Steam Deck users looking forward to the release of the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree expansion tomorrow, June 21, 2024, may be a little concerned to discover that the latest patch 1.12 contains a bug that could render the entire game inoperable.
FromSoftware was revealed on X/Twitter is working on fixing an issue on the Valve handheld that causes input to stop working if the game remains inactive for more than five minutes. Unfortunately for Steam Deck players, FromSoftware has stated that “the patch date and time will be announced separately,” implying that it won’t be released before Shadow of the Erdtree launches.
“An issue with Steam Deck has been identified and a fix is in progress,” FromSoftware said. “Leaving Steam Deck inactive for more than five minutes may prevent the game from accepting input. Sorry for the inconvenience”.
Fortunately, the issue doesn’t disrupt gameplay as long as players don’t step away from Elden Ring for more than a few minutes, but it will likely lead to some frustrating moments for those who forget or aren’t aware of the issue.
In such cases, a hard reset will likely be required, but doing so with Elden Ring, as with previous FromSoftware games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, runs the risk of corrupting your save data.
The chances of this happening are slim, but FromSoftware games insist that players officially exit the main menu rather than closing it outright. Failure to do so, whether a player intentionally quits the game, a system crash occurs, or an error like the one on Steam Deck prevents a proper logout, creates a small risk of data corruption.
Elden Ring patch 1.12 does not contain any other known issues, and we hope FromSoftware fixes this Steam Deck bug sooner rather than later. Additionally, the update includes new hairstyles, additional quality of life improvements, and the ability to summon Torrent’s Spirit Steed (horse) in the final battle, much to the delight of many Elden Ring players.
The changes are coming just in time for Shadow of the Erdtree, but accessing the DLC isn’t as simple as installing the update and selecting it from the menu. Instead, players must complete several obscure feats beforehand, including defeating an optional boss.
However, IGN’s guide to preparing for The Shadow of Erdtree is fully up-to-date and has everything you need. Be sure to check out our interactive Elden Ring map to make sure you don’t miss any important collectibles.
You can also catch up on IGN’s How Long to Beat for Shadow of the Erdtree and kill some time before its imminent release by reading our extensive 10/10 review.
“Like the base game before it, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree raises the bar for single-player expansions,” we said. “It takes everything that made the base game such a groundbreaking RPG, condenses it into a relatively compact 20-25 hour campaign, and provides fantastic new challenges for heavily invested fans.”
Ryan Dinsdale is a freelance reporter for IGN. He will talk about The Witcher all day long.
