FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have released a patch for Elden Ring after players discovered a multiplayer exploit that let them obtain items from the game's paid Tarnished Pack DLC for free. The fix marks a swift response to a rare misstep in the studio's first venture into microtransactions, a move that had already drawn wry comparisons to Bethesda's infamous horse armour add-on for Oblivion, since FromSoftware has traditionally favoured substantial, story-driven expansions rather than small paid extras.

The Tarnished Pack launched on 27th August alongside an expanded Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2, adding new starting classes, player equipment and cosmetic armour for the horse companion Torrent. Players soon found that, under specific conditions, they could spawn duplicate copies of these DLC-exclusive items during multiplayer sessions, effectively letting non-buyers access paid content for free. Patch 1.17.1 closes this loophole; an official statement confirmed the update "fixes an issue in multiplayer where, under specific conditions, DLC-specific items could be obtained when not normally eligible" and adds no new content.