Life can be unfair but sometimes, the coin lands on its edge and things pan out. For instance, we’re yet to get Bloodborne 2 or The Winds of Winter. Instead, what we’re going to get is Elden Ring. It’s like ordering a burger at a restaurant and getting an island duck with mulberry mustard instead.
You still want the burger but you’re intrigued enough to give the duck a try. We can only hope that Elden Ring is as good as the island duck with mulberry mustard. Seriously, you should give that dish a chance the next time you’re at a restaurant that serves it.
As for now, you can read through this article where we’ll be going through the latest news and rumors regarding Elden Ring. Will the game be good enough for us to forgive Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin for delaying some of our favorite franchises? Find out in this article.
Elden Ring: What, When and How
Elden Ring has essentially become the game we never knew we wanted. It was almost announced out of the blue. Initially, we stumbled upon it while gathering information about the next Bloodborne.
Ever since then, it’s grown into a highly anticipated title. While you wait for the game’s launch, you may be wondering if it’s even worth the purchase and if it is, when and where you can purchase it.
In this guide, we’ll be discussing these points and more. We’ve also included a section listing all the game’s current trailers. First things first, when is Elden Ring coming out?
Elden Ring: Release Date
During E3 2019, From Software released a cryptic trailer for Elden Ring. Not much information was divulged along with the trailer. All we knew for sure is that it would be a collaboration between FromSoftware and George R. R. Martin.
If you’re unfamiliar with GRRM, he’s a novelist and screenwriter, best known for his world-building fantasy novels. His most notable work is A Song of Ice and Fire which HBO’s Game of Thrones is based on.
GRRM has always been a fan of RPGs. He worked on the multi-authored Wild Card book series as an editor. The entire series was inspired by the tabletop RPG culture.
However, his experience with RPGs came way before this. Superworld, a 1983 game whose Chaosium campaign would form the basis of the Wild Card, was a bit of an obsession for George. He hosted numerous campaigns from his Albuquerque home.
What this essentially means is that GRRM isn’t a neophyte or a casual when it comes to role-playing games or writing stories based around them.
As far as Elden Ring’s release is concerned, FromSoftware and the game’s publisher, Bandai Namco Entertainment, have yet to announce a concrete release date. Nevertheless, Amazon has listed the game for pre-order for the Xbox-One and PS4.
According to Amazon, the game is set to be released on the 31st of December 2020 (New Year’s Eve). But we should know by now that Amazon tends to instate soft release dates when there isn’t an official one. This is also most likely the case for Elden Ring.
Alternatively, Target has set a release date for June 30th, 2020. Of course, this is probably another soft release date or placeholder.
While there isn’t a release date set yet, we’ll be keeping an eye on any further developments. Sooner is better than later though. We hope Elden Ring will come out this year (2020), before Christmas.
Despite Amazon only having pre-orders for the Xbox One and PS4 version, Elden Ring is set to be released on the PC as well. There is no information on whether or not it will be released for the Nintendo Switch or Google Stadia.
Elden Ring: Official Trailers
In this section, we’ll be covering all of Elden Ring’s current trailers
Imagine if FromSoftware started making more light-hearted games. From the above trailer, you can tell that Elden Ring won’t divert from FromSoftware’s indulgence of dark themes. The entire trailer is soaked in darkness.
Like most announcement trailers, it doesn’t reveal much about the story or gameplay. What we can confidently surmise from the trailer is that it will be directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki and written by George R. R. Martin.
If you’re a fan of FromSoftware’s major titles, you’ll recognize Miyazaki as the director of the soul games as well as Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. However, his involvement with FromSoftware precedes his work on these RPGs. He initially joined FromSoftware as a designer for the Armored Core games.
It’s no surprise that Miyazaki would collaborate with GRRM since he draws inspiration from various novelists and fantasy writers. As you can tell from most of the RPGs he’s directed, they’re not traditionally Japanese role play games. Even Sekiro, which is based on folklore drawn from the feudal period of Japan’s history, doesn’t have the feel of a JRPG.
Maybe it’s because we’re used to the colorful turn-based gameplay style of games like final fantasy or the Pokémon series. Nevertheless, from the above trailer, we can see that Elden Ring will follow a similar vibe and feel to previous Miyazaki headed games. Hopefully, the story in this one makes more sense than Bloodborne’s or Dark Souls III’s.
E3 Announcement Trailer Breakdown
Throughout the announcement trailer, you can hear an ominous voice narrating it. The transcript is as follows:
“I doubt you could even imagine it. That which commanded the stars, giving life its fullest brilliance: The Elden Ring. Oh, Elden Ring. Shattered by someone, or something. Don’t tell me you don’t see it. Look up at the sky! It burns…”
It makes me wonder if the game will be Lord of the Rings inspired. Will this be a case of cryptomnesia or homage where some of the themes and character archetypes will overlap? Or maybe the stories will differ completely.
