Elden Ring Patch Makes Sweeping Changes To Difficulty Balance On Xbox

Why insist on saying it makes changes for Xbox? This is the patch note for all platforms - would it really hurt your identity so much to say so?

Regardless, it's good to see them continually trying to fix bugs and come up with the best balance for us.

@Titntin It's more for SEO if we're honest. We don't need Xbox in the heading, but getting it in there helps us with search results and whatnot - having Xbox in our site name etc.

And yep, another big old patch by From!

@Kezelpaso Cheers for the answer dude - that makes perfect sense!

@Kezelpaso @Titntin Yeah that's a huge pet peeve of mine across these sites for ages. I get the need for SEO, and that the family of platform specific sites has to differentiate the search and all but there really must be a better way, it makes the headlines sound really awkward, or "fanboyish", or even misleading when it makes things look like one platform is affected differently from others on a multiplat game. Not a criticism of this specific article, I know it's a Hookshot standard headline convention across the sites, and I know its practical and functional purpose, but it's still nasty!

Besides, wouldn't adding "PC, and PS5" to the headline really boost search rankings/SEO for an Xbox site by like 4000%? lol

Without reading the full list of patch notes, I wonder if this means I'll finally be able to beat the end boss of the DLC?

Still no easy 'story' mode then??

I have been back and forth to Elden Ring so many times but it’s just stupidly hard.

@johnK unfortunately for some that will never happen it's not really that to hard anyways just takes concentration and patience for me anyways!

@Ricky-Spanish For a 50 yo, coming from a time you had one button to press, it is in fact - VERY HARD.
I play games to enjoy them, not to throw the controller through the TV screen.

I'm old enough 38 I had the some old school machines aswell games played on tapes and the like ha but I get where your coming from and I was a lot younger playing dark souls back on the 360 so probably a lot of muscle memory helps ha 👍

@johnK Never completed a Souls game and I'm 60 in 3 weeks.
But I Finished this game and did it 3 times for the platinum (no save scumming here).
You can over level in this game to the point where its doable - I believe I was level 420 last time I played and I needed to be to allow for my age old reactions
This game was totally worth the effort. I understand it if you never do of course, but this game can be done even by us oldies and I can say I absolutely loved every second of exploring this fantastic world. Its well worth the effort.

Still really believe all these souls like games should have an easy mode. Do they not realize all the money they are leaving on the table?

I got dark souls free with games with gold years ago . Not even touched it. The difficulty is just not worth it.

If I truly wanted to deal with high difficulty and accomplish nothing but to frustrate myself - - I'd just go to work.

I play video games to relax and forget about life.

@Titntin But is the game difficult? If it is, I'm out.

The game could be the greatest game ever made and with free lap dance from Ariana grande, and I STILL would NOT even bother playing it. I'm way past dealing with games like that.

@Titntin wow - level 420. Maybe it's me, I proabaly don't have the patience. Constantly spending, days, weeks or months just leveling up is not my cup of tea. I agree, it's a fantastic world though.

@mcdreamer INFURIATINGLY HARD.

Difficult like nothing else in this DLC, in the rest of Elden Ring, or in Dark Souls 1-3. What the F*** was he thinking with this fight? I finally beat it but only by looking up a super unsatisfying cheese strategy.

That said, the rest of the DLC is perfect and Bayle is up there for my favorite boss fight in any game, ever. So take the good with the bad.

@Jenkinss Agree, it does seem like a crazy jump over everything else. It feels like it makes no sense at all, as if a chunk of the content leading up to it is missing. Some of the other DLC bosses are hard, but nothing approaches the final boss. Overall though the DLC is absolutely fantastic.

As for difficulty modes, I know it's a controversial topic, but they really have no place in these games. If it was too easy, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't actually be fun. It's all about the sense of achievement which would be gone if the enemies were trivialised. I know this argument gets trotted out a lot but I do think it's true. If you want an easy mode, you're probably not really missing out as the game was never for you. And just to throw it out there, I'm also an older gamer.

@GuyinPA75 Believe it or not this game like dark souls before it are really relaxing games for me not because I'm super amazing at the game because I'm not but just the feel of the world no other games do but the ones from..... fromsoftware

@mcdreamer If "It's fun because its hard" was true, the game wouldn't let you grind and level to level 400 to make it easier, summon outsiders to assist, cheese bosses, or even upgrade gear and stats, it would be a linear story game with fixed battle difficulty kind of like FFXIII where everyone basically had the same XP stats and gear at a given boss so the difficulty was controlled. I don't buy the whole difficulty is what makes it good malarky for an instant, it's clearly not actually designed around that, that's just sort of a cult mentality that's formed around it and they're afraid to change it for fear of their market revolting.

