Publisher Bandai Namco and developer FromSoftware finally released Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the long-awaited expansion for the ARPG.

It didn’t take long after the expansion launched a few days ago for the internet to become embroiled in debate over whether or not the content is too difficult or not.

Coming from this, if you now look at the Steam page for the expansion pack it currently sits at a “Mixed” review status, seemingly from players mostly leaving negative reviews opining the content is too difficult.

“There is a fine line between challenging and unfair. Until now, FromSoftware has always managed not to cross this line,” reads a negative review posted today. “This DLC is not challenging but mostly just unfair. The fun is completely gone. It’s really a shame because the world, music, and atmosphere are an absolute 10/10. It’s really a pity.”

While a lot of the early user reviews for Shadow of the Erdtree on Steam are saying things like this – many users seemingly are unaware of the expac’s new Scadutree Fragment feature, a new leveling mechanic that encourages exploration. Others are seemingly using old “Soreseal” items that increase stats but also damage taken.

There are some legitimate complaints with Shadow of the Erdtree on Steam, though, with some players noting performance issues seen in the base game once again creep up in its expansion pack. These range from mentioning the framerate stuttering to full blown game freezing.

“Good DLC, but performance has gone down as of the latest update,” reads another review. “Constant micro-stuttering and frame drops, freezes as well as increases in loading times make it difficult to enjoy and play the game. One of the early boss fights takes place around a puddle of water, which drops frames considerably. Wait for performance improvements before buying.”

It’s worth noting, however, the vast majority of the negative reviews are people complaining about the bosses being too hard or the new gear being too weak. There are even some reviews saying the new equipment and tools are too overpowered and are required to beat the expansion.

In case you missed it, you can find our thorough and spoiler-free review and video review for the base game here! Here’s some guides if you’re just getting started with Elden Ring too:

New to Elden Ring? Learn how to survive the lands between with our guides:

The base game for Elden Ring is available now across Windows PC (via Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.