At the start of the trailer, the viewer is introduced to a light flickering on and off in an even cadence. As the video progresses, it is revealed to us that the light is coming from sparks generated by a blacksmith banging his hammer against an object on his anvil. Could it be the Elden Ring?
It’s uncertain why he’s working in the dark though or if it is even relevant to the game’s story. Describing the next scene in the trailer is a bit tough. It seems to be a multi-armed creature clutching on to a severed arm that seems to have been grafted onto its arm. There is a crown affixed to its head. To be honest, it’s uncertain if the arms are connected to the creature or if they’re just simply reaching out from the darkness.
While the voice in the background prattles on about esotericisms, in the next frame, we’re shown a hammer of some sort. It can assume that this is the blacksmith’s hammer. In a brief glimpse, we’re taken back to the blacksmith.
We cut to a red-haired femme knight or warrior of some sort attaching a prosthetic arm to her shoulder. You have to commend FromSoftware and Hidetaka Miyazaki for their inclusiveness in regards to amputees. If you remember Sekiro, the main character was missing an arm too.
A quick cutback once again reveals the back of the Baldur-like blacksmith hammering away and then we’re shown a quick scene where a knight seems to be in the heat of battle against a boss or large enemy. The knight’s aesthetic is quite similar to that of the Black Knights from the Dark Soul series.
The next frames show us a white-haired woman clutching on to staff or the hilt of some weapon. It could be another hammer. There are tattoos or scars embroidered on her back. We’re not sure if this is a significant symbol. The trailer then cuts to a desolate battlefield where a giant armored knight immolates in front of a dusk filled horizon. This could be the same enemy that the black knight attacked earlier on in the trailer.
We’re then greeted with a close-up of the blacksmiths back. It is a zig-zag of scars. At first, these details reveal to use that the woman shown with the staff and the blacksmith may be one and the same. This means the staff-wielding woman wasn’t a woman at all and I’ve completely misgendered her.
However, this isn’t the case. Despite the similarity of their scars, the color of their hair is different. Upon further inspection, these may be cracks and not scars. With every swing and a hit of the blacksmith’s hammer, he seems to develop more cracks in his back. The trailer video becomes washed in bright light after the blacksmith gives whatever is on his anvil a final bash.
We’re then shown a quick scene where the white-haired woman, now staff-less, falls forward in what could be a kneeled position. We’re shown the blacksmith kneeling in front of his anvil. Finally, the video cuts to the Elden Ring logo.
If you had to ask me to rate this trailer, I’d give it an 8/10. It does everything a good announcement trailer should. It gives you enough information to get you intrigued and excited. It has enough nuance and symbolism to build theories around. However, we do wish it revealed a little more about the game and its gameplay. All we have right now from the trailer are assumptions.
You have to take announcement trailers with a grain of salt. Sometimes, they comprise of random imagery that may not be included in the final product. We hope that this isn’t the case because we like what we see.
It’s important to note that the teaser trailer had some deeper themes and meanings that we are aware of. We will discuss them further down in this guide.
So far, there haven’t been any other trailers released for Elden Ring.
Elden Ring: Development Timeline
2016-2017
In 2016, FromSoftware had revealed that they were working on three new games. At the time, we had hoped that one of those games would be Blood Borne 2, but it wasn’t. Hidetaka Miyazaki had revealed that one of these games would be souls-like action RPG. We’re unsure if he was referring to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or Elden Ring.
The second game was theorized to be an Armored Core game. This will see Miyazaki return to his roots. The third game would be something different. If we look at From Software’s releases since 2016, there have been three major games released in total.
There was the PlayStation4 VR exclusive, Déraciné, Sekiro and now Elden Ring. We can’t be certain that these three games are the ones that Miyazaki alluded to.
2017 – 2018
Elden Ring has been in development since FromSoftware released the final DLC (The Ringed City) for Dark Souls III in March of 2017.
Using that information, we can safely assume two things: Elden Ring was one of the games Miyazaki was alluding to during his 2016 announcement and we can expect Elden Ring to come out later in 2020.
FromSoftware typically takes an average of 3 years to develop their games. However, considering the scope, Elden Ring may be an exception to the rule. Another reason to freak out is we’ve only seen one trailer so we can’t be fully certain.
At the time of development, Elden Ring was still known as Great Rune – its internal working title.
