As the release of Elden Ring is getting closer, so does the promotional campaign by publisher Bandai Namco intensifies. British gamers are now spotting promotional buses wearing advertisements for the upcoming game.Elden Ring is a third-person action-role-playing game focused on challenging combat and exploration, in the same vein as the popular Souls series. This time, developer FromSoftware has been joined in creating the dark-fantasy setting by famed writer George R. R. Martin, widely known for the series A Song of Ice and Fire which sparked the Game of Thrones TV saga.While the game already enjoys quite the popularity, thanks to the legacy of its director Hidetaka Miyazaki, an all-out promotional effort is nevertheless being made by publisher Bandai Namco, with several buses clad in advertisements spotted in the UK. In London, the traditional double-deckers have been painted with game art and a caption highlighting the collaboration with George R. R. Martin. It's hardly the only effort at promoting the title in England, with a massive Elden Ring statue spotted at a game store some days ago.
Speaking of popularity, Elden Ring holds all the cards to be the next "water cooler" game, and will likely spark heated discussions just like its famous FromSoftware's predecessors. From debating strategies in dealing with difficult bosses, to speculating theories regarding the typically enigmatic lore, there won't be any lack of talking points for fans of the genre in the coming weeks.
While remaining a game centered on satisfying combat, the new project of Hidetaka Miyazaki has set particular expectations regarding its story and setting. In creating the fantasy world of the Lands Between, the developers have been inspired by works such as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Isaac Asimov's Foundation saga. A mosaic of myths drawn from European mythology laid the base for the game's lore and creatures, inspiring enemies such as the enormous, ferocious bear-like creature which will be one of the bosses to beat.
Just about a week remains until the release of Elden Ring, which will be available across console generations. It will soon be possible to see if the influence of George R. R. Martin has done good for the role-playing title, without straying too much from the core pillars of the Souls-like subgenre.
Elden Ring releases on February 25 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
