Elden Ring has received a major patch across all platforms, which fixes a number of bugs and even adds new content (or perhaps finishes some previously unfinished content).
Developer FromSoftware said in its patch notes that it’s added new phases to NPC questlines for Diallos, Nepheli Loux, Kenneth Haight, and Gatekeeper Gastoc, and has also added new NPC summons to some boss fights. It’s not clear if these quests are brand new, or close off questlines for characters that previously weren’t complete.
Players can also encounter a new NPC altogether, Jar-Bairn, a small living jar that can be found sitting on some steps in the north of Jarburg.
There’s now a way to track all these NPCs too, as FromSoftware has added a much-requested function to name icons on the map when you encounter an NPC, making it easier to keep track of where they all are. This includes Nomadic Merchants, who now have their own icon on the map.
In terms of balance updates, players will now find it easier to upgrade their weapons in the early game as the drop rate of Smithing Stones has been increased and the upgrade material has also been added to some shops.
A number of player items, weapons, and sorceries have also been made more effective and easier to use, alongside two dozen specific bug issues and general performance upgrades.
For a detailed breakdown of everything included in the patch notes, be sure to check out a breakdown in IGN’s Elden Ring updates guide.
The game continues to dominate the gaming sphere, topping sales charts in the United States and Europe, amassing to more than 12 million copies sold worldwide.
Just as many wacky stories have come out of Elden Ring’s success, such as players discovering a pair of fancy underwear hidden in the game. The game’s speedrun record is also being broken over and over, an infamous hacker is hunting down innocent players, Bandai Namco has made an insane advert, and it even has its own candy.
In our 10/10 review, IGN said: “Elden Ring is a massive iteration on what FromSoftware began with the Souls series, bringing its relentlessly challenging combat to an incredible open world that gives us the freedom to choose our own path.”
To make those choices with the best available information, check out our full guide that features everything you could ever hope to know about Elden Ring, including collectible locations, boss strategies, and more.