2018 – 2019
On 29th of December 2018, sat down with 4gamer.net to discuss Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and beyond. At the time, Sekiro had not been launched yet. It was scheduled for an early 2019 release.
During the interview, he stated that there would be two new games released after Sekiro. At the time, he didn’t want to divulge any details on the games. We can now confirm that one of these titles was Elden Ring. The other…well, we can still hope that it will be Bloodborne 2 (or not).
In regards to the new releases, Miyazaki said: “While it isn’t the time to discuss details, they’re both FromSoftware-esque games. We’ll need a little more time, but we’ll be able to tell everyone more about them once they take shape.”
2019 – 2020
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was finally released in March 2019. Both FromSoftware and its fans could finally focus their full attention on Elden Ring.
On the 9th of June 2019, the publisher BANDAI NAMCO released an announcement trailer for Elden Ring. At the time of its announcement, it was announced that it would be FromSoftware’s largest game yet.
It would be set in a large open world realm. It would contain writing, character development from George R. R. Martin.
It would be released on current-gen consoles and the PC.
In regards to the title, Miyazaki released this statement:
“Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.”
While George R. R. Martin has been tight-lipped on the next book in the Song and Fire series, he had this to say about his involvement with Elden Ring:
“Building the world of ELDEN RING with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat! The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what ELDEN RING has in store for them.”
2020
2020 is the year when the game is expected to launch. There have been leaks and news about it but no concrete date has been set. The game was supposed to make an appearance during the Taipei Game Show.
For those unfamiliar with what the Taipei Game Show is, it’s an international gaming industry expo set in Taiwan. It was originally set to run between February 6 and 9. Unfortunately, it was postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak in China.
The Covid-19 pandemic may push FromSoftware rollout plans back. As Elden Ring’s Taipei Game Show presentation looked to be the next logical step in the game’s rollout. There
Elden Ring: Rumours, Leaks, and News
Someone once made a joke that the Winds of Winter would be in Elden Ring. You would have to complete the entire game to read the book. Which means you would have to get ‘gud’ just to read the next installment in George’s series.
Luckily, this isn’t a valid leak or rumor. What is, is the fact that the game will be more than just DarkSouls-like game set in an open world. It will be a fully-realized open-world RPG with dynamic weather cycles, including day and night.
Much like the upcoming Biomutant, it looks set to be a systematic game where the weather may influence gameplay.
According to leaks from ResetEra user Omnipotent, a reputable source of insider information, there will be wildlife, who don’t respawn in the same area. He also said that the FromSoftware is veering from the term ‘open-world’. He says it will be an open field where some sections of the game feature long corridors and/or catacombs similar to Dark Souls 1.
Both the poster to the initial working title as well as the trailer shows us that the game will be heavily based on Norse mythology. We’ve also heard rumors that a great portion of the map is influenced by the Scottish Highlands.
Mythology and Symbolism
It’s worth revisiting the announcement trailer. There are a lot of deeper themes and details worth noting. For instance, some have speculated that the red-haired woman with the bronze prosthetic arm maybe a Valkyrie.
FromSoftware seldom lifts entire cultures or myths. Rather, they take certain elements for inspiration. Other users have drawn parallels from the red-haired woman to Nuada Airgetlám, an Irish deity who loses an arm during a battle and replaces it with a silver one, forged for him by Dian Cécht, the god of healing.
Some have compared the knight with the spear, to Lugh, who was known to wield a magical blood-thirsty spear. One of his epithets is Lámfada, which means ‘of the long arm’. This refers to his proficiency and skill with the spear.
Both Nuada and Lugh are members of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a pantheon of gods that is ruled by Nuada Airgetlám.
As with most religions or mythoi, there must be an opposing force to good. The Yang to the Tuatha Dé Danann’s Yin is the Fomorians, supernatural beings of dark magic whose origins are either based underground or from the trenches of the sea.
It’s quite possible that the multi-armed creature at the beginning of Elden Ring’s announcement trailer may be a Fomorian or at least Fomorian-inspired.
The key reason as to why the red-haired woman might be a Valkyrie is because of the two wings affixed to her helmet. Valkyrie were warrior women who descended upon the battlefield and judged the fallen. They were sometimes depicted as crows or vultures.
If you had died valiantly on the field of battle, the Valkyrie would take you to Valhalla. There are other Norse and Celtic symbols that are strewn throughout the trailer. For instance, the hammer we see in the first few frames of the trailer seems stylized as a Celtic blacksmith’s hammer.
Then there’s the blacksmith himself. Earlier, I compared him to Baldur from God of War. This was because of the color of his hair and how it was braided. Although, I know that Buldar does not have braided hair. But the blacksmith’s figure and build are very Norseman-like.
