In the summer of 2022, the gaming world was still riding the high of FromSoftware’s masterpiece. Players were deep into the Lands Between, uncovering every secret, and naturally, talk of future content was everywhere. So when a massive leak started circulating, it felt like Christmas had come early. The story that caught fire? A ransomware attack on Bandai Namco had supposedly spilled a list of upcoming titles—including the very first Elden Ring DLC.
The chatter began after the hacker group ALPHV targeted Bandai Namco. Their modus operandi had already been validated by the notorious Nvidia cyberattack, so when a Twitter account known for tracking such incidents shared the news, the community perked up. Even though Bandai Namco never officially confirmed the breach, fans braced for leaks. It didn’t take long for one to appear: a screenshot of what looked like an internal release schedule.
That image claimed the Elden Ring add-on was named Barbarians of Badlands and slated for Q3 2023. And it wasn’t alone—other rumored projects like a new Tekken, a Digimon game, and Dragon Ball FighterZ Super were also on the list. Social media went into a frenzy. But hold that tarnished horse 🐎—because pretty soon, the cracks started showing.
It didn’t take eagle-eyed fans long to spot the inconsistencies. For starters:
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The Tekken logo was lifted straight from a fan-made video that had already been debunked months prior. ❌
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The Digimon title referenced Cyber Sleuth, but the next official Digimon story game was confirmed to be set in a completely different digital world. ❌
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The Dragon Ball FighterZ Super logo looked like an amateur Photoshop blend of Dragon Ball FighterZ and Dragon Ball Super. ❌
And those were just the most obvious tells. The more people looked, the more the entire “leak” crumbled. Even the Elden Ring DLC name itself didn’t pass the sniff test. Lore enthusiasts quickly noted that “Barbarians of the Badlands” sounded more like a placeholder from a fan fiction forum than something FromSoftware’s famously meticulous narrative team would craft.
At this point, a comparison is almost hilarious now:
| Aspect | Fake Leak (2022) | Reality (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| DLC Name | Barbarians of Badlands | Shadow of the Erdtree 🌳 |
| Release Window | Q3 2023 | June 21, 2024 |
| Logo Design | Edited amalgamation | Original, haunting symbol of the Scadutree |
| Credibility | Zero, made by opportunists | Official, announced by FromSoftware |
Of course, what none of us knew back then was that the real DLC was already in the works—and it would blow every expectation out of the water. In February 2024, the Shadow of the Erdtree trailer dropped, revealing a twisted, shadow-soaked version of the Lands Between that sent the fandom into a proper meltdown. The DLC launched that June, introducing the Land of Shadow, new legacy dungeons, and bosses that made Malenia look like a tutorial enemy.
So here we are in 2026, looking back at that fake 2022 leak with a mix of cringe and nostalgia. By now, most diehard Tarnished have sunk hundreds of hours into the expansion, debated every lore implication of Miquella’s story, and still scream when someone mentions the final boss. The Barbarians of Badlands is nothing more than an internet meme—proof that even the most credible-sounding ransomware leaks can be complete fabrications.
There’s a lesson in this tale for anyone who jumps at the first sight of a blurry Excel sheet on Twitter. Legitimate leaks do happen, but so do opportunistic hoaxes, especially right after a major cybersecurity incident. The 2022 Bandai Namco rumor wasn’t just fake—it was lazy. It took public fan assets, mashed them together, and sprinkled in just enough plausible titles to go viral. And for a few chaotic hours, it worked.
Thankfully, the community’s sleuthing skills have only sharpened since then. Today, when a new “leak” surfaces—whether about the next FromSoftware project or a possible Elden Ring sequel—forums are quick to dissect fonts, compare trademarks, and trace origin points. It’s become a sport, and honestly, a bit entertaining. 🕵️♂️
But back in 2022, the excitement was real. And while Barbarians of Badlands never materialized, the genuine Shadow of the Erdtree turned out to be everything we didn’t dare hope for. So maybe that fake leak, in a weird way, kept the hype train rolling just long enough for the real announcement to hit even harder.
Whether you’re a new player picking up Elden Ring for the first time in 2026 or a veteran who still remembers the pre-DLC drought, one thing’s for certain: the Lands Between always find a way to surprise us. And sometimes, the best surprises are the ones that aren’t spoiled by a janky screenshot on a Wednesday afternoon.