Certain studios have cultivated such stellar reputations that any announced project will automatically attract hype. FromSoftware is one of those companies, and its next game, Elden Ring, has been thoroughly discussed since its reveal at E3 2019.RELATED: Elden Ring May Be a 'True' Successor to Dark SoulsWhile information regarding Elden Ring is limited, FromSoftware has released enough tidbits to suggest the game could be one of the most ambitious projects in the studio's history. A compelling announcement trailer, Bandai Namco's official site, a gameplay trailer, and interviews with key personnel in the game's development provide some indication of what this adventure should hold. Let's take a look at what's currently known about the action RPG, including Elden Ring's release date, development, themes, and rumors.Updated on February 16, 2022 by Mark Sammut: Elden Ring's release is just around the corner, and FromSoftware has by now painted a crystal clear image of the title. This article has been revised to include Elden Ring's ten classes, along with the game's minimum and maximum PC requirements.

Elden Ring's Announcement Trailer And Development

Elden Ring's reveal at E3 2019 not only confirmed that FromSoftware was working on another project but also that it will be directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki. Miyazaki has grown into one of gaming's most revered creators of the last two decades, which is reflected by the positive critical receptions that his games have garnered, particularly since the release of 2009's Demon's Souls.

Hidetaka Miyazaki (Director) has quite a fantastic resume:

• Armored Core 4 (2006) – 65 Metascore
• Armored Core: For Answer (2008) – 64 Metascore
• Demon's Souls (2009) – 89 Metascore
• Dark Souls (2011) – 89 Metascore
• Bloodborne (2015) – 92 Metascore
• Dark Souls 3 (2016) – 89 Metascore
• Déraciné (2018) – 68 Metascore
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019) – 91 Metascore

How Long Has Elden Ring Been In Development?

In an interview with Xbox at E3 2019, Miyazaki confirmed that Elden Ring has been in the works since development ended on Dark Souls 3's DLC. As The Ringed City was released on March 27, 2017, it can be surmised that Elden Ring has been in development since at least that date. This also means that FromSoftware and Miyazaki had already started on Elden Ring while they were working on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Elden Ring's World Has Been Crafted By Miyazaki And George R. R. Martin

Elden Ring sees FromSoftware collaborating with George R.R. Martin, the author of the A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. In the same interview with Xbox, Miyazaki expressed his admiration for Martin's work, with the director describing Fevre Dream as a "masterpiece among vampire fantasy."

FromSoftware reached out to the author to see if he would be interested in working on a project. Following a fruitful introductory meeting, Miyazaki and Martin spoke about Elden Ring's themes and ideas. The acclaimed author used these discussions to write a mythos "full of interesting characters and drama along with a plethora of mystical and mysterious elements" for Elden Ring's universe.

RELATED: George R.R. Martin's Involvement in Elden Ring Explained

In the interview with IGN's Esra Krabbe, Miyazaki described Martin's role as a "guide for the world's lore." While FromSoftware is still handling the game's story, NPCs, and presentation, Martin's vision serves as the foundation for Elden Ring's history. In an interview found in the February 2022 edition of Edge Magazine, Miyazaki explained that Martin was asked to create dramatic heroes of old, ones that would add to Elden Ring's mythos.

In the same interview, Miyazaki listed The Lords of the Rings as one of Elden Ring's influences, along with Michael Moorcock's The Eternal Champion novels and the RuneQuest tabletop RPG​​​​​.

Elden Ring's Score Is Composed By Yuka Kitamura

FromSoftware's games have traditionally featured epic scores that seamlessly complement and enhance the action on screen. While not much is known about the personnel working on Elden Ring, Yuka Kitamura has confirmed that she is composing the music for the game. Those familiar with FromSoftware's work should be accustomed to Kitamura's style.

