New Elden Ring Leak Reveals Important Lore Moment

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Despite being released four years ago, Elden Ring continues to reveal new secrets. Following the highly praised Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, players are still exploring the game’s story and reconstructing unfinished content. Recently, a data dive discovered a significant cutscene that was removed from the game before it originally launched.

Lance McDonald, known for creating the popular 60 FPS patch for Bloodborne, has pieced together an unfinished cutscene and its dialogue. This restored content reveals a significant event in the world of Elden Ring: Miquella planting the Haligtree. While this version isn’t exactly as FromSoftware originally envisioned – since the cutscene was never completed – it’s a remarkable reconstruction built from the remaining game files.

Cut Elden Ring Cutscene Shows Miquella Planting The Haligtree

Miquella’s Haligtree is a significant location in the world of Elden Ring, but it plays a bigger role in the game’s story than in the actual gameplay. Originally intended as a counterpart to the Erdtree, the Haligtree became a refuge for those oppressed by Marika’s rule. While famous for being the home of Malenia, a central character and arguably the game’s mascot, the area is entirely optional – you can complete Elden Ring without ever visiting it.

McDonald explains the cutscene was designed to play after finding and resting at a Site of Grace. While the Grand Lift of Dectus connects Liurnia of the Lakes to the Altus Plateau, players reach the Haligtree through the Grand Lift of Rold, accessible via the Consecrated Snowfield. This suggests the Haligtree may have initially been a core part of the Altus Plateau area, or a required location in the game’s progression. However, the cutscene doesn’t reveal why the world of Elden Ring underwent changes during its development.

The video showcases a cutscene found within a special version of Malenia’s boss arena, located deep within the Haligtree. This area was once where Miquella rested before Mohg took him. The footage reveals a Haligtree sapling hidden in the game’s files, and depicts Miquella planting it. The sapling then grows, seemingly nourished by blood.

This Scene Would Have Been Perfect For Shadow Of The Erdtree

Audio files found with the cutscene appear to be of Miquella, and they offer a clearer explanation of lore already hinted at in the game’s item descriptions. Miquella describes the Haligtree becoming a sanctuary “where all things flourish, whether graceful or malign,” while under Malenia’s care. This is a significant lore reveal within the larger story of Elden Ring, but it likely wasn’t included in the final game because the Haligtree’s importance (or lack of it) became unclear during development.

It would have been ideal to include the cutscene and rework it for Elden Ring when Shadow of the Erdtree released, as that expansion focuses on Miquella and brings him to the forefront. However, you don’t actually need to visit the Haligtree to play Shadow of the Erdtree; the main path to Mohgwyn Palace (and the Land of Shadow) goes through the Consecrated Snowfield. While the cutscene about Miquella could have been placed early in the DLC, it would still feel disconnected without first exploring the Haligtree.

As a big fan of Elden Ring, I think the Haligtree is already a really cool and mysterious place in the final game. But it’s a little sad knowing that a big piece of Miquella’s story and the history of the Lands Between was actually cut. It really feels like the Haligtree – which is one of the most fascinating groups to challenge the Golden Order – was supposed to play a much larger role in the overall story. Even though the cutscene is unfinished, it’s still amazing, and it’s a shame we’ll probably never see that part of the story fully realized. It’s basically a deleted scene now.

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2026-04-04 20:27