Let me tell you, folks, the past year has been absolutely wild! As of 2026, FromSoftware's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion for Elden Ring isn't just a DLC; it's a cultural phenomenon that grabbed the entire gaming community by the throat and refused to let go. I mean, seriously, it was like the game put us all in a chokehold for months! After an initial wave of salty Tarnished bombarded it with mixed reviews because they couldn't handle the heat (let's be real, it was punishing), the DLC clawed its way up to 'Mostly Positive' on Steam. That's the spirit! The sheer scale of this dark fantasy world, combined with lore so rich you could swim in it, makes the Lands Between utterly unique. And get this—the whole Messmer storyline was originally meant for the base game but got cut because it "didn't fit." Thank goodness we finally got to soak it up separately, because it delivered one of the most raw, exhausting, and brilliant voice performances I've ever witnessed.
The Man Behind the Roar: Richard Lintern's Marathon Session
Alright, let's talk about the real MVP, the guy who poured his soul into the mic: Richard Lintern. You might know him from Death in Paradise or Silent Witness, but in our world, he's forever Igon—the legendary dragon-hunter NPC you find screaming his lungs out in the DLC. This character is DLC-exclusive, a revenge-fueled madman on a mission to take down Bayle the Dread. His story culminates in one of the most epic, heart-pounding boss battles where he fights by your side. Talk about a hype man!
In a recent interview, Lintern spilled the beans on his experience. Here’s the kicker: before walking into the recording booth, he had no clue who Hidetaka Miyazaki was. Can you believe that? But oh boy, did he find out fast. He described the moment like this: "When I walked into the room, his status was very clear, very clear immediately… I could see that this was a bigger deal than I'd imagined it was going to be." The presence of the Miyazaki-san, the mastermind himself, set the tone.
"My Soldiers, Rage!" – The Performance of a Lifetime
Now, Igon’s most iconic moment, the one that gives every player chills, is his speech during the Bayle fight. You know the one:
Lintern thought recording a few lines for a video game would be a quick in-and-out job—maybe an hour tops. Oh, how wrong he was! The session turned into a five-to-six hour marathon of pure, unadulterated vocal carnage. Recalling Miyazaki's intense command of the room and the insane "attention to detail," Lintern described the process as nothing short of grueling.
He said: "I'm standing there with my arms outstretched…I'm giving it as much as I possibly can, vocally, emotionally, neck stretching, vocal cords ripping, everything…then we'd come and do it again with a tinge of sorrow, or with a tinge more rage, or slower, or faster, or whatever it happened to be."
By the end, he was completely spent. "I remember thinking when I left, I'm exhausted. That's never happened to me before...my voice is wrecked and I'm physically exhausted, and I'm emotionally exhausted as well." That, my friends, is commitment. That's giving 110% until there's nothing left in the tank.
Acting on Pure Instinct: The Ultimate Test
The craziest part? Even during the interview, Lintern asked for someone to explain his character to him. Let that sink in. He delivered this powerhouse, emotionally devastating performance without any context about the story, the world, or Igon's place in it. That is a true testament to his phenomenal acting chops. He channeled pure, raw emotion based on direction alone, and the result is a character that feels more real and passionate than most in gaming. It's no wonder the performance resonates so deeply with players; you can feel every ounce of that exhaustion and rage.
Why This DLC is Still Legendary in 2026
Looking back from 2026, Shadow of the Erdtree stands as a benchmark for what expansion content should be. It's not just more of the same; it's a refined, intensified, and narratively rich experience that complements the base game perfectly. Here’s a quick breakdown of what makes it timeless:
| Aspect | Why It's Iconic |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | It's brutally, wonderfully punishing. It separates the casuals from the committed. Git gud or go home! |
| World-Building | Expands the lore of the Lands Between in profound, unexpected ways. |
| Boss Designs | Battles like Bayle the Dread are spectacles of chaos and beauty. |
| Character Performances | Igon, voiced by Lintern, sets a new gold standard for emotional delivery in games. |
| Legacy | Two years on, it's still discussed as one of the greatest DLCs ever made. |
In conclusion, as a hardcore player who's been through the wringer, I can say Shadow of the Erdtree is more than just content—it's an experience. And at the heart of one of its most memorable moments is a performance so demanding it left a professional actor physically, vocally, and emotionally wrecked. That's the level of passion FromSoftware inspires. So, to all my fellow Tarnished out there: remember Igon's rage, remember the struggle, and never give up. Now, if you'll excuse me, I feel the urge to go fight a dragon… again. 🐉🔥