Yuka Kitamura (Composer) has worked on:

• Armored Core: Verdict Day (2013)
• Dark Souls 2 (2014) and its DLC
• Bloodborne (2015) and its DLC
• Dark Souls 3 (2016) and its DLC
• Déraciné (2018)
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)

RELATED: Elden Ring Fan is Creating an Unofficial Soundtrack

Elden Ring's Story And Themes

"I doubt you could even imagine it..." is the first sentence delivered by the narrator in Elden Ring's announcement trailer, and that quote should be taken to heart. Regardless of George R. R. Martin's involvement, Elden Ring is still ultimately a FromSoftware project; consequently, its lore is likely to be cryptic and sprinkled in through environmental storytelling. Elden Ring is not as story-driven as Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but that does not mean the lore will not be fascinating.

Elden Ring's Setting

Elden Ring takes place in The Lands Between, a fantasy world in a state of turmoil. This realm is governed by Queen Marika the Eternal but also hampered by her children who have been driven insane by the shards of the Elden Ring. Once the Elden Ring shattered, the Queen's offspring each took a piece, an act that led to a war known as The Shattering.

The Lands Between's current state is a direct result of this conflict. The Golden Order is also mentioned in the Summer Game Fest trailer and Elden Ring's Bandai Namco page, which could be a reference to Marika's children or the titular ring. It seems to be tied to a large glowing tree shown in the trailer that could be connected to the Greater Will mentioned on Bandai Namco's site.

RELATED: Elden Ring Confirms Major Story Details and Characters

What Is The Elden Ring And How Does It Connect To The Tarnished?

The Elden Ring, which is tied to the Erdtree, blesses the people of The Lands Between, a connection physically represented through the receiver's eyes. As time passed and The Elden Ring's blessing began to fade, some people lost that grace. These are the Tarnished, Elden Ring's player character, and they were banished from The Lands Between.

Not much has been revealed about the Erdtree's significance, but it could prove to be similar to Game of Thrones' Weirdwood Trees.

Once the Elden Ring shattered, the Tarnished regained their grace, allowing them to return to The Lands Between. Now, the player character must recollect the shattered pieces of the Elden Ring in order to become the Elden Lord. When the Elden Ring was whole, The Lands Between had two Elden Lords, one of which was Godfrey. As discussed in the Edge Magazine interview, Godfrey is a major player in Elden Ring who represents the heroic qualities of old. He is a character who was born out of George R.R. Martin's mythos.

In the 2021 gameplay trailer, the narrator addresses the player character, questioning why they seek the Elden Ring. A female narrator, the lady in black seen in the trailer, speaks about the Tarnished needing to slay the beings who have taken shards of the Elden Ring, specifically saying that "they will die."

RELATED: Elden Ring's Synopsis Sounds a Lot Like Dragon Age: Inquisition

Elden Ring's Themes

Courtesy of Martin's contributions, Elden Ring looks set to explore different themes from Miyazaki and FromSoftware's other games. While it remains to be seen what exactly will be touched upon by the RPG, the "ambition of mankind" will be one of its themes. Elden Ring's themes will be reflected by the title's presentation of concepts such as "beauty, justice, and strength."

Miyazaki's previous outings have tackled themes such as mortality, legends, corruption (both mental and physical), and the degradation of society. For example, Bloodborne's themes include "exploring the unknown" and "the feeling of fighting for one's life." The dynamic between light and dark also tends to feature prominently in most of Miyazaki's worlds and stories, and that is unlikely to change in Elden Ring.

Elden Ring's World

With some of the fantasy genre's greatest creators collaborating for this project, Elden Ring's world has the potential to be something truly special. As tends to be the case with FromSoftware, details about Elden Ring's lore have been kept under wraps, as Miyazaki and company prefer that players discover the game's world first-hand.

In terms of genre, Elden Ring is a third-person action RPG set in a dark fantasy universe much like FromSoftware's most popular projects. Unlike the Japanese backdrop of Miyazaki's last project, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Elden Ring uses a Western fantasy setting.

