Elden Ring gamers are being jumpscared within the just lately launched Shadow of the Erdtree growth, however not by a terrifying new enemy or lethal environmental lure. No, the supply of this worry is a straightforward, screeching fowl.
A sparse forest situated southeast of the growth’s preliminary website of grace checkpoint on the Gravesite Plain is likely one of the earliest landmarks you see (and may attain) in Shadow of the Erdtree. It’s there you’ll discover a couple of of the growth’s new crafting supplies, a tough human foe named Logur, the Beast Claw who drops his eponymous weapon upon defeat, and a wide range of ruined stone buildings simply begging to be investigated.
A few of these landmarks are dwelling to eagle-like birds who don’t take kindly to a participant’s strategy. And whereas they don’t assault, they do make an terrible shriek when disturbed that’s apparently catching some folks off guard. Messages dot the bottom round these areas, cautioning fellow Tarnished to “pay attention rigorously forward” and “be cautious of sound.” The ghostly emotes hooked up to the warnings depict brave-looking adventurers assuming the fetal place and elevating their arms to the sky in defensive terror.
Related tales have been shared on real-world social media.
“The jumpscare noise birds on this Elden Ring DLC is likely to be essentially the most insane factor they’ve ever performed,” mentioned one participant on X (previously Twitter). “It’s not even an enemy you struggle, they’re simply a part of the native fauna.”
“Dude, the fowl sounds are actually making me crap my pants,” one other Redditor mentioned.
“Rattling soar scares!” mentioned a 3rd. “Received me twice inside 20 minutes of beginning the DLC. Have to get an Elden Ring-brand defibrillator.”
Soulsborne vets might bear in mind developer FromSoftware pulling the identical trick in Darkish Souls 3’s Irithyll Dungeon, the place choosing up sure objects would elicit a loud, horrifying scream from an unseen creature. The birds aren’t fairly as dangerous, however there’s an argument to be made that their tranquil environment make for a more practical scare.
It’s far too early for me to have an informed opinion on Shadow of the Erdtree, but when something, it’s good to see FromSoftware proceed to mercilessly mess with gamers.
