Elden Ring’s first month has been nothing short of successful. From great Elden Ring reviews to community discoveries, the game is as engaging as they come. That’s not to say Elden Ring is a perfect game, as it has various issues (as all games do), but the vast majority of its players have reacted warmly to it. It has essentially taken over the internet and gaming discourse.
If this were any other game and developer, then a sequel would be a no-brainer. Its massive success right out of the game, as a new IP, is the runaway tale many developers want to see with their new content. That said, Elden Ring is likely to remain a one-and-done even if fans will be calling for a sequel for years to come.
Why Elden Ring 2 Should Happen
Elden Ring basically speaks for itself, with tons of players putting in hundreds of hours already. There are plenty of Elden Ring bosses to beat, secrets to discover, and more. In fact, the journey isn’t necessarily over once players beat the final boss; they can begin Journey 2 in-game. There are even plenty of rumors for Elden Ring DLC right now. What’s clear is fans are eager to consume as much as of it as they can and are ready for more content — in an already massive game.
Elden Ring 2, of course, would capitalize on this, and the IP is only a year or two away from fans constantly begging FromSoft for a sequel. It might seem like a bold prediction, but it’s really not. Just as fans have called for a Bloodborne 2 time and again, eventually they’ll begin to call for an Elden Ring 2. A sequel would not only satisfy fans, but could expand much on the already established world of The Lands Between.
If there’s demand, there should be supply, and while many Soulslike games scratch that itch, there’s nothing quite like a Souls game. Whether it’s the inherent difficulty, the freedom of builds, and in Elden Ring’s case, the freedom of exploration, there’s a lot here that could be refined and built up in a sequel.
Why Elden Ring 2 Probably Won’t Happen
Unfortunately, there are three major reasons why Elden Ring 2 isn’t likely to happen ever. The first is George R. R. Martin would likely need to be involved in some capacity, and he has a full plate already. Between writing, the HBO shows, and more, it’s hard to see how he could be involved. Theoretically speaking, Martin has perhaps done enough work in the world-building for a sequel to be viable, but that’s still questionable.
The second is Miyazaki himself. Miyazaki has always made it clear that he doesn’t like sequels, instead preferring to make new IPs and new games instead of expanding a series. This poses a question about Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3, but it should be noted that Miyazaki was not FromSoft president at the time and was not involved in green-lighting the projects. He would return for Dark Souls 3, but he was not largely involved in DS2.
Since then, Miyazaki’s preference for new IP has been clear. Bloodborne, Sekiro, and now Elden Ring have all been released since 2015, and none of them are likely to get a sequel. Fans want Bloodborne 2 and Sekiro 2 and eventually Elden Ring 2, but that doesn’t really sit well with how Miyazaki approaches development. It’s not impossible, but at the same time, it’s not something fans should bet on. If Bloodborne did ever get a sequel, this could open doors for Elden Ring, but the third issue with it limits it more than other games.
Elden Ring has vastly different endings, each fundamentally changing the world around them. Players can bring about the Age of Stars, become the next Elden Lord, become the Lord of Frenzied Flame, bring on the Age of Duskborn, and more, and there are plenty of little tweaks here and there. The truth is, the ending changes the world so much that a sequel building off of one would likely not be well-received, as it would need to canonize and essentially explain one of these. The beauty of Elden Ring’s endings are their mystery, and there are certain mysteries no one should ever speak too much of.
That wouldn’t prevent it being set somewhere outside The Lands Between and/or as a prequel to Elden Ring, but truth be told, that limits the potential storytelling. It could still be interesting, it could still work, but chances are a new IP would work best if this is the scenario.
Elden Ring Proves The Staying Power of Open-World Souls Games
That doesn’t mean Elden Ring won’t have a huge impact on future Souls games, even Soulslike games. Developers need to be wary of what lessons they take from the game, but it’s going to have a big impact regardless. It’s very likely that this genre approach established by Elden Ring serves as the baseline for future FromSoft games for years to come.
That’s not to say FromSoft will never make a more streamlined game again, but with Elden Ring’s success, reputation, and general approachability, it makes sense to keep that door open. Many who have never played a FromSoft game before may have done so for Elden Ring; many who have never beaten a FromSoft game may be able to do so with Elden Ring. Overall, it serves as a big building block for a new era of open-world Souls games.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.