Elden Ring's world is divided into six areas, with each one having a main dungeon that houses that zone's central boss that will be one of Queen Marika's offspring. There will also be a hub. As shown in the November 2021 Gameplay Preview, dungeons will be complex and designed so that players can use multiple routes.

Elden Ring Is Open-World (Or Open-Field)

Games like Dark Souls take place in dense, interconnected worlds that harbor back to classic Metroidvanias. Although the player is given some leeway on how they tackle most locations, they are generally guided in a specific direction. As people progress through a campaign, they will eventually need to backtrack to access new areas or bosses.

RELATED: How Elden Ring's Open-Field Concept Inherently Changes the Dark Souls Formula

In 2019, Miyazaki explained that the biggest difference between Dark Souls and Elden Ring is that the latter will be open-world. More specifically, Miyazaki spoke about providing an "open field" for players to explore. The areas will be "open and vast," reflecting Elden Ring's ambitious and expansive lore. The 2021 Gameplay Preview reflected this earlier description, highlighting a vast map, sandbox-esque progression, and large multi-layered dungeons.

As Drew Ferguson explores in this article, Elden Ring could hit a sweet spot between Skyrim's open-world and Dark Souls' linear but open areas. Elden Ring could also prove to be "Big Dark Souls." In fact, George R.R. Martin described Elden Ring as a sequel to Dark Souls.

In a 2021 interview conducted after the Summer Game Fest, Miyazaki mentioned that Elden Ring will have multiple endings and offer more freedom than Dark Souls. While there is an optimal order to tackle The Lands Between's six areas, and Elden Ring will provide some guidance during its opening stages, players will not be locked into following a fixed pattern.

RELATED: Elden Ring Doesn't Need Easy Mode Thanks To Its Open World Design

Will Elden Ring Include Populated Towns?

While NPCs will be scattered across Elden Ring's world, populated towns and villages will not be featured. With the RPG's open-field design already presenting its own challenges, FromSoftware decided to not include traditional NPC civilizations.

In the game, towns and villages will take the form of ruins. Other locations, such as castles and fortresses, can also be found by exploring the map. These locations are in addition to each area's main dungeon. This detail also shines a light on the state of Elden Ring's world; this is a desolate place, one where darkness threatens to overwhelm the light, and danger lurks around every corner. However, beauty can still be found.

Elden Ring's Gameplay And Builds

Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice reduced the RPG elements found in the Souls games, opting for a heavier focus on action and adventure. Rather than continuing down this path, Elden Ring pushes its RPG aspects to the forefront.

Unlike 2019's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice that featured a fixed protagonist, Elden Ring will leave it up to the players to create their own characters and builds. Miyazaki even described Elden Ring as a "natural evolution" of Dark Souls.

In a 2021 interview with IGN, Miyazaki confirmed that there will be a huge variety of weapons and spells scattered across The Lands Between. Not only that but there are dozens of skills that can be assigned to different weapons and are not restricted to specific ones like in Dark Souls, highlighting Elden Ring's focus on player freedom and build variety.

Elden Ring might be quite a departure from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but certain builds in the upcoming game could emulate the movement-focused combat of the 2019 title.

RELATED: Elden Ring Having a Traditional Souls Class System Seems Likely Now

Elden Ring's Classes

There are ten classes in Elden Ring. Like other FromSoftware games, these classes are archetypes that players can mold to suit their playstyle, and some will naturally be more welcoming to newcomers. Along with melee builds, magic can be cast in two ways in Elden Ring: Sorceries or Incantations. The former requires a Staff while the latter uses a Sacred Seal. Both consume FP.

Please note that the game's Closed Network Test included three classes that will not be in the full game: Enchanted Knight, Bloody Wolf, and Champion.

Here are all the confirmed classes:

Elden Ring's Combat

In the 2019 IGN interview, Miyazaki confirmed that Elden Ring's gameplay is based on Dark Souls. Simplistic but challenging, that franchise's combat system provides satisfying real-time action that rewards an intimate understanding of an enemy's attack patterns. It's both reflex-based and tactical, all underpinned by a customization system that facilitates a variety of strategies to be viable in battle.

