Coming off of the massive success of Sekiro Shadows Die Twice,developer From Software is now putting all of its focus on its next upcoming game, the highly anticipatedElden Ring.There is currently no official release date for the game and there probably won’t be one for a while due to the coronavirus’ effect on the gaming industry. Still, the game has supposedly had its release date leaked twice at this point, in addition to some other leaks and rumors that have come out over the months since the game’s announcement at E3 2019.
Elden Ring was actually leaked days ahead of its E3 2019 reveal at Microsoft’s press conference, where it was confirmed that the game’s story was built by a collaboration between From Software director Hidetaka Miyazaki and famed author of A Song of Ice and Fire George R. R. Martin. From Software and Bandai Namco have yet to show Elden Ring’s gameplay in any capacity, but fans can expect it to be within the same ballpark as the Dark Souls series (this notion is backed up by leaks and Miyazaki himself). With that in mind, here are all of the major leaks and rumors that have come out on Elden Ring so far.
Elden Ring Gameplay Details and Rumors
A notorious leaker of From Software games has struck once again, with Elden Ring gameplay details posted on ResetEra. The user goes by the name Omnipotent and has offered information which lines up with Miyazaki’s interviews on the game up to this point, stating he game will feature an open world and will be From Software’s biggest title to date. While an open world sounds like it would deviate from theDark Soulsformula that fans have grown accustomed to over the years, one consistent detail on the game has been that it will blend that formula into an open world.
Omnipotent has stated that From Software is actually trying to disassociate the game from the term “open world” in favor of “open field” in order to better describe this more openDark Souls-like experience. Miyazaki reaffirms this much, as he has stated that whileElden Ringwill feature an open world, it won’t feature an abundance of NPCs or towns similar to that of other open world RPGs. In place of those things, From Software will implement several big dungeons and such in this open world. Following the theme of “big,” From Software is apparently usingShadow of the Colossusas a main inspiration forElden Ring,according to Omnipotent.
The ResetEra leaker also revealed information on this particular title before the game was even revealed. A month before Elden Ring's announcement at E3 2019, Omnipotent posted that From Software's next game would be revealed at the famed trade show and that it would revolve around a dark fantasy theme. The user also suggested at the time that fans shouldn't expect it to be related to Bloodborne in anyway. These predictions were eventually confirmed at E3 2019, but the most interesting rumor on the game's story came in March of that year, when people first started to get wind of the famous collaboration.
YouTube channel Spawn Wave reported at the time that George R. R. Martin was working with From Software on a new RPG title, which was met with mixed reactions mainly because it seemed so random (as a rumor). They claimed that the game would be take place in a medieval open world and would revolve around kingdoms with special powers. This was just another rumor that was essentially confirmed to be true, in terms of Martin's involvement and the "open world" idea, but there still exists one big rumor out there that still hasn't gotten confirmation.
A rumor from 4chan also dropped online a month before Elden Ring's official reveal and gave many details that are still not known to be completely true, but they seem convincing. The rumor posited that the game would take influences from Norse mythology, which so far seems to hold up. It also suggested that From Software's, at the time, unannounced project is a spiritual successor to Dark Souls, which also appears to be true, at least going by Miyazaki's past comments. Where the rumor falters though is in its claim that it would have three unique playable characters. This could still end up being true to some extent, although Miyazaki has already confirmed that players will be able to create their own characters a la Dark Souls.
Elden Ring Trailers and Release Date Rumors
Elden Ringis one of many games where the developer is in an unfortunate position due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In January, the pandemic forced organizers of the Taipei Game Show to postpone the event, a week before it was set to begin, to a tentative summer showing. It was rumored at the time that a new Elden Ring trailer was set to be shown off during the show but the delay hampered that opportunity. Although it’s still possible to be shown off at the summer Taipei Game Show, if that happens, the game is also rumored to appear during an unconfirmed Xbox Series X blowout event.
An XboxEra Podcast host had claimed that an Xbox Series X event would be taking place in either April or May, and thatElden Ringwas primed to be featured alongside it. Seeing as howElden Ring premiered at Microsoft's E3 2019 briefing, this would follow up with any marketing deal apparently put in place. This would also confirm the fact that the game would be cross-generational, hitting both the PS4/Xbox One generation and the PS5/Xbox Series X (in addition to PC). Presumably, Microsoft will be usingElden Ringto discuss its Smart Delivery program that allows people to transfer their Xbox One games to Xbox Series X.
The last big rumor involvesElden Ring’s release date, which is apparently set for June 2020. Interestingly, this rumor has two sources backing up its credibility (although it’s still not enough to prove it to be true). Target supposedly leakedElden Ring’sJune 2020 release date back in September of 2019. It posted the release date as June 30, which could easily just be a placeholder date, but From Software’s own website even leaked a June release date a couple of months ago. A post on the developer’s site just said June 2020, yet one would assume thatElden Ringwould’ve been shown off more at this point had this been true.
WithElden Ring being From Software's biggest game yet, it’s clear that the game still needs some more time before it’s re-revealed and ultimately released. As for when that is, it’s hard to tell under current world events but production for the game did start in 2017 after the final DLC forDark Souls 3was released, so fans might not have to wait that long for their nextSoulsfix.
Elden Ringis currently in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