The games are good DESPITE the unbalanced difficulty, not because of it. Some people enjoy that. Some people enjoy speed running. But it doesn't mean it's an essential component of the design except to the cult that's formed around that notion. They're just well designed environments regardless of the "difficulty." I still think it's a shame that the obsession with "must be frustrating to be fun!" keeps a lot of people from seeing their immaculately designed world. It really doesn't need to.

@GuyinPA75 Thats fine mate, Im advising someone that it is extremely enjoyable if you put the effort in. If you simply like free rides, then avoid it, this is not final fantasy.
The only reason Id encourage anyone at all is that this is an exceptional game that rewards on many levels. Ive played and been obsessed with video games since their inception when I was a teenager. Ive owned just about every games machine since the Atari vcs and spent more than 2 decades making AAA games for all the big players. Elden Ring is one of the best examples of games craftmanship Ive ever seen or played, and I dont make that statement lightly. A game with no effort could never hope to match the feelings you experience playing this, and overcoming challenges is part of that equation.
Acting offended that a game might offer a challenge seems like an own goal to me, but if you prefer your games to be non thinking movies, you have that choice too. I can also play and enjoy such games, but they never reward you the way this does.
We are just 'chewing the fat' of course... have a great day!

@NEStalgia I wouldn't say that "it's fun because it's hard" is really cult thinking, or even the underlying point. It's more that the challenge feels like a key component of the games. Sure, there's plenty to enjoy outside of that but I personally enjoy overcoming those challenges, as do a lot of fans of this genre.

It's interesting that you mention linearity, as the earlier games such as Dark Souls are indeed quite linear. Sure, you can grind, but those games are very much linear and have a define difficulty curve. All these games have some balance issues, but the fact that they're on the difficult side doesn't mean they're unbalanced generally.

Elden Ring sort of does have an "easy" mode in that you have a lot more freedom to work around the map how you like. If you find you're hitting a brick wall, there's usually some other content you can go and find and complete first. And as you mentioned, there are various ways to help outside of that, such as summons (which actually raise boss HP for balance), cheeses and more.

@NEStalgia @mcdreamer @Titntin Including some other people as hope hear their thoughts too. But I'm not looking for free ride or non thinking movies. Maybe I should elaborate more.

This all pertains to me and how I view gameplay. If I have spend over an hour going thru level fighting hordes of enemies that take forever to kill, and their only purpose is to lower my health before a boss fight and then. This occurs....

The boss fight consists of me having to wait for the boss to blink, then I must roll left, two times (not three or boss's eyelash will fall and one hit me to death and I'm forced all waaaay back just to start level over again), then light attack the boss's third toe, then wait for the boss to pound his chest twice, before stomps the ground four times (not two, but four) then I have jump, once left, twice toward the boss, perform one light attack, two heavy attacks on boss's bracelet ONLY when changes color from green to purple (if attack while bracelet is glowing green a lightening bolt one hits me...all waaaaaaay back to start of level), then I have to wait for boss lunge toward me after laughing menacingly, then I must roll two times past boss, jump once, drink a potion so my sword becomes fire, and perform two light attacks (not one, or I'm going all waaaay back to start of level after the one hit death). Now the boss changes form to a snake that begins to fart and I can only attack if the gas is without scent (a blue mist will one hit me and I'm all waaaay back to start of level), but all attacks must be in the order of, light attack, then heavy, then light, then heavy, and if I double the attack in error (case was trying jump over the boss swinging tail attacks) a yellow ball shot from boss's mouth with uncanny accuracy one hits me and I'm all waaaaaaaaaaaay back to start of level...again. This, of course, continues on forever as the boss has 72 forms I must fight through and my attacks only remove a sliver of health from the boss, despite boss's one hit kill attacks that forces me, all waaaaaaay back to start of level. And by forever, I mean a completely clean shaven member of ZZ Top could start the boss fight, only to finally finish the boss fight by time said ZZ Top member's beard at right length for concert performance.

That is just not fun. That is just not relaxing. I'm not enjoying any of this at all.

Now, granted if I'm one that's fond of wearing a leather mask, with zippers for mouth, and meeting random people every other Saturday night in secretly disclosed location that plays dub step music on loop as I swing glow sticks before taken to a room with cat of nine tails. Then, yes. And only, yes, would I enjoy that type of game.

It really all comes down to this. All the dedication, great work, lush environments, fantastic character models, interesting lore, and significant amount of time invested by developers into these games will indeed go unplayed, all due to majority of gamers, like me, not want to endure this sadomasochistic activity of suffering for, hundreds of hundreds of hours, ONLY to advance 2 minutes of the story.

