Should’ve Been Free
FromSoftware has built its reputation on delivering complete, microtransaction‑free experiences, with expansions like Shadow of the Erdtree feeling like standalone games. The launch of Elden Ring’s Tarnished Edition, however, has dented that image.
The Tarnished Pack, a paid upgrade for PC, Xbox and PlayStation, adds two new starting classes, extra weapons and gear, NPC invasions and, notably, Torrent skins. Critics have likened this to the infamous horse armor from Oblivion, calling it FromSoftware’s own “horse armor moment.”
Steam users have given the pack mixed reviews, amassing more than 1,000 ratings, while a $5 bundle selling horse cosmetics underscores the controversy. Players have taken to Reddit, reviews and social media to voice disappointment.
“I just really REALLY hope this being a paid DLC is a Nintendo-pushed exception,” winter-lantern-fly wrote. “If not, the existence of this is a very bad sign for the future of FromSoft.”
“Nice to see the Switch 2 content added, but I’m not happy that we get a repeat of the Oblivion horse armor here,” MB said. “Hopefully it ends with this.”
“Takes a generation to build up a reputation, takes far, far less effort to trash it. Don’t slaughter the golden goose. The industry is literally back to selling horse armor,” wrote Null.
“CDPR is upgrading an entire game for free, BG3 has had so many free upgrades. This feels like insane greed for FromSoft. What I hope is that it’s not a decision that they made themselves but it’s still a problematic step forward,” Brainware’s review read.
While a $5 armor pack may seem trivial, many reviewers warn it signals a slippery slope. The original horse armor, released in 2007, was the first domino in a wave of aggressive monetization that has only intensified since.
It would be naive to blame Nintendo alone; Kadokawa Group’s reported push to oust CEO Takeshi Natsuno over concerns about Elden Ring’s monetization suggests broader corporate pressure.
Perhaps the Tarnished Pack is a one‑off, possibly tied to the upcoming Switch 2 launch, and FromSoftware will return to its usual practices. Yet the real worry is not the single purchase but what follows if it proves profitable, echoing the massive sales of Oblivion’s horse armor.
Released on February 25 2022, the game carries an M for Mature ESRB rating for blood, gore, language, suggestive themes and violence, and is developed by FromSoftware.
