ring. Essentially, it’s an entirely new world to explore. It’s filled with new enemies, weapons, challenges, and frustrations. If you’re a fan of FromSoftware, you’d know that their DLCs always hit. If you’re only familiar with Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree offers more of the same, but that’s all you’ll need from a FromSoftware game. The DLC is well worth the purchase.

Related Topics:Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Gaming

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered is now available

The Witcher 3 gets a major overhaul

Published

September 29, 2026

GadgetMatch

CD PROJEKT RED has released The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered, a free upgrade that brings a wide range of visual, performance, and gameplay improvements to the acclaimed RPG.

The remastered version is available as a free upgrade for existing owners on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players who own The Witcher 3 on the original Nintendo Switch can also upgrade for free to the native Nintendo Switch 2 version.

The upgrade also includes both expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, even for players who originally owned only the base game.

PC and PS5 Pro

On PC, The Witcher 3 now supports Path Tracing alongside improved textures, foliage, lighting, rendering, and ray tracing. The remaster also adds dedicated PlayStation 5 Pro support, with PSSR enabling ray tracing at 60fps and a performance mode that can reach up to 90fps with VRR.

Gameplay also gets an overhaul. CD PROJEKT RED has rebalanced the skill system, revamped combat animations, added new finishers, and introduced an adaptive camera. Geralt and Roach also receive updated animations, including more fluid traversal, vaulting, and ladder climbing.

The remaster adds cross-platform mod support through mod.io on consoles. Players can access custom content ranging from new quests and equipment to balance changes.

Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2 gets additional features through its native version. These include motion controls, gyro aiming, mouse controls, and touchscreen support. Players can use motion controls for actions such as aiming the crossbow, throwing bombs, casting Signs, and controlling Roach. The touchscreen can also be used to navigate menus and play Gwent.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered is also available to purchase on Battle.net and the Microsoft Store, where it supports Xbox Play Anywhere.

The remaster replaces the Complete Edition on supported platforms and includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine as standard. It was developed in close collaboration with Yigsoft.

Computers

ROG brings out the ultra-stylish G1000 gaming desktop

Plus, here’s a couple of sleek transport options from ROG.

Published

September 29, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Despite how much higher prices are going today, there are still so many options if you want a PC for yourself. However, only a handful of brands will offer you quite as much style doing so as ASUS. Today, ROG has revealed the new G1000 gaming desktop.

For the first time ever in a prebuilt PC, the ROG G1000 comes with a built-in AniMe Holo, a holographic fan with customizable visuals using Armoury Crate and Aura Sync. Additionally, the holographic fan is inside its own chamber, preventing it from interfering with the main system. Instead, the desktop uses the ROG Thermal Atrium, which uses three fans to channel fresh air through a 420mm AIO liquid cooler.

Now, the ROG G1000 isn’t just a pretty face. Inside, the 104L desktop comes with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor. It also comes equipped with the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080, up to 128GB DDR5 memory, and 1TB SSD for storage. New purchases will also come with a gaming keyboard and mouse, a year of Microsoft 365 Basic, Office Home 2024, and an ASUS No. 1 Quality and Service warranty.

The ROG G1000 will be available from ROG Exclusive Stores and will start at PhP 399,995.

Celebrating ROG at 20

Besides the new desktop, ROG is also launching a couple of storage and transport options for your prized gaming possessions. The ROG SLASH Backpack Edition 20 is a sleek backpack that can fit an 18-inch laptop with enough room for peripherals and accessories. It also comes with a custom FIDLOCK Magnetic quick-release, black-and-translucent-gold buckle. It will be available next quarter for PhP 10,995.

Meanwhile, the ROG SLASH Hard-Case Luggage Edition 20 is designed specifically for transporting your hard-earned gaming devices. The light-but-durable aluminum frame comes with a specialized compartment for laptops, handhelds, and accessories. It also has removalbe foam dividers to better customize the case for your needs. Finally, it has 360-degree silent skate wheels for smoother rolling. The luggage will be available starting next quarter for PhP 15,995.

Gaming

God of War Laufey pre-orders are now live

Faye’s bow joins the fight

Published

September 29, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Pre-orders for God of War Laufey pre-orders are now live with new details on editions and Faye’s Serpent Bow. are now live on the PlayStation Store and at participating retailers across Southeast Asia ahead of its February 16, 2027 release on PlayStation 5.

Sony also detailed the game’s pre-order bonuses and Digital Deluxe Edition, alongside new footage and information about Faye’s combat abilities.

Players who pre-order God of War Laufey will receive the Last Wish Armor Set, Phranque Golden Leaves Appearance, and an in-game resource pack. The physical Standard Edition includes these items through a download code.

The Digital Deluxe Edition adds the Dark Alchemy Armor Set, Dark Alchemy Blade, Dark Alchemy Bow Scales, Dark Alchemy Catalyst, an in-game resource pack, a digital mini artbook, and the official digital soundtrack.

Faye gets a new weapon

Faye will wield the Serpent Bow, an enchanted weapon that lets her switch between close-range and ranged attacks.

The bow has two firing modes. Full-aim provides more precise shots and greater range, allowing Faye to target specific parts of enemies and charge up to five arrows for a powerful volley. Half-aim switches to a more mobile hip-fire stance for rapid attacks at close range.

Different arrow types support various combat approaches, including rapid-fire, explosive, and multi-target attacks. Players can also equip different Serpent Scales, which change the bow’s appearance and provide unique perks. Additional skills further expand its capabilities.

Faye’s other equipment can also be customized. Her Blade, Serpent Bow Scales, and Catalysts can be configured to support different playstyles.

God of War Laufey follows Faye after her death as she awakens in the Everywhen, an afterlife where gods and creatures from different mythologies converge. Santa Monica Studio previously revealed that Faye will fight through the realm alongside Phranque and Rue as she searches for a way home.

God of War Laufey launches exclusively on PS5 on February 16, 2027.