An easy mode would not only bring more players into the game, but most likely double the game's sales. That's all I'm saying. And highly doubt I'm alone in these wishes and thinking.

@mcdreamer I still say that's a sort of one track mind among a particular fan base of a particular element that's kind of ballooned into a rigidly dedicated market. The people that enjoy that aspect of it are enjoying it, yes, but I'd kind of liken that to if the people that like to speed run BotW entirely as shirtless Link decided that's the only way to play the game and it wouldn't be fun unless forced to play the game that way as though there's nothing else worth enjoying in the game, and that shirtless link as a mandated always-on play style is an arbitrary road block to enjoying anything else in the game.

There's a lot in these games that a lot of people that don't like throwing themselves against that brick wall "for the challenge" could enjoy, people who's reflexes are not at the same level as others etc. I know the argument becomes "not everything needs to be for everyone" which is true, but locking everything else about the games behind the (faux) "difficulty" is just an unnecessary restriction that accomplishes nothing in the game other than letting people feel superior for doing it as though it's something more useful than playing a video game.

Now, PERSONALLY, I don't find the games especially "difficult", I find them obnoxiously time wasting and therefore infuriatingly frustrating, by making you repeat things you've already done rather than respawn right at the challenge you failed, and nothing infuriates me and turns me off a game more than that. That, too would be aided by an "easy" mode, not because the challenge itself is frustrating but because I'd be able to escape that frustration. Not a challenging game per-se, but I like the way FFXIV does it, you die on a boss, it asks if you want to try again on normal, easy or very easy. I'll throw myself at normal for a while, but if it's clear that I just don't have the right equipment or the mechanics of that particular boss are obnoxious for playing as a particular class (black mage main - ouch.) I'll throw it in easy after enough failures for that one fight just to end the frustration and move on. And unlike Fromsoft games that's one where "skipping" challenges without learning the skills could negatively impact other players if you don't actually know what you're doing, once you get to high end trials.

@GuyinPA75 Your characterisation of how to win a Boss fight in Elden Ring shows quite clearly that you have not played it. I wouldn't put myself through that either, but fortunately the game doesn't require that at all.
I guess maybe if you are attempting a really strong boss and you are minimal level maybe you would need to do some of that, but the whole point of it being open world is so that you simply do not need to do any of that. You can go elsewhere engage with other characters, do other objectives and come back when you are strong enough to get stuck in without any of that nonsense.
I've never completed another 'souls like game' precisely because I couldn't go elsewhere and get stupid strong like you can in Elden Ring. But I completed this beauty three times and never ever used a summons or relied on any help of any kind and my reflexes are definitely nearer my age of 60 than early twenties.
What you are describing is not what this game is. I should just say I'm referring to the game and not the DLC as I have not played the DLC yet.

At 25 million sales, the studio doesn't need to take any lessons in how to create a winner from someone who has not even played its titles.

@GuyinPA75 ROFLMAO That is the absolute best description of a Soulsborne battle I have ever read! Well done! That really does characterize the whole "it does not respect your time" aspect that infuriates me so. Elden isn't quite as dire as prior as classic Soulsborne. It's still Fromsoft, but it's not as...obtuse?

Also, I now need to play the game with a Billy Gibbons mod. It needs to replace Torrent with the Eliminator or no buy. And naturally the only weapon is an axe.

@Tintin Elden Ring being open world does allow a more traditional RPG grind, for sure, but @GuyInPA is actually pretty spot on for most other Soulsborne games and its clones. Demons Souls is painful. The difficulty is really false, it's stupid mechanics, memorizing exact timing sequences, and wearing you down by attrition of repeating annoying sequences repeatedly more than "difficult." Elden ring does more or less just let you hulk smash through it with grinding, which is exactly why a lot of the Soulsborne purists were already revolting against how "easy" the game was.

IDK, I'm in GuyinPA's campe regarding Soulsborne overall, but Elden Ring has a "something special" that feels more like a Zelda 1 remake than even BotW did.

Once I get my PCVR rig set up I intend to try the Luke Ross VR mod. This game in VR would be an amazingly breathtaking experience. Though I've heard that it can get even veterans with VR legs of steel a bit green with all that dodge rolling. That definitely sounds like another chance for you to grind to level 400!

@Titntin Never bothered with elden ring really as it's touted as a souls like game. And my description of boss fight is from every souls like games I've ever played.

I did play elden ring beta for about 15 mins tops being a Martin fan, so was curious. Started in some crypt, crawled my way out, walked around and some guy on horse came by and slaughtered me with incredible ease. Said to self, yep, played games like this rubbish before.

Deleted from hard drive. Never played again.

