Recent rumors suggested that Sekiro developer From Software had collaborated with author George R.R. Martin on an upcoming video game. During Microsoft’s recent E3 2019 press event, those rumors were finally confirmed as being wholly true. The upcoming collaboration between the prolific Japanese developer and the renowned Game of Thrones author is called Elden Ring.
What Is Elden Ring?
In typical From Software fashion, Elden Ring’s initial unveiling was heavy on vague pontification and light on concrete details. The reveal itself was little more than a cryptic three-minute trailer, and naturally that trailer didn’t include any actual gameplay. The trailer does at least confirm that the game’s original world was crafted by Martin and From CEO Hidetaka Miyazaki.
Speaking of Elden Ring’s world, there’s not a whole lot that can be gleaned from the trailer’s footage. It seems the titular ring is some sort of physical object which was shattered many years ago. The game’s aesthetic also leans heavily into a sort of grimdark Norse Mythology/fantasy vibe.
A subsequent tweet on From’s Twitter account confirmed that Elden Ring will be an action RPG. Miyazaki also confirmed in a statement that the new game will feature a massive open world for players to explore. The game will also contain other Dark Souls-esque staples like tough boss fights and in-depth RPG mechanics. Unlike Sekiro, Elden Ring will also reportedly allow players to create their own characters, again mirroring Dark Souls.
It certainly sounds like Elden Ring was made with Dark Souls fans in mind. However, Miyazaki also played up how much the game’s open world will help it in standing out. Players can explore vast landscapes at their leisure and engage enemies as they see fit. The game’s combat will support melee, ranged, and magic-based options, again emphasizing player choice.
As of this writing, Elden Ring doesn’t yet have a release date. However, reports suggest that From has been working on the upcoming game ever since it wrapped on Dark Souls 3. Hopefully that means we won’t have to wait too long to see some actual gameplay.