While Elden Ring's gameplay shares similarities with Dark Souls, the former's more open nature mandates that the combat evolves to match the new structure and presentation. In the IGN 2021 interview, Miyazaki explained that a significant difference between Elden Ring and FromSoftware's previous games is "the number of choices you have available in combat." Players can combine weapons, skills, magic, and items to craft unique builds and decide how they want to approach combat scenarios. Stealth is also an option.

Elden Ring's Summer Game Fest Gameplay Reveal

With its gameplay reveal at the Summer Game Fest 2021 Kickoff event, Elden Ring put to rest a lot of the speculation surrounding its combat. The trailer showcases multiple build types as the Tarnished takes on a range of bosses and enemies. Magic, melee, ranged, and even horseback combat are all showcased, confirming Elden Ring will not be restricting its players. A Ghost Horse will help players traverse the game's large map, making the experience more accessible.

Elden Ring is FromSoftware's biggest title to date when it comes to size and scale. Consequently, horseback riding will be included to make traversing the world easier. The gameplay trailer not only shows horseback riding but also depicts the main character performing an attack. This confirms horseback riding will be used as a legitimate combat strategy rather than just a way to get from Point A to Point B.

RELATED: Elden Ring Playtime Revealed, 'Largest Game' by FromSoftware to Date

Elden Ring Gameplay Preview

On November 4, 2021, Bandai Namco released a 20-minute video previewing Elden Ring's gameplay, providing the first detailed look into the game's minute-by-minute loop. This release reinforced many of the features shown in the Summer Game Fest reveal.

Here are some things the preview showcased:

• Sites of Grace act as Elden Ring's Bonfires, allowing players to rest and occasionally even sending out rays of guiding light. The latter are just suggestions.
• Map Fragments need to be collected to complete the world's map, which will help direct players while traversing The Lands Between. Markers can be added to the map so that players can keep track of enemies or locations of material.
• Beacons placed on the map will appear in the world.
• Spirit Springs found in the world act as a super-powered jump that players can use while they are on horseback.
• Item Crafting will be possible on the fly.
• Carriages carrying treasure can be found in the world.
• Limgrave Region's main dungeon appears to be Stormvale Castle.

Elden Ring's Bosses And Difficulty

The switch to an open-field map will affect Elden Ring's presentation of bosses, both in terms of encounters and their difficulty. If players can explore the game's world freely, that could mean areas will offer a more uniform challenge so that people will not be funneled into a single direction.

FromSoftware has taken steps to make Elden Ring more accessible, including features like the Ghost Horse that are designed to provide a helping hand in combat and guide players on their next objectives. When discussing the topic of difficulty with PlayStation Blog, Miyazaki predicted that more people will complete Elden Ring than FromSoftware's Souls titles. It should be noted that Miyazaki does not say Elden Ring is easier, just that players will have more freedom on how to progress throughout the game.

Through the Summer Game Fest trailer, Gameplay Preview, and other resources, glimpses are provided of some of the bosses that populate Elden Ring's world. So far, they seem to come in a few forms:

1. Bosses can be encountered while players explore the field. These have an almost spontaneous feel to them, as there is no "fog" to highlight that a boss encounter is on the way. Some of these bosses include a dragon and a knight.
2. Certain bosses will be found behind fog doors, and it seems like this could be the case for the dungeons. In the Gameplay Preview, a battle against a Demigod – Gothric the Golden – is showcased. It remains to be seen whether all of these boss encounters will be against Demigods. In the IGN interview following the Summer Game Fest, Miyazaki explained that the main bosses are essentially Demigods; once heroic and mythological beings driven made by the influence of the Elden Ring shards.
3. The main bosses appear to be Queen Marika's six offspring that divide The Land Between into separate regions. These will presumably be found deep within the central dungeons that serve as the hearts of each zone.
4. In an interview with Gamer Braves, Yasuhiro Kitao, an Elden Ring producer, mentioned that optional bosses can be found in the open world. They are also notably difficult.