That's why I asked if elden ring was easier after last update. I want to relax, enjoy, and play a game to forget about life for while. If game is that frustrating and stressful, I'd just rather go to work then. At least I'll get paid for my torture.

@NEStalgia Thank you. Lol Really just wanted to summarize in best possible way that those games are just absolutely ridiculous and are difficult just for sake of being difficult. Which is pointless.

An easy mode where I'd at least have a chance to enjoy it would entice me. There is ABSOLUTELY no reason why there isn't an easy mode. It wouldn't hurt or hinder any gamer's experience. It would only serve to grow the game and open it to a much, much, much, larger audience.

If someone can convince me, or provide an argument that it would hurt the game, I've not heard it.

@NEStalgia Oh I wanted to touch on your breath of the wild comment.

What and why did Nintendo think it needed to add the breakable weapon game mechanic? I stopped playing the game just because of that. It's annoying and not in any other Zelda game in my memory. I could be wrong though.

I really wanted to enjoy the original dead island series, but I spent hours of hitting a zombie with machete twice, it broke, then spent hours searching for materials to repair or create new weapon. Breakable weapon mechanic in games is just ridiculous!

Granted dead island 2 has that mechanic but it does not hinder the game at all. Actually I loved playing that game and enjoyed every moment. Hope dead island 3 is out soon.

@GuyinPA75
Hey if dying in a video game is that stressful for you, you have the wrong hobby mate!
I grew up playing schumups and the like. Death is simply a sign that you need to figure out a better strategy, not that you need to throw a tantrum.

But I digress. The humongous sales figures for the title more than prove it doesnt need to change for those people who cant handle dying. But also its true that there are loads of titles these days where winning is essentially just staying the course, pushing forward or hitting a parry button at the right time, so there are loads of easy titles for those who do not wish to think, strategise or learn skills as well - and I enjoy many of them. Horses for courses as they say. The popularity of more challenging titles clearly shows there is a big market for those who don't want passive entertainment.
Have a good one.

@GuyinPA75 FWIW, while Souls stans will gatekeep their superiority of rising to the challenge of accomplishment in a video game, and how letting anyone do it easier would diminish their accomplishment and make them feel like they wasted their time to the ends of the earth, it's worth considering Elden Ring and all Souls games (barring Bloodborne and Demons Souls) considerable sales on Steam and Epic and remembering that easy, and even invincibility mods exist on PC...........not everyone played through the challenge..... the gatekeeping is already meaningless outside people's heads. Sadly I think the fights could be fun if you'd just respawn INTO the fight rather than slog your way back into it again. The "difficulty" really isn't difficulty. Nioh? That's difficulty. Fromsoft isn't difficulty, It's a lack of functional checkpointing of progress. If the "difficulty" is generated not by the chanllenge but just by testing your endurance of wasting time between repeats of the challenge, it's not hard, it's just frustrating design that strokes some people's egoes. It set out to emulate the challenge of the NES era. Well...that was mostly bad design too... But it's built its fan base. Like Ghosts n Goblins. Which was designed mostly to eat quarters.

To be TOTALLY fair to Nintendo, I think the breakable weapon system could be considered an extension of the way the Master Sword always weakened whenever you took a hit (no beam shooting, etc.) And I get how the design of the weapons system was supposed to compel your to keep the loop up, but I also found it annoying, and mostly it led to me hoarding all my weapons, rarely using the good ones, thus slogging through fights with weak weapons so I didn't use up the good ones, and then trying to use the master sword for everything, then just running in circles killing time while it recharged. It's not a design that worked for me, however, I adore it compared to my contempt for TotK. The first zelda game I can say I can't actually stand and didn't bother finishing since Zelda II. And I'd rather play Zelda II. Between ACNH, ToTK and now the new one Nintendo is leaning REALLY hard into "make everything into Minecraft/Fortnite, because kids like building stuff." To be fair the game was clever and innovative, and I think with VR controls where you could actually use your hands to assemble things instead of tring to line them up with analog sticks and shaking them to separate them, it may have been a great game. I'm sure the inevitable Virtual Boy 2 gets a $90 remake of TotK and it will be amazing.

TotK REALLY jumped the shark with it's obsessive crafing and materials gathering. Similar to ACNH. Which I also don't like while I love love love ACNL.

@mcdreamer 100% agree with everything you said. "Difficulties" are video-gamey and unimmersive, the antithesis of Fromsoft games, by far the most immersive games I've ever played.

They're not for everyone, and that's ok, although they'll never stop moaning about it.

There's a bunch of people here complaining about Elden Ring who clearly didn't play Elden Ring. Like, at all. Google Stakes of Marika, then pretend you played the game but slightly more intelligently. Very few bosses require running/fighting for repeated attempts. This isn't Dark Souls.