Kai Cenat experienced 1,700 deaths in the base version of Elden Ring before moving on to the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
The size of Shadow of the Erdtree is roughly equivalent to two regions from the base game, such as Limgrave and Altus Plateau, stacked on top of one another2. While it may appear smaller in square footage, the Land of Shadow's vertical design and layered structure create a more compact, dense map compared to Elden Ring's sprawling world.
Hidetaka Miyazaki insists on maintaining high difficulty in games because he believes it encourages players to overcome adversity and creates a sense of achievement4. He wants players to use their cunning, study the game, memorize what's happening, and learn from their mistakes. Miyazaki believes that the cycle of repeatedly trying to overcome challenges is enjoyable and hopes that with Elden Ring's new options, it will be a success in that respect.