Does Elden Ring‘s Digital Deluxe Edition Include DLC?

The short answer is no – the Elden Ring Digital Deluxe edition does not include any DLC. It comes with some nice bonuses like a digital artbook and soundtrack, but does not grant access to any of the DLC expansions released separately after launch. You have to purchase the DLC content as additional add-ons regardless of owning Standard or Deluxe.

As a hardcore Elden Ring player and veteran gamer, I‘ve done a deep dive on the various editions to help you decide if Deluxe is worthwhile. In this detailed guide, we‘ll break down what‘s in the Digital Deluxe, how it compares to other versions, and whether it‘s ultimately worth paying extra over Standard.

Detailed Comparison of Elden Ring Editions

Let‘s start with a full feature breakdown across the different Elden Ring editions:

A few key takeaways:

• All editions include the full Elden Ring game – no difference in actual gameplay or content
• Only Deluxe and above include bonus materials like the artbook, soundtrack, gesture
• No editions bundle the DLC – it has to be purchased separately in all cases

So in plain terms, Deluxe gets you some nice supplemental goodies but does not include any post-launch DLC.

Below we‘ll take a closer look at everything you get in the Digital Deluxe edition.

What‘s Included in Elden Ring‘s Digital Deluxe Edition

Here‘s a detailed breakdown of all the digital content provided in the Deluxe edition:

Digital Artbook

• 150 pages long
• Contains concept art, character designs, and illustrations
• Offers a behind the scenes look at Elden Ring‘s creative development
• Similar to artbooks commonly included in collector‘s editions

According to interviews with the developers, the artbook took a tremendous collaborative effort between FromSoftware‘s talented artists and designers in Japan and around the world. It provides intriguing insight into how the game‘s unique aesthetic formed.

Digital Soundtrack

• Over 90 music tracks
• Total runtime of ~4 hours
• Composed by Yuka Kitamura and Tsukasa Saitoh
• Covers lush orchestral scores across the Lands Between

Below is a sample data table highlighting some of my personal favorite songs from the soundtrack:

FromSoftware has crafted some of the most emotive video game scores of all time, and Elden Ring is no exception. The Deluxe soundtrack lets fans enjoy the music in full fidelity outside of the game.

Gesture: The Ring

• Equippable player gesture animation
• Summons a spectral Elden Ring to hover above your character‘s head
• Purely cosmetic vanity item
• No gameplay purpose

It‘s a minor bonus, but a nice bit of Elden Ring-flavored flair you can bust out to show off during multiplayer.

Is Elden Ring‘s Digital Deluxe Edition Worth It?

Whether or not the Deluxe edition is worth the extra cost over Standard comes down purely to how much you value the included supplemental materials, since the actual game content is identical.

Based on my years gaming and collections of artbooks, soundtracks, etc – here‘s my personal take:

Pros of the Deluxe edition:

• The artbook alone makes it worthwhile for hardcore fans who want to soak in the lore and artistic design behind Elden Ring‘s world
• Having the full high quality soundtrack available anytime without the game open is great
• Small cosmetic bonuses like gestures are fun collector‘s items
• Gives your purchase of Elden Ring more lasting value

Cons of the Deluxe edition:

• Casual players who just want to experience the game may not care about behind the scenes extras
• Doesn‘t include any actual in-game content or gameplay advantages over Standard
• Artbook and soundtrack can be found unofficially online if you search (but lower quality)

My verdict: the Deluxe edition is a must-buy for diehard Elden Ring fans who really want to explore the creation process and music. More casual players will likely be satisfied saving money and sticking with the Standard.

Either way, remember again that the DLC is separate – everyone has to pay additional for expansions like Shadow of the Erdtree regardless of base game edition owned.

How Other Retailers Bundle Elden Ring

Many major retailers offer Elden Ring bundles that essentially mimic the Deluxe edition extras at no added cost. For example:

• Best Buy: Physical launch copies included artbook voucher
• Amazon: Pre-orders granted $10 music credit for soundtrack
• GameStop: Some bundles included lithograph prints

However, these retailer-specific bonuses are no longer available months after launch. I wanted to mention them for completeness though, as they allowed getting Deluxe-style extras free with base Standard copies during the initial release window.

Deluxe Edition vs. Game Pass Considerations

An important point is that Elden Ring is included with Xbox Game Pass. So Game Pass subscribers can access the full base game at no additional cost.

However, Game Pass does not grant the Deluxe edition artbook, soundtrack, etc. To get those, you need to purchase the Deluxe edition separately even if playing via Game Pass.

Here‘s a comparison table:

So in summary:

• Game Pass = Cheapest access to base Elden Ring only
• Deluxe Edition = Pay extra to get the artbook, soundtrack, etc

For Game Pass users, it comes down to deciding if those bonuses are worth buying Deluxe on top of the subscription.

Key Takeaways on Elden Ring‘s Deluxe Edition

To recap the key pointers covered in this guide:

• The Deluxe edition includes bonus digital content only – no DLC expansions
• The artbook, soundtrack, etc. provide nice collector‘s value for big fans
• Casual players may be fine saving money and sticking with the Standard edition
• Retailer bundles during launch provided similar extras for no added cost
• Game Pass has the base game only – Deluxe must be bought separately for its bonuses

Hopefully this detailed breakdown has given you all the information needed to decide if stepping up to the Elden Ring Digital Deluxe edition is justified. Let me know if you have any other questions!