From Software and Bandai Namco have released a hasty new Elden Ring patch to stop people getting their hands on items from the game's Tarnished Pack DLC for free.
The DLC in question launched on 27th August, alongside an expanded Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2: it includes a couple of new starting classes, some new player equipment, and some fresh cosmetic armour for Torrent, your trusty horned steed. Yes, they have both 1) added a scurvy microtransaction pack to a From Software game, and 2) added horse armour, of all things. Older players will recall the hullabaloo when Bethesda tried to peddle horse armour for a fiver in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Microtransactions are sadly routine, nowadays, but even so, From Software have hitherto resisted the urge to nickel-and-dime, only ever dealing in plump, story-led expansions like Shadow Of The Erdtree. Hence, the glee on Reddit and elsewhere when players found that they could spawn copies of certain DLC items in multiplayer sessions, allowing skanky freeloaders to partake.
Elden Ring patch 1.17.1 puts a stop to this. "This update fixes an issue in multiplayer where, under specific conditions, DLC-specific items could be obtained when not normally eligible," reads a terse update from the official MechaHitler account. "No additional content is included. Thank you for your support, Tarnished."
Naughty players! You have tarnished the Tarnished Pack. No spangly Torrent pyjamas for you.
I haven't bought or, whoops, accidentally gotten hold of the Tarnished Pack items myself, but given how much FromSoft's backstory writing revolves around the elusive and bewitching pedigree of ancient spears, hats and the like, the idea of paywalling a spoonful of trinkets seems pretty naff. I hope it isn't the start of a trend. Do not lead us into this particular abyss, From.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/fromsoftwares-first-experiment-with-of-all-things-horse-armor-dlc-runs-awry-as-elden-ring-players-manage-to-spawn-free-duplicate-items-in-multiplayer
