The Shadow of the Erdtree preload window has ended. FromSoftware and Bandai Namco’s June 14, 2024 schedule allowed an advance download only on PlayStation: PS4 and PS5 could pre-download the expansion from June 19, 2024 at 00:00. Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam did not receive an early preload; their downloads opened at the respective play-start times on June 21. The expansion launched on June 21, 2024, so anyone buying it now must download it from the relevant platform storefront rather than use the old preload window.
Can you still preload Shadow of the Erdtree?
No. The preload dates were tied to the June 2024 launch and have passed. The official notice did not describe a continuing or recurring preload period, and its dates cannot be converted into a current download schedule.
If you own the expansion today, download it through the storefront for your copy of Elden Ring. Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion, not a standalone game, so the base game is required. The launch announcement lists PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam as supported platforms.
What was the original preload schedule?
The official Elden Ring announcement published the following schedule. The times are reproduced exactly as announced; the notice did not specify a time zone, so they should not be converted to local time without a region-specific official source.
| Platform | Preload or download start | What that meant |
|---|---|---|
| PS4 and PS5 | June 19, 2024 at 00:00 | Advance game-data pre-download was available before launch. |
| Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S | June 21, 2024 at 00:00 | Download began at the play-start time, not in advance. |
| Steam (PC) | June 21, 2024 at 07:00 | Download began at the play-start time, not in advance. |
The expansion’s release date was June 21, 2024 on all listed platforms. PlayStation therefore had a two-day advance download window, while Xbox and Steam opened downloads when the expansion became playable.
Can I preload Shadow of the Erdtree on Steam?
Not before the launch time described in the 2024 notice. Steam’s game-data download began on June 21, 2024 at 07:00, the same published moment at which the PC version could start being played.
This distinction matters because “preload” is often used for any launch-day download. In the official schedule, Steam was explicitly placed in the group whose download became available from the play-start date and time. There was no earlier Steam window in that announcement.
When could I preload Shadow of the Erdtree on PS5 or PS4?
PS4 and PS5 pre-downloads opened on June 19, 2024 at 00:00. That was the only advance preload period identified in the official schedule.
Pre-downloading the game data did not move the launch date forward. Players still had to wait for the June 21 release to begin playing, and the base Elden Ring game and the required launch-period update still applied.
Did Xbox get early access to the download?
No. Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S downloads started at June 21, 2024 at 00:00, the published play-start time. The schedule did not provide an Xbox advance-download date comparable to PlayStation’s June 19 window.
The same timing applied across both Xbox generations. A later or earlier local clock time cannot be safely inferred from the notice because it did not state which time zone those times used.
What time did Shadow of the Erdtree unlock?
The official times were platform-specific: June 21 at 00:00 for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and June 21 at 07:00 for Steam. PlayStation’s June 19 time was a data pre-download start, not an earlier unlock.
Do not treat these figures as universal local times. The cited announcement gives the clock values but no time-zone designation, and the available information does not establish a region-by-region conversion. Check a regional announcement or your platform’s release display if you need a local equivalent.
What did you need before downloading the expansion?
You needed a copy of Elden Ring on the same supported platform family. Bandai Namco describes Shadow of the Erdtree as an expansion that requires the base game; downloading expansion data alone does not create a playable standalone installation.
Console-generation compatibility
| Purchase or code | Supported systems stated by Bandai Namco | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation console edition | PS4 and PS5 | One console download code can be used across the PS4/PS5 family. |
| Xbox console edition | Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S | One console download code can be used across the Xbox One/Series family. |
| PC edition | Steam | Use the Steam version of Elden Ring; console codes do not apply to PC. |
The cross-generation statement concerns the console code and the two systems in that family. It does not mean a PlayStation purchase transfers to Xbox or Steam.
How did the original launch download process work?
The following is a historical reconstruction of what the official schedule required, not a current storefront walkthrough. The cited sources do not provide today’s menu labels or platform-specific button paths.
- Confirm the platform and edition. Identify whether you were using PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series X|S, or Steam. Make sure your purchase matched that platform family.
- Install the base game. Elden Ring was required before the expansion could be used.
- Use the applicable date. PlayStation users could begin the data pre-download on June 19 at 00:00. Xbox users waited until June 21 at 00:00, and Steam users until June 21 at 07:00.
- Allow the platform to obtain the game data. The notice described the Xbox and Steam event as game-data download becoming available from the play-start time. It did not promise an earlier background transfer for those platforms.
- Apply the latest update. The launch notice referred to an update for the base game and downloadable content and instructed players to install the latest version.
- Wait for the release window. A PlayStation pre-download did not grant early play; the expansion remained tied to its June 21 launch.
What maintenance and updates affected the launch?
The official notice scheduled maintenance for June 20, 2024, from 16:00 to 19:00. It warned that the ending time could change. Online play was unavailable during maintenance, while offline play remained possible.
The same notice discussed an update covering the base game and the downloadable content. Players were told to apply the latest update, so a completed data download was not the only launch-period requirement. Maintenance and patch timing were separate from the PlayStation pre-download window.
What should you do if you are buying the expansion now?
There is no way to recover the expired June 2024 preload advantage. Purchase the edition for your platform, ensure Elden Ring is installed, and start the download from that platform’s current storefront listing. Because storefront layouts and availability can vary by region and can change over time, the 2024 announcement should not be treated as a present-day menu guide.
If you still need the base game
Bandai Namco also described a bundle containing Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree. Physical retail versions were identified for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. A physical edition is a purchase option, not a preload mechanism, and it does not reopen the old digital pre-download period.
What are the most common timing mistakes?
- Calling the PlayStation date an unlock date: June 19 was the start of data pre-download, not the start of play.
- Expecting Xbox or Steam to download early: the published schedule put both at their June 21 play-start times.
- Converting the clock values without a time zone: the notice did not identify one, so an unverified local conversion can be wrong.
- Forgetting the base game: Shadow of the Erdtree requires Elden Ring.
- Stopping after the data transfer: the launch notice also required the latest base-game and DLC update.
- Assuming generations are interchangeable across brands: the one-code allowance applies within the PlayStation family or within the Xbox family, not between PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam.
What is the short answer for each platform?
| Question | Answer from the launch schedule |
|---|---|
| Can PS4 or PS5 preload? | Yes. Pre-download opened June 19, 2024 at 00:00. |
| Can Xbox One or Series preload early? | No advance window was listed. Download opened June 21 at 00:00. |
| Can Steam preload early? | No advance window was listed. Download opened June 21 at 07:00. |
| Can any platform play before June 21? | No. The PlayStation data window did not change the release date. |
| Can the old preload be used now? | No. It was a one-time June 2024 launch window. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I bought the DLC after June 21, 2024?
You do not receive a replacement preload period. The practical difference is only that your platform downloads the already-released expansion after purchase, subject to the current listing and your installed copy of Elden Ring.
Was the PlayStation pre-download available on both digital and physical versions?
The official schedule describes PlayStation game-data pre-download, while the product information separately identifies physical retail editions. It does not state that a physical disc shipment could be preloaded before delivery.
Did the Xbox and Steam download times mean the servers unlocked simultaneously worldwide?
Not necessarily. The announcement gives clock values but does not name a time zone, so it cannot establish a worldwide simultaneous moment or a reliable local conversion.
Can I use a PS4/PS5 code on Xbox or Steam?
No. The cross-generation allowance is limited to one console family: PS4 with PS5, or Xbox One with Xbox Series X|S. The published compatibility information does not describe cross-platform license transfer.