Elden Ring is available for purchase on Steam for PC, as well as on PlayStation and Xbox storefronts. Once you own the game, all subsequent patches, including v1.08.1 , are downloaded automatically for free.
The topic refers to a specific version of the critically acclaimed action RPG released in late 2022. While the base game is a paid title, version 1.08.1 itself was a free mandatory update for all existing owners of the game, following the massive "Colosseum" content expansion. 1. Official vs. Unofficial Downloads
Report on Elden Ring (v1.08.1): Updates, Features, and Official Availability
Released on December 15, 2022, this version served as a critical hotfix to address unintended issues introduced by the earlier v1.08 update: Elden Ring – Patch Notes Version 1.08.1 - Bandai Namco
It is critical to distinguish between official software updates and unofficial "free" downloads: