Elden Ring Hits a Snag on Steam as New DLC Sparks Review Bombing
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Elden Ring faces a wave of negative reviews on Steam over its new Tarnished Pack DLC, with players comparing the $5 cosmetic horse skins to Oblivion's infamous horse armor.
Elden Ring is facing a wave of negative user reviews on Steam following the rollout of the new Tarnished Pack DLC. Bringing over content previously tied to the Switch 2 release, the pack has quickly drawn the ire of the community, primarily due to the inclusion of cosmetic skins for Torrent. Within just three days of its release, the add-on has accumulated over 800 negative reviews, dragging its Steam rating down to Mixed.
Frustrated players have been quick to draw parallels to some of the most infamous monetization missteps in gaming history. Many community members are comparing the $5 price tag for horse skins directly to the legendary Horse Armor DLC from The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. For a game that has enjoyed near universal acclaim and massive cultural standing since its launch, this sudden backlash highlights how sensitive players remain regarding perceived microtransaction filler.
While cosmetic packs are a standard part of modern digital economies and cross-platform monetization, player sentiment clearly draws a line at what feels like superficial value. Publisher Bandai Namco has not yet issued a formal response to the review bombing, leaving the community to debate whether cosmetic add-ons fit into the brutal world of the Lands Between. As digital ownership and post launch content shape modern gaming, this situation proves that even critical darlings are not immune to player pushback when monetization feels out of touch. Original reporting by Game Rant offers a closer look at the unfolding Steam metrics.
Tags: Elden Ring, Steam, DLC, PC Gaming, Gaming News
Original article: Game Rant