RELATED: Elden Ring Gameplay Shows Boss Fight With Margit the Fell Omen

Will Elden Ring Include Multiplayer?

Similar to FromSoftware's Dark Souls franchise, Elden Ring will feature online co-op, as players can either tackle the campaign "alone or online."

The November 2021 Gameplay Preview showcased Elden Ring's multiplayer support, confirming that co-op, PvP, and invasions will all be included in the game. From the footage and information revealed so far, Elden Ring's multiplayer appears to be an expanded version of Dark Souls' system, providing players the freedom to enter other worlds either to provide assistance or to wreak havoc.

RELATED: Elden Ring Leak Points to Dark Souls Style Online PvP

Can Players Pause Elden Ring?

Except for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, FromSoftware's recent releases have generally opted against allowing players to pause their games. Although the Souls titles can be played solo, they do offer a multiplayer option that does not lend itself well to a pause feature. Although not confirmed directly from FromSoftware, the Elden Ring gameplay released so far suggests the 2022 RPG will be following in the footsteps of the Souls series. At the moment, it is rumored that Elden Ring cannot be paused.

Will Elden Ring Have New Game Plus?

Unsurprisingly considering FromSoftware's recent releases, Elden Ring will have New Game Plus.

Other Mechanics Confirmed For Elden Ring

Elden Ring will include a day/night cycle and dynamic weather system, additions that complement the game's more open nature. Typically, FromSoftware's worlds are quite static in terms of gameplay and progression, only changing at the behest of the narrative. However, Elden Ring looks set to be a more transformative and unpredictable experience. In fact, Bandai Namco's site specifically states that "the environment, the weather, and the time of day" can be used to the player's advantage.

Some other mechanics confirmed to be in the game are:

• Jump ability
• Fast travel
• Customize and craft items
• Stamina meter, albeit one that's less important than in previous FromSoftware games
• NPC stores
• Elden Ring Lets Players Summon 'Spirit Body' Companions

Elden Ring's Release Date And Platforms

At the end of the Summer Game Fest 2021, FromSoftware showed off a trailer for its upcoming game and also confirmed that Elden Ring will be released on January 21, 2022. In October 2021, Bandai Namco Entertainment announced that Elden Ring has been delayed to February 25, 2022.

Therefore, at the moment, February 2022 will be Elden Ring's month.

RELATED: The Next Elden Ring Reveal Trailer Needs to Go Big

Besides the standard edition, Bandai Namco has announced that Elden Ring will have a Collector's Edition and Premium Collector's Edition. Alongside a few other things, these editions include a 23 cm Statue of Malenia - Blade of Miquella, a hardcover artbook, a steelbook, a digital copy of Elden Ring's soundtrack, and 3 art cards. The Premium package also has a 1:1 replica of Replica of Malenia – Blade of Miquella's helmet.

Elden Ring Will Be Coming To PS5, PS4, XBX/S, Xbox One, And PC

Bandai Namco's official page for Elden Ring confirms that the title will be available on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC. While the game was originally announced solely for the PS4, XBO, and PC, Sony and Microsoft went on to debut their next-gen systems. Consequently, Elden Ring will now be available across generations.

As studios have sought to cater to both last and next-gen systems, many have opted to prioritize the PS4 and Xbox One since development would have started with those consoles in mind. It remains to be seen what differences there will be between the versions, although the PS5 and XBX/S releases will naturally benefit from quicker load times.

RELATED: Is Elden Ring Coming to PC?

Unfortunately, Nintendo Switch owners seeking a FromSoftware title will probably need to look to the past to get their fix as Elden Ring is unlikely to be ported to the current version of the system. Currently, Dark Souls: Remastered is available on Nintendo's hybrid console. Alternatively, Ashen is a fun Souls-like that is on the Nintendo Switch.