Another thing we can pick up from the trailer is there will be factions. The red-haired woman might be in the same faction of the immolating golem-like knight. They both have red hair and similar armor.
Elden Ring Story
According to Miyazaki: “Elden Ring is the name given to a mysterious concept that defines the world itself. As the trailer at the conference implied, this “Elden Ring” has been shattered. The significance of this will be one of the important themes of the game.”
At first, I thought the name would be a reference to a celestial or cosmic body such as the moon or sun. In the battle portions of the trailer, you can see an almost ashen, dark sky. However, this could just mean the characters in battle were doing it at dusk.
Then again, in the trailer, we see the blacksmith hammering at something. Is the blacksmith a god, trying to repair or destroy the Elden Ring? Or is this some sort of bait and switch?
If the blacksmith is indeed a god, then this is consistent with the theory that the game will borrow heavily from Norse and Celtic myths. The shattering of the Elden Ring can also be used to explain the games logo, which displays four rings of gold or fire that are out of sync, which remarkably resembles the coffee cup stains on my work desk.
Another reason as to why I first thought the name was about the sun, is because of the game’s title. Elden may refer to something ancient and old. During full solar eclipses, the sun looks like a giant burning ring.
This could draw parallels to the Dark Souls mythos. The word Elden could be a reference to the old Norse word for fire – eldr. And the burning night or the entire story could be a reference to the jötunn god, Surtr. And the biggest burning ball of them all is the sun.
After the dark knight spears his foe, we see something shatter. Again, we can hypothesize that this is the Elden Ring as the narrator himself says that the Elden Ring was shattered.
We can’t end this section without discussing the character on the cover art and whether or not they’ll be in the game. According to Miyazaki, FromSoftware chose this character because “…of his eccentric aspects as well as the way he portrays the darkness that the world and story possess. While Elden Ring may be a classic dark fantasy title, it is more than just that. This character also represents one more theme in addition to the previously mentioned eccentricity. That theme is the will or ambition of mankind.”
Elden Ring Gameplay
Miyazaki has promised that Elden Ring would be FromSoftware’s most ambitious undertaking. It would focus more on RPG elements. There is going to be a diversity of weapons, play styles and magic. You’ll be able to approach enemies in a way that is unique to you.
FromSoftware titles tend to be very unforgiving, even with the open-world or sandbox style of the game, we don’t see this deviating from the challenging that FromSoftware likes to mercilessly dish out to its fans.
When asked about it during an interview with Sam Wilkinson, Hidetaka Miyazaki stated: “Yes, of course. Boss fights are something we enjoy making and makeup one of the climaxes to this title as well. We feel there is a wide variety of unique and horrifying bosses for players to look forward to.”
This should either excite you or terrify you. Overall, Elden Ring is shaping up to look like another win in FromSoftware’s impressive catalog.
Elden Ring PC System Requirements
Elden Ring will most likely run on the same engine that Sekiro ran on, the Sony Phyre 5 (or a modified version of it). Since it will be a giant open world with dynamic changes, I doubt the minimum requirements for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice would transfer over to Elden Ring’s.
Using this information, these are theoretically the system specs that will be required for Elden Ring:
Minimum System Requirements:
- Operating System: Windows 7+ (64-bit)
- CPU: Second Generation Intel Core i3 / AMD FX-6300
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 760/ AMD Radeon HD 7950
- RAM: 4GB DDR4 SDRAM
- Storage Space: 40GB
- Network: Broadband Internet Connection
Recommended System Requirements:
- Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- CPU: Second Generation Intel Core i7/ AMD Ryzen R5 1400
- Graphics Card: Nvidia Geforce GTX 970 4GB / AMD Radeon RX 570 4GB
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 SDRAM
- Storage Space: 40GB
- Network: Broadband Internet Connection
* Note: The information in this section will most likely change as more details about the game are revealed. Take these specs with a pinch of salt.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, Elden Ring can fill the Bloodborne 2 shaped hole in your soul, just like the island duck with mulberry mustard filled the hole in my stomach. As far as upcoming games go, this one is worth looking forward to.
We are uncertain of the game’s multiplayer mode will work or if it will even have multiplayer. I suspect that you’ll be able to invade other gamers’ worlds, similar to the way you can do it in Dark Souls. For now, we can only speculate.
The above guide is currently the most comprehensive you’ll find on the internet. It contains nearly every piece of news, leak or rumor related to Elden ring. It’s uncertain if Elden Ring will be delayed due to the Covid-19 outbreak but the information in this guide should keep you busy until the game comes out.
We hope that you have found this guide to be helpful. Thank you for reading and stay safe.