Emergency Elden Ring Patch 1.17.1 Fixes Multiplayer Glitch That Awarded Free $5 DLC Items

Developer FromSoftware has released an emergency update for Elden Ring, deploying Patch 1.17.1 to address a multiplayer glitch that allowed players to obtain new paid downloadable content items for free. The issue previously made the game's new $5 Tarnished Pack DLC appear in multiplayer sessions even for users who had not purchased it.

The $5 Tarnished Pack was introduced in Patch 1.17 alongside content included with a new Switch 2 edition of the game. The package features the Idus Knight and Heavy Knight starting classes, additional weapons, and horse armor. Following that update, a bug allowed players equipped with DLC items to automatically spawn copies of those items as pick-ups when entering a multiplayer game with users who did not own the expansion.

FromSoftware quickly moved to close the loophole, announcing the new update on social media. "Patch 1.17.1 has been released for #ELDENRING," the official account stated. "This update fixes an issue in multiplayer where, under specific conditions, DLC-specific items could be obtained when not normally eligible. No additional content is included."

While fans can still trade DLC items with other players, including those who do not own the Tarnished Pack, the removal of the duplication bug has drawn criticism from community members. Players took to social media and Reddit to express frustration over the swift deployment of a fix for a financial exploit compared to the pacing of other balance or quality-of-life updates.