You’ve probably seen the name floating around Reddit or obscure Discord servers. Shadow of the Leviathan. It sounds like exactly the kind of thing FromSoftware would cook up—dark, massive, and vaguely terrifying. But if you go looking for it on the PlayStation Store or Steam, you’re going to hit a wall. It doesn't exist. At least, not as a piece of official software you can actually play.
It’s a ghost.
Honestly, the way the gaming community handles rumors is fascinating. We saw it with the "Bloodborne PC port" that people have been manifesting for years, and we're seeing it again here. Shadow of the Leviathan is basically the ultimate fan-made fever dream that somehow gained enough momentum to confuse half the internet. People were so desperate for more Elden Ring content before Shadow of the Erdtree was officially detailed that they started constructing their own reality.
The Birth of the Leviathan Myth
Where did this actually come from? Usually, these things start with a "leak" on 4chan that someone’s cousin's roommate saw at a marketing meeting. In this case, it was a mix of speculative concept art and a very convincing fake logo that made the rounds in late 2022 and early 2023. The "Leviathan" part likely stems from the massive, unused ocean assets and those weirdly detailed shipwrecks scattered along the coast of the Lands Between.
Players saw the water. They saw the map's clouded-over sections. They put two and two together and got five.
The theory was that Miquella—the central figure of the actual DLC—wasn't heading to a Land of Shadow, but rather deep underwater or to a massive island guarded by a colossal sea creature. People pointed to the "Elder-In-Pipe" rumors and some misinterpreted data-mined files. It’s funny because FromSoftware does have a history with giant monsters (obviously), but they rarely go full "nautical horror."
Why Everyone Believed It (For a Minute)
You can't really blame people for falling for it. The timing was perfect. Bandai Namco was silent. Hidetaka Miyazaki was being his usual cryptic self. When there is a vacuum of information, fans will fill it with the coolest-sounding thing they can imagine. Shadow of the Leviathan sounded "FromSoft" enough to be real.
Think about the naming convention.
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- Artorias of the Abyss
- The Old Hunters
- Shadow of the Erdtree
"Shadow of the Leviathan" fits that linguistic pattern perfectly. It’s got the "Shadow" for mystery and the "Leviathan" for scale.
There was also a specific "leak" that claimed the DLC would introduce a dynamic weather system and naval combat. Looking back, that should have been the red flag. FromSoftware makes tight, intentional combat systems. The idea of them suddenly pivoting to Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag style ship battles in a Soulslike was, in hindsight, a bit of a stretch. But hey, we were all hungry for news.
Shadow of the Erdtree vs. The Leviathan Theory
Now that Shadow of the Erdtree is out and we've all been pounded into the dirt by Messmer the Impaler, the Leviathan myth has shifted. It’s gone from a "leak" to a "what if."
Some players still insist that "Leviathan" was a working title. It wasn't. We know from internal data-mining and the Kadokawa financial reports that the expansion was always envisioned around the Scadutree. But the nuance here is that the themes of the Leviathan theory—submerged history, hidden realms, and massive ancient beings—actually did make it into the game, just not in the way the rumors suggested.
The "Shadow" wasn't a physical monster in the sea. It was the Scadutree itself.
It’s kinda funny how the community almost "guessed" the vibe but missed the execution. We wanted a giant sea monster; we got a giant flaming snake man and a tragic demigod brother. Honestly? I think we got the better deal. The lore depth in the actual DLC far outweighs the "big shark" theories of 2023.
The Psychology of the "Fake DLC"
Why does this keep happening? Gaming culture thrives on the "Deep Lore" hunt. When a game is as successful as Elden Ring, it becomes a platform for collective storytelling.
Shadow of the Leviathan is a prime example of a Community Echo Chamber.
- Someone posts a "what if" thread.
- A YouTuber makes a "New Leak?" video with a red arrow thumbnail.
- A casual fan sees the video and tells their friends it's confirmed.
- Suddenly, it’s a "fact" that Google’s algorithm starts picking up.
It’s the same reason people still think there’s a secret ending to Bloodborne or a hidden mural in Shadow of the Colossus that unlocks a 17th colossus. We want there to be more. The world Miyazaki builds feels so big that it seems impossible that we've seen it all.
Sorting Fact from Fiction
If you’re still seeing articles about Shadow of the Leviathan today, they are likely one of three things:
- SEO bait trying to capture old search traffic.
- Modding projects (there is a very cool modding community working on sea-based content).
- Genuine confusion from players who are just starting the game and heard old rumors.
There is no "Leviathan" DLC coming. FromSoftware has moved on. Miyazaki has hinted in interviews—specifically with Famitsu and IGN—that while he isn't closing the door on the Elden Ring universe forever, Shadow of the Erdtree is the only planned expansion. No second DLC. No secret sea chapter.
What You Should Actually Be Looking For
If you want the "Leviathan" experience—that feeling of overwhelming scale and aquatic dread—you’re better off looking at what’s actually in the game or what the modders are doing.
The Elden Ring Reforged or Convergence mods often incorporate "cut" ideas or fan theories into their overhauls. Some of these mods have actually added bosses that look suspiciously like what people imagined the Leviathan to be. It’s the community's way of making the myth real.
Also, keep an eye on the actual lore regarding the "Abyssal Serpent." While not a sea creature, it carries that same "primordial monster" energy that the Leviathan theorists were craving. Messmer’s connection to the base game’s snakes and the literal "Abyss" within the Land of Shadow is where the real meat of the story is hidden.
The Reality of Game Development
Making a DLC like Shadow of the Erdtree took years. It was almost a sequel in terms of scope. The idea that a developer would secretly have another massive expansion called Shadow of the Leviathan tucked away is just not how the industry works anymore. Budgets are too high. Teams are too specialized.
When a studio like FromSoft finishes a project this big, they usually move the bulk of their staff to the next "Big Thing"—likely the next project directed by Miyazaki or perhaps another Armored Core entry given VI's success.
Moving Past the Myths
It’s okay to be disappointed that the giant sea-monster DLC isn't real. There’s something inherently cool about fighting a boss the size of an island while your boat tosses in a storm. But holding onto the Shadow of the Leviathan rumors just keeps you from enjoying what’s actually there.
The "Shadow" we got was much more personal, much more tragic, and much more tied to the core themes of the Golden Order and the cost of godhood.
Next Steps for the Disappointed Elden Lord:
- Stop searching for "Leviathan" release dates. You'll just end up on clickbait sites that are harvesting your data.
- Dive into the Scadutree lore. If you haven't finished Shadow of the Erdtree, go find the Finger Ruins. That is the closest you will get to that "cosmic, ancient horror" feeling.
- Check out the "Convergence" Mod. If you're on PC, this is the best way to see fan-made interpretations of "missing" content.
- Read the official interviews. Stick to sources like FrontlineJP or Famitsu translations to get the actual word from the developers rather than the Reddit rumor mill.