Four years after its release, Elden Ring continues to surprise fans with hidden secrets from its development. A newly restored cutscene unearthed through datamining shows a significant moment that never made it into the final game: Miquella planting the Haligtree.
The discovery comes from Lance McDonald, best known in the FromSoftware community for creating the unofficial 60 FPS patch for Bloodborne. Using leftover files from the game, McDonald pieced together an incomplete version of the cutscene along with its accompanying voice lines. Check it out down below:
The scene depicts Miquella, the eternal child Empyrean, planting a sapling that grows into the Haligtree. The sequence takes place inside an alternate version of Malenia’s boss arena at the base of the tree. In the footage, the sapling sprouts rapidly while dripping what appears to be blood, creating a striking and somewhat unsettling visual.
Voice lines suggest Miquella speaking about the Haligtree becoming a sanctuary “where all things flourish, whether graceful or malign,” placing it under the stewardship of his twin sister Malenia. This provides a clearer, more direct explanation of the Haligtree’s purpose than what players can currently piece together from item descriptions alone.
According to McDonald, the cutscene was originally intended to trigger after obtaining the left half of the Dectus Medallion and resting at a Site of Grace likely near the Grand Lift of Dectus. This placement implies the Haligtree may have once been more closely tied to the main progression path through the Altus Plateau, rather than remaining the largely optional and secluded area it became in the final release.
The Haligtree serves as one of the most visually memorable and lore-rich locations in The Lands Between. It was envisioned as a rival to the Erdtree and a safe haven for those ostracized by the Golden Order. However, in the shipped version of Elden Ring, visiting the Haligtree is entirely optional and not required to complete the main story or even access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
Given its ultimately limited role in the base game’s critical path, it makes sense that FromSoftware chose to remove the cinematic. Including it would have placed greater emphasis on an area many players might never reach.
Many fans have noted that the cutscene would have fit perfectly alongside the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, which significantly expands on Miquella’s character and motivations. The DLC already delves deep into Miquella’s plans, his curse, and his complicated relationship with Malenia.
Inserting the restored scene near the beginning of the DLC or during exploration of the Haligtree could have added powerful context. Unfortunately, since the Haligtree itself is not required to reach Mohgwyn Palace and enter the Land of Shadow, the moment still might have felt disconnected for some players.
The existence of this unfinished cutscene, along with assets like the Haligtree sapling still present in the game files, suggests the Haligtree was originally conceived as a more central element in Elden Ring’s narrative. Its reduced role in the final game gives the impression that significant changes were made to the story and world structure during development.
Even in its incomplete state, the cutscene is visually compelling and emotionally resonant. It adds another layer to Miquella’s tragic ambitions and the lore surrounding one of the game’s most fascinating locations. While it is unlikely FromSoftware will ever officially restore or finish the scene, its discovery gives dedicated lore enthusiasts valuable new context about the history of The Lands Between and the evolution of the game’s story.
Elden Ring’s world continues to reward close examination years after launch. Moments like this remind players just how much thought and care went into crafting its intricate mythology, even for elements that ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor. For fans interested, we also recently discovered a leak of the set for the Elden Ring film with a familiar location that players would recognize!