Elden Ring was announced at E3 in 2019. That feels so long ago, and throughout that two year gap we received nothing. Elden Ring was radio silent for two whole years. But the Summer Game Fest provided eager fans with a barrage of exciting news- an official launch date, a trailer and in depth discussion with Director Hidetaka Miyazaki about the upcoming game, which you can check out here.
So it was quite intense. We went from knowing very little about Elden Ring to knowing a lot about the story, the mechanics and how it differs compared to other Souls games like Bloodborne and Dark Souls. What’s also important to note here is that Elden Ring may be expanding into other mediums. The game is just the beginning. According to Bandai Namco’s CEO Yasuo Miyakawa Elden Ring will pave the way for more content that will help create a more immersive and interconnected experience.
“We will continue to develop Elden Ring not only as a game but also in a variety of other areas in order to deliver the worldview and charm of this title to our fans around the world,”
At the moment it isn’t clear what this means, but it looks as though fans and players will have additional opportunities to explore the vastness of Elden Ring. This could include comics, books, merchandise or perhaps even an animated show. Considering that the game is based off of George R. R. Martin’s legends for that universe, it’s safe to say that there will be a lot of content that could potentially be used to further explore that realm and all of its wonders and horrors… Mostly horrors.
So, here are the key facts.
Elden Ring is coming to consoles on January 21st, 2022. It’s still far away but at least we have a date. To help put things into context as best as possible, which is usually pretty difficult due to the immense nature of the lore that is beautifully woven into the Souls game, here is the official synopsis for Elden Ring:
“The Golden Order has been broken.
Rise, Tarnished, and be guided by grace to brandish the power of the Elden Ring and become an Elden Lord in the Lands Between.
In the Lands Between ruled by Queen Marika the Eternal, the Elden Ring, the source of the Erdtree, has been shattered.
Marika’s offspring, demigods all, claimed the shards of the Elden Ring known as the Great Runes, and the mad taint of their newfound strength triggered a war: The Shattering. A war that meant abandonment by the Greater Will.
And now the guidance of grace will be brought to the Tarnished who were spurned by the grace of gold and exiled from the Lands Between. Ye dead who yet live, your grace long lost, follow the path to the Lands Between beyond the foggy sea to stand before the Elden Ring.
And become the Elden Lord.”
Did you catch all of that? It’s pretty vague but here’s a simplified version. Elden Ring revolves around the collection of fragments called the Great Runes which are currently in the possession of Marika’s children. Forming the Elden Ring will make you the Elden Lord. Simple, right? But what does becoming the Elden Lord involve? Well, considering the typical transformations seens in the Souls series it definitely won’t be pretty. What it actually means is quite the mystery.
Veteran players will probably be familiar with many of the mechanics implemented into Elden Ring. However, there are some new elements that will shake up the gameplay and give players more opportunities to experiment. As usual, you’ll be able to play around with magic and a wide range of Medieval-esque weapons. But Elden Ring is looking to incorporate richer and more varied customisation features that will allow players to create their own style of play. Players will be able to “freely interchange skills between weapons”, mess around with a variety of new tools and even attempt to take a more stealthy approach.
That’s right, stealth is now an option. This means that players will be able to choose how they approach certain encounters and scenarios. On top of that, players will have a lot more freedom in regards to exploration. It appears as though there isn’t a particular order or linear structure to the game. That means you’ll be able to explore, collect and fight as you please. You’ll also have the option to summon allies or human players- let the chaos begin.
One of the most exciting additions is the inclusion of a mount. While fast travelling will be an option, players will have the option to roam the vast landscapes on a mount. The gameplay reveal shows us one particular type of mount, but we’re hoping that we’ll have the chance to find new mounts or even customise our travelling companion.
The map of The Lands Between will be dissected into six key domains with each domain housing one of the twisted demigods. It’s safe to assume that each location will vary so there will probably be a swamp level and an area set in the depths of a catacombs. Great. There will also be a weather system that will help keep the world fresh and different. Regardless of the setting, players will be able to freely explore whats in store. Miyazaki explains ”there is an element of guidance, particularly at the beginning. There is a mainline that [players] can follow, but at any time they’re free to break off this route and to take the untrodden path.”
The lore element of Elden Ring will be where Martin’s presence becomes known. His responsibility primarily focused on shaping the world and crafting the mythology. Essentially, George R. R. Martin helped build the foundation that is known as Elden Ring. The demigods for example have their own stories and lore behind them, just like many of the bosses in the Souls games, and it was those stories that Martin created.
If you’ve watched the gameplay reveal, you’ll know what awaits. Beautiful misery is a nice way of defining it. If you haven’t then we highly suggest briefly escaping to The Lands Between for a little taste. It looks horrible… We love it. Hopefully soon we’ll get more from Elden Ring. But for now, all we have is this wonderful reveal… And the increasing feeling of dread as the release date gradually approaches.
Elden Ring is set to be released on January 21th, 2022 on all major consoles including PC. So get ready to die repeatedly as you fight some of the ugliest and coolest enemies in gaming history. You may also want to invest in a stressball. Are you excited to play Elden Ring Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Don’t forget to check out more gaming news here.
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