Summary
The latest patch forElden Ring:Shadow of the Erdtreequietly fixes the biggest issue introduced by the DLC.Version 1.12.3 was released on July 11, 2025, across all platforms whereElden Ringis available: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It contains a number of major bug fixes and balance changes, including removing a popular, easily exploitabledouble damage combo fromElden Ring. Other changes include increased range for throwing weapons, a fix for theBlack Knife Tiche Ashes’accidental enemy healing, andnerfs forElden Ring’s Swift Slash weapon skill.
The overall effect is thatElden Ring(andShadow of the Erdtreeby extension) is a much more balanced experience. Weapons work as expected, attacks are performed more smoothly, and PvP is no longer plagued bySwift Slash-spamming trolls. But from a simple glance at the patch notes, it’s hard to find any fixes for the actual biggest problem withShadow of the Erdtree. As it turns out, the fix is indeed in there- it’s just buried under paragraphs of hyper-specific fixes for individual weapons. It requires a little work on the player’s end, however.
Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Is Hard, But It’s Not FromSoftware’s Most Difficult Game
Shadow of the Erdtree is getting a reputation for perhaps pushing the difficulty too far, but FromSoftware has made a harder game before.
Elden Ring’s Latest Patch Hides Fixes For Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Performance Issues
Low Framerates Are A Persistent Problem In Elden Ring’s DLC
Bandai Namco’s patch notes forElden Ringversion 1.12.3 do include a series of fixes for the game’s poor performance, but they’re hidden at the bottom of the page and require significant player inputin order to activate. Although not without the occasional hiccup, baseElden Ringhas generally run smoothly since launch, despite its enormous scale and high interactivity. However,Shadow of the Erdtreeseems to have introduced performance issues to the mix. Read any set of Steam reviews about the game (sifting through the ones just complaining aboutShadow of the Erdtree’s difficulty), and countless players seem to complain of low framerates and excessive pop-in, particularly of grass. The situation is much the same on consoles.
PerhapsElden Ringhas finally grown too bigfor its britches, or perhaps there’s some inherent problem withShadow of the Erdtree’s code that’s causing the sudden performance issues. Whatever the cause, it’s a serious problem. These are more than just visual annoyances - stuttering or inconsistent framerates can actually harm the player’s performance, preventing them from spotting a clearly telegraphed attack, or properly capitalizing on a brief opening in an enemy’s defense. And they’re especially prevalent around some ofShadow of the Erdtree’s hardest bosses, like the Ghostflame Dragon that’s under attack by Messmer’s army. As of the latest patch, there is a remedy,but its exact nature varies depending on what console the player owns a copy ofElden Ringon.
Elden Ring’s Performance Issues Can Be Fixed By Rebuilding The PS5’s Database
How To Fix Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Low Framerates On PS5
In orderto fixElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s performance issues on a PS5, a player must rebuild their console’s database. Don’t worry, it’s much simpler than it sounds. First, they must start the console in Safe Mode, which can be done by turning the PS5 off fully, then holding the power button until it beeps twice. With a controller connected via charging cable, press the PS button, then scroll down to “Clear Cache & Rebuild Database,” select “Rebuild Database,” and wait.
Elden Ring Fans Are Convinced They’ve Found The DLC’s Best Weapon And It’s Not What You Think
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When a player rebuilds a PS5’s database, the console effectively scans through all its files, and creates an updated registry of everything on its drive. Depending on how many games, apps, and screenshots the player has on their PS5’s hard drive,this could take anywhere from a few minutes to roughly an hour. However, there’s no risk in rebuilding the PS5’s database; as long as the console remains plugged in and powered, players won’t lose any of their save files, and won’t have to reinstall anything after the fact. Doing so may even improve performance in other games besidesElden Ring, so there’s no harm in trying.
Those experiencing unstable framerates inElden Ringon the PS4 can rebuild their console databases by following the same steps.
Elden Ring’s Performance Issues May Have Multiple Causes On PC
How To Fix Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Low Framerates On PC
For PC versions ofElden Ring, there may be various causes for performance issues. The first and easiest to check is contained within the game’s setting. Apparently,some PC versions ofElden Ringwill randomly turn on ray tracing since the release ofShadow of the Erdtree. If a player’s PC can’t normally handle ray tracing in such an expansive game, they may want to turn the feature off whenever they experience stuttering.
As an alternative,Elden Ring’s patch notes suggest low framerates may also be caused by “third party applications that control mouse behavior.” This refers to software that allows players to configure the settings of their computer mice: things like Razer Synapse, for example.Ending the mouse software’s tasks in the Windows Task Manager can be an easy way to fixShadow of the Erdtree’s performance issues- or, better yet, if the player never uses them, it’s best to uninstall these applications to avoid unnecessary bloat.
The patch notes also suggest that players who receive “Inappropriate activity detected” messages on Steam address the problem by verifying the game’s files. This can be done by right-clicking the title in the library, selecting “Properties,” “Installed Files,” then “Verify integrity of game files.”
Although the latest patch doesn’t do much to fix performance issues on its own, it suggests a handful of options for the player to try. There’s been no word on a fix for performance on Xbox consoles yet, but luckily, these problems don’t seem to be as prevalent there. Future updates toElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreemay further address these problems, perhaps offering a universal fix.
Players venture into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to confront new biomes, dungeons, and formidable bosses. Guided by the enigmatic Miquella, they face the terrifying Messmer the Impaler and uncover the dark secrets shrouded beneath the Erdtree’s influence, featuring new weapons, magic, and challenges.
