FromSoftware's Soulsborne series are some of the most popular games out there. When the developer's latest title, Elden Ring, was revealed in 2019, fans were eager to get their hands on the latest challenge by FromSoftware. However, since being revealed nearly two years ago, details on this title have been sparse outside of a few leaked, blurry gameplay clips.
In spite of this, Elden Ring is still a hotly anticipated title. Rumors and leaks regarding the game tend to gain a lot of traction on the internet, no matter how fake they clearly are, and livestreams of major gaming event are sure to have messages from fans in the chat pleading for any sort of update on the game. Looking at Elden Ring, one might be puzzled as to why so many people are excited for a game they know so little about, but it's actually quite simple.
A New Type Of Souls Game
The Soulsborne games are joined together by a few recurring elements. Each game features a brutal difficulty, similar upgrade and checkpoint systems, and most kick off with a boss battle that players are supposed to lose, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Many of their control schemes are similar, too. However, despite how much the Soulsborne games have in common, they don't play the same at all.
Demon's Souls and Dark Souls each call for a more tempered approach to combat. For some close-range classes, having a shield up-and-ready to block or parry is imperative to surviving both games' dreary, dangerous medieval settings.
FromSoftware's 2015 hit Bloodborne later mixed things up by quickening the pace of combat, which resulted in a more aggressive style of gameplay. Unlike its predecessors, Bloodborne didn't feature any defensive options outside of rolling; players can still parry but even that requires the player to interrupt an enemy's attack with their own—a gunshot. Bloodborne's setting also differed significantly, as it moved away from the dark middle-ages in favor of a more gothic one rife with eldritch abominations.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice made players faster than ever, and expanded on many of the Soulsborne games core mechanics in interesting ways; jumping was present in previous games but hardly had much utility. In Sekiro, it can be used to scale buildings and cliffs or to get the drop on unsuspecting enemies. It also expanded on the series' hallmark "backstabs" by introducing stealth mechanics—a first for the series. Safe to say, Sekiro has the most dynamic combat and movement options in the entire Soulsborne series.
Keeping this trend of changes alive, Elden Ring is confirmed to have its own unique elements. For starters, the game is said to have a greater focus on RPG elements than previous Soulsborne titles, which should afford players a higher degree of choice when deciding how to tackle the game's various challenges. Elden Ring is also an "open field" title, boasting a larger explorable area than what was previously seen in other Soulsborne games. Leaked footage has also showcased new gameplay elements such as horseback riding, which would presumably assist players in navigating this open field. Many are eager to see how the latest Soulsborne game handles its unique elements and if it does so with the same success that Bloodborne and Sekiro had.
George R.R. Martin's Involvement
George R.R. Martin is best known as the author behind the fantasy series of novels, A Song of Fire and Ice, which were later adapted into HBO's award-winning Game of Thrones. The television series' monumental success brought a great deal of attention towards Martin and his books, which have also been rather well received.
In early 2019, it was rumored that the distinguished author would be collaborating with FromSoftware on a new game, revealed to be Elden Ring at E3 2019. A collaboration between these two highly-respected creators caught the eye of many fans of both Soulsborne games and Game of Thrones.
For Elden Ring, George R.R. Martin built the overarching mythos of the game world, allowing him to flex a creative muscle that has become well-toned over the years. Martin's affinity for worldbuilding is evident throughout A Song of Fire and Ice; it is one of his greatest strengths as a writer. Soulsborne games are generally lore-heavy, so it's understandable why fans would be excited for a new game with lore penned by one of the biggest names in fantasy writing.
Fans Are Thirsty For More
It's been nearly two years since Elden Ring was revealed, and no additional footage or gameplay has surfaced — officially, that is. An Elden Ring trailer has leaked, but the unofficial footage doesn't show much beyond what has already been communicated about the game.
Suffice to say, many are parched for more news, and that thirst grows larger by the minute. A comparison can be drawn between Elden Ring's long silence and last year's drip-feed of news regarding the PS5. While the circumstances surrounding each creators' silence on the two products likely differ, both Elden Ring and the PS5 generated large amounts of hype due to a scarcity of details. This lack of information led fans to speculate endlessly about each product, resulting in all sorts of rumors, predictions, and above all, excitement.
That thirst for information has also manifested itself in some abstract ways. At the time of writing, Elden Ring's subreddit currently has 118,000 users, and about 1,400 are actively perusing the board. With it being nearly 700 days since the last bit of Elden Ring information dropped, one might wonder why this community is so active.
The subreddit has the run-of-the-mill speculation and discussion about what's been shown so far, but also puts out all manner of memes and jokes about how long it's been since the reveal trailer. One of the hottest topics of conversation might be the community's aptly named "Fake Lore." Board members have begun constructing their own lore for Elden Ring that ranges from humorous satire on Soulsborne conventions to high-quality artwork of characters and settings that make up the community's fan-made lore. It's a little out there, but it's also a testament to just how ready people are for any news on Elden Ring.Â
No one knows when FromSoftware will provide an update on Elden Ring; E3 2021 has a lot of eyes on it because of this game, but a new trailer is far from a safe bet. Elden Ring seems to have a lot going for it thanks to its strong creative talent, but it's also one of gaming's current biggest mysteries.
Elden Ring is in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