Elden Ring's Performance On Consoles

Elden Ring is a cross-generation release, meaning that performances will vary greatly depending on somebody's system. According to Bandai Namco's console specifications, the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Elden Ring will offer players the selection of Performance Mode or Resolution Mode.

RELATED: Elden Ring Console Performance Details Revealed

The PlayStation specs for Elden Ring:

The Xbox specs for Elden Ring:

PC specs for Elden Ring:

*4K and HDR require compatible displays.

¹Using PS4 Pro's Checkerboard function.

²While Performance Mode is enabled.

Elden Ring's PC System Requirements

With Elden Ring less than 10 days away from launch, FromSoftware has announced its minimum and recommended PC specs. They are shown in the above image that was uploaded to the game's Twitter page, along with being listed below:

Will Elden Ring Support VR?

At the moment, FromSoftware has not stated that Elden Ring will support VR. However, for a brief period, the game's PSN page did list "VR Headset Enabled," although this has since been removed. Most likely, this was just a mistake and Elden Ring will not support virtual reality.

As enticing of a feature as this might sound, Elden Ring doesn't seem to be the type of game that typically embraces VR. Third-person action RPGs are in short supply for the PSVR, and it seems unlikely that Elden Ring will go against the grain.

Latest Elden Ring News

Elden Ring concluded its Closed Network Test in November, giving fans the first taste of the RPG's offerings. With the game's release less than two away, the wait is almost done.

RELATED: The Odds of Elden Ring Being at E3 2021

Recommended Readings

As the wait continues for Elden Ring's debut, there are more than enough articles, discussions, and rumors to keep even the most die-hard FromSoftware fan satiated. Along with the various pieces linked throughout this page, here are a handful of other articles to check out:

• Elden Ring May Open a Void for Games like Sekiro and Bloodborne
• Elden Ring is Not the First Game George R.R. Martin Has Worked On
• Elden Ring-Dark Souls Comparisons May Just Be Beginning
• Bloodborne 2 and Dark Souls 4: Will Either Ever Happen?
• The Surge 2’s Parry System Should Be a Blueprint for Elden Ring
• Elden Ring Fans Flood Reddit With Berserk Appreciation Posts Following Creator's Death
• Elden Ring Should Keep More of the Dark Souls Formula Than It Abandons
• The Elden Ring Subreddit is On Fire Following Summer Game Fest Trailer
• Elden Ring Could Be What Dark Souls 2 Couldn't
• Elden Ring Makes Dark Souls 4 Unnecessary
• Elden Ring Looks Like it Could Bring Back Sekiro's Accessibility Debate
• Elden Ring's 'Pot Boy' Has Become FromSoftware's Latest Meme
• Demon’s Souls on PS5 May Have Hurt Elden Ring’s Appeal
• How FromSoftware Utilizes Mythology and Religion in Every Souls Game
• Starfield, Elden Ring Face Similar Concerns at Launch
• Elden Ring Should Be Inspired by More Than Just Lord of the Rings
• Elden Ring Seems Like a Perfect Culmination of Every FromSoftware Game
• It Looks Like Elden Ring Will Have About 42 Achievements
• Elden Ring Intro Has a Demon's Souls Easter Egg
• Elden Ring Details Improvements It Makes to the Soulslike Formula

Every Game Coming Out On PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and the Nintendo Switch

Elden Ring might cast a wide shadow but it is hardly the only major game set to come out over the next few months. Regardless of whether someone owns a PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, or PC, they are spoilt for choice when it comes to upcoming games. Those looking for something to play while waiting for the release of Elden Ring should check out the following articles:

• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For PS5 And PS4
• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For Xbox Series X|S And Xbox One
• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For Nintendo Switch
• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For PC

Elden Ring releases on February 25, 2022 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

MORE: Elden Ring Preview: From Software Takes Souls to the Open World