It’s 2026, and I still remember the feeling of restless anticipation that gripped the entire Tarnished community back in December 2025. The hype was real, folks—we were all on the edge of our seats, controllers in hand, waiting for FromSoftware to finally pull back the curtain on The Forsaken Hollows. I’d been counting down the days, scouring every message board, my fellow Nightfarers and I sharing theories about the Shifting Earth and what new horrors awaited us. The official announcement of the 1.03 update release time was the green light we’d all been praying for. It wasn't just another patch; it was the key to a whole new chapter of suffering and glory. Let me tell you, the wait was brutal, but oh boy, was it worth it.

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The Final Countdown: Server Maintenance and Global Launch Times

I remember December 3rd, 2025, like it was yesterday. The servers went down for maintenance, and the Lands Between felt emptier than ever. It was the calm before the storm. FromSoftware had been crystal clear: the 1.03 update, carrying The Forsaken Hollows expansion, would go live at 3 PM PST for PC and 9 PM PST for consoles on that fateful day. For us global players, it was a hilarious scramble to convert time zones. My Discord was blowing up with questions like, "Bro, what time is that for me?"

To save everyone the headache, here’s the breakdown we all relied on. For my console brethren, it was a late-night affair:

Time Zone Console Release Time
Pacific Standard Time (PST) 9:00 PM, Dec 3
Eastern Standard Time (EST) 12:00 AM, Dec 4
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) 4:00 AM, Dec 4
Japan Standard Time (JST) 1:00 PM, Dec 4

But for us PC masters, we got a head start! The update dropped earlier in the day. The moment the clock hit 3 PM PST / 6 PM EST on December 3rd, the digital floodgates opened. I hit that 'update' button so fast my mouse nearly sparked. The rest of the world, from Europe to Asia, had to wait until the wee hours or the morning of the 4th. Seeing my friends in Singapore and Australia still waiting while I was already pre-loading was a unique kind of friendly torture. I may have sent a few "😉" emojis their way.

Paying the Toll: DLC Access and New Content

Now, here’s the tea. Access to this new nightmare wasn't the same for everyone. If you were a dedicated Nightfarer who had splurged on the Deluxe Edition of Elden Ring Nightreign, you were in luck—The Forsaken Hollows was a free download. A sweet reward for our early faith! But for my buddy who only had the Standard Version? He had to pony up 15 USD. "A small price to pay for salvation," I told him as he grumbled about his wallet. Honestly, for the sheer volume of content promised, it was a no-brainer.

And what content it was! The update wasn't just a new area; it was a massive expansion of the game's soul. We were getting:

  • Two New Playable Nightfarers: The Undertaker and the Scholar. I was dying to try the Scholar's new magic toolkit.

  • A Major New Region: The Shifting Earth: Great Hollow. The name alone gave me chills.

  • A Boss Rush for the Ages: New Field Bosses to stumble upon, and the pièce de résistance—Two New "Day 3" Bosses. FromSoft calling them "Day 3" was their way of saying, "You think Malenia was hard? Hold my Estus."

The promise was a deeper dive into the game's haunting lore and even more brutal, beautiful challenges. My build wasn't ready, but my heart was.

The Descent Begins: First Steps into The Great Hollow

When the servers came back online, it was pure chaos—in the best way possible. Logging in, I was greeted with the new title screen music, a somber, echoing tune that set the tone. My old character, a battle-worn vagabond, stood ready at the latest Site of Grace. A new prompt appeared, pointing me toward a forgotten mausoleum in the Mountaintops of the Giants. This was the gateway.

Stepping into the Great Hollow was a moment I'll never forget. The environment design was next-level. We're talking colossal, petrified roots twisting through caverns of glowing crystal, with pockets of reality seemingly fractured and unstable—the true meaning of Shifting Earth. The atmosphere was thicker than the swamp in Blighttown. Distant, guttural roars echoed, and the faint whispers of lost spirits seemed to follow me. I activated my first new Site of Grace, aptly named "Hollow's Threshold." It was time to explore.

Almost immediately, I was ambushed by new enemies—gaunt, spectral figures that phase-shifted through the terrain. My old strategies were useless. This was FromSoft's way of saying, "Welcome back. Now learn everything again." I loved it. After navigating a treacherous root-path (and dying to a fall more than once, classic me), I found my first major discovery: the coffin to transition into the new Nightfarer: Undertaker. The transformation sequence was cinematic gold.

A Nightfarer's Review: Undertaker & Scholar Gameplay

Switching to the Undertaker was a game-changer. This class wasn't about flashy spells or brute strength. It was about control and attrition. Its signature weapon, a scythe that harvested "Soul Essence" from enemies, could apply stacking debuffs that slowed and weakened foes. Its special skill, "Grave Call," could temporarily summon shadowy hands from the ground to immobilize targets. It was a tactical, almost cruel playstyle, perfect for players who like to dictate the pace of a fight. PvP with this thing is going to be spicy.

The Scholar, which I respecced to try later, was the polar opposite. Where the Undertaker was silent and grim, the Scholar was about luminous, geometric magic. Forget glintstone pebbles; we're talking sigils that hovered in the air, creating zones of buffs, delayed explosions, or healing. Their new "Astral Logic" spell allowed you to link two sigils, creating a beam of energy that did bonkers damage if you positioned it right. It felt less like casting spells and more like conducting a symphony of light and pain. Mastering this class is going to be my new obsession.

Facing the New Lords of Despair: The Day 3 Bosses

I won't spoil the names or the breathtaking arenas, but let me talk about the Day 3 Bosses. FromSoftware wasn't joking. The first one I found felt like a dance with death itself—a multi-phase spectacle that demanded perfect dodges, amped-up aggression during brief openings, and the mental fortitude to not panic when the entire arena's geometry changed halfway through. My first two dozen attempts were humbling, to say the least. The second boss... let's just say it involved mechanics I'd never seen in a Souls game before, playing with concepts of perception and memory. Beating them felt like a genuine achievement, a true "git gud" moment that the community is still dissecting.

The new Field Bosses scattered throughout the Great Hollow are no slouches either. They serve as brutal skill checks, guarding key items and pathways. One particular duel against a corrupted, tree-like guardian took me an entire evening to conquer. The feeling of finally seeing "FOE VANQUISHED" on screen was pure, unadulterated dopamine.

The Verdict: Was The Wait Worth It?

Absolutely, 100%, without a doubt. The Forsaken Hollows is everything I hoped for and more. It's not just additional content; it's a masterclass in expanding a live game world. The new areas are mysterious and punishing, the new classes offer radically fresh playstyles that revitalize the meta, and the bosses are instant classics that will be studied and celebrated for years.

Looking back from 2026, the launch of the 1.03 update was a watershed moment for Elden Ring Nightreign. It proved that the journey of the Tarnished was far from over. It brought the global community together in a shared cycle of struggle, discovery, and triumph. So, to any new players just picking up the game now: you have an incredible adventure ahead. And to my fellow veterans who weathered that maintenance period with me: Well, we did it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Scholar to master and a Great Hollow to fully map. See you in the fog, fellow Nightfarers. Don't you dare go hollow.