FromSoftware, the developer of Dark Souls and Sekiro, is teaming up with George R. R. Martin on the new game Elden Ring. Here’s what we know about it so far.
FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was a smash hit, and the studio is planning on continuing that success with Elden Ring, a game that — for the majority of its existence so far — has been shrouded in mystery. Releasing in 2022, Elden Ring is the next game from the renowned studio, directed by Souls series creator Hidetaka Miyazaki and with the creative input of A Song of Ice and Fire author George R. Martin. We will return to a dark fantasy setting, much like in Dark Souls, but make no mistake: Elden Ring is a different beast. Here is everything we know about Elden Ring so far, including its combat, setting, structure, and when we’ll be able to get our hands on it. Recommended reading: After what felt like an eternity of silence, Elden Ring finally has a release date. The original date we got was January 21, but it received a bit of a delay and will now hit on February 25. However, there will also be a closed network test that players can register for being held throughout November to get a taste of the game early. As with the reveals for most of FromSoftware’s projects, Elden Ring ’s announcement trailer was simultaneously enthralling and cryptic. In it, we see a figure hunched over an anvil that is emitting a bright light, and then shift to a man who appears to be putting someone else’s arm over his own as hands reach out to grab him. Next, we’re shown a quick glimpse of several scenes, including an enormous hammer being wielded and a mysterious person with a helmet and flowing red hair. This warrior wields a spear, and after attacking an enemy, we see the titular Elden Ring break apart. This figure is then seen looking up at the red sky, seemingly being ignited by the light above. An enormous sword is planted in the ground nearby, and we see the figure who was standing above the anvil one last time as it appears to begin disintegrating. The second trailer revealed during the Kickoff Live! Summer Game Fes t event was much more substantial. It showed off the open world, characters, combat, and some more bits of story. It starts off with a character summoning a horse before heading off into the open world. As the character rides, a few Dark Souls-esque characters are shown, possibly hinting at the enemies you’ll fight in the game. They look like monsters; though, if the Souls games are anything to go on, some of them could be allies. Later on in the trailer, we get a look at a dark dungeon area, with a greater emphasis on combat. Here, we see some melee action, though it’s important to take note that none of the UI was shown. Dark Souls’ and Bloodborne’s UIs are famous and easily recognizable, so we’re curious to see if a similar interface will appear in Elden Ring. Another detail is that the main character is able to swing their sword with two hands, but in a subsequent shot, they’re seen holding a shield. So it might feature a similar system that enables players to opt out of using a shield just like in Souls. The trailer also gives us a look at what is presumably a boss, and the main character can be seen dodging out of the way of its attacks, before unleashing a devastating blow on their opponent. After that, a shot of a character sitting at a fire can be seen, also possibly referencing the Souls games. We won’t give away the rest of the trailer, but you should absolutely check it out. Elden Ring is scheduled to launch for PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Publisher Bandai Namco does have a history of releasing games for Nintendo Switch, but it looks like this one will be skipping the handheld hybrid, which comes as no surprise.
