Last month,
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin revealed he was working with a Japanese game developer on a mysterious project. It was later reported that the collaboration was with FromSoftware, the studio behind
Bloodborne and
Dark Souls. And just days before E3, it was leaked that the mysterious new game would be called
Elden Ring.
At Microsoft's Xbox conference on Sunday, all of these rumors and reports were officially confirmed. Bandai Namco officially announced
Elden Ring with a cinematic trailer. Unfortunately, the trailer does little to answer any questions as to what kind of game Elden Ring will be. All that's show is some vivid imagery as a narrator explains that something called the "Elden Ring" — "that which commanded the skies and given life its fullest brilliance" was shattered "by someone or something."
In a post on
Xbox Wire, game director Hidetaka Miyazaki classifed
Elden Ring as a third-person action RPG that
"puts more focus on RPG elements." That said, the developer isn't shying away
"from the fun of responsive melee-based combat."
Miyazaki also assured fans that they can expect the same type of challenge as other FromSoftware titles.
"The importance we place on the joy the player experiences through overcoming challenges will be the same as it is in our other titles. I believe it will prove to be a very satisfying experience," he said. And yes, you can expect gritty, intense boss fights.
Elden Ring will feature a wide variety of weapons, magic, and ways to engage enemies, as well as character customization elements. Miyazaki actually said this game will provide more variety in combat approach than the
Dark Souls series.
Another major difference from the
Dark Souls series is that
Elden Ring will be an open world title.
Due to this, the scale of the world and its narrative, as well as the depth and freedom of exploration have increased dramatically. It is without a doubt our biggest title yet in terms of sheer volume.
There are many definitions to the term “open world,” and I might not be phrasing it correctly, but we have simply tried our own approach to a game with a large, open field to play in.
It is a world full of danger and threats, as well as many areas ripe for exploration. Among those areas, you will also find intricately designed, multi-layered castles and such.
Elden Ring does not have a release date, but it will be available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.