As of this writing, there have been 608 days since Elden Ring took the stage at E3 2019. Barely an official word has been spoken since then, much less anything as informative as a trailer, and rumors have reigned in its absence. Typically, these rumors take on the form of bets on where it'll appear, often resulting in anyone banking on it appearing feeling "hollowed." That's not to say that every rumor has been this way, though, as some have resulted in Elden Ring concept art.
At the same time, another rumor has surfaced with the new year that suggests Elden Ring is comparable to "Dark Souls with a bigger map." Coming from a reportedly reliable content creator, these details are joined by others such as a Norse/Celtic setting, a 2021 release date, a dynamic weather and day-night cycle, and more. Ultimately, this rumor isn't something fans should be much stock in; no Elden Ring rumor is. Whether it's true or not, though, Elden Ring can't just be a stand-in for "Dark Souls 4."
Elden Ring's Open-Field Concept
For added context, the rumor's suggestion of a "bigger map" isn't entirely speculation or off-point. In the days before the game would "disappear," it was stated that Elden Ring would have an open-field concept. Now, exactly what that does mean is somewhat speculation, but chances are, it's somewhere between a Ubisoft-style open-world game and a more linear, Metroidvania experience. It seems that instead of absolute free roam or circulating through specific levels, players will have big areas to traverse and explore. Again, that remains to be seen, but this alone makes it stand apart form a Dark Souls game.
No matter how difficult the combat is, this approach would be fundamentally different from Dark Souls. Instead of being chased from chamber to chamber and area to area or taking on each fight as it comes, the field would all be connected. In theory, this means Elden Ring players could kite every enemy in the field and have enough room to maneuver around. That would probably end poorly, but in theory, it could happen. This sort of freedom in terms of combat and gameplay is exciting for Elden Ring, but that also inherently means the source of the challenge won't necessarily come from the technicalities of a Dark Souls game.
Even disregarding this, as again how its open-field concept is realized remains to be seen, it just doesn't make sense for Elden Ring to draw direct comparisons to Dark Souls (at least yet). From Software, in recent years, has moved away from sequels, instead opting to create games like Sekiro. If anything, it seems that Elden Ring is a continuation of that break from the titles that have defined From Software for years, and while it will likely still have that iconic dark fantasy touch accentuated with challenging combat, Sekiro shows that From Software can do more than follow the Dark Souls formula.
All Good Things Come to An End, Maybe Even Dark Souls
The question becomes rather simple: if Elden Ring were indeed "Dark Souls with a Bigger Map," why wouldn't From Software simply name it Dark Souls 4? It wouldn't even need to go that far but could use "Souls" as a moniker to make this association. "Elden Souls" doesn't have the same ring to it but could have easily captured this idea. No, instead, it seems likely that Dark Souls has had its time in the sun, and now From Software is looking to how it can expand and differentiate its portfolio while maintaining its pedigree.
Spiritually, dozens of games have followed Dark Souls. The soulslike genre is evidence of this, and while From Software is hailed as its master, soulslike games are becoming less and less uncommon. Even if Elden Ring is similar to From Software's typical concepts, it seems like the game would be better off if the comparisons made to Dark Souls were made based on their association with the same company, not their identities as games. Elden Ring can take from the past and carve its own path, and muddying that by being, effectively, another Dark Souls just doesn't really add up.
Ultimately, From Software is the only company to know what the game is, so whether fans have to wait for another event or even Elden Ring's release date to know themselves, From Software's pedigree has earned this game that much. Anchoring it to Dark Souls when only one trailer has been shown seems presumptuous, whether a rumor seems to justify it or not. When it releases, these comparisons are unavoidable; they'll both be From Software products, after all. Perhaps, though, it'll be more like Bloodborne, Sekiro, something else entirely, or a brand new experience—it just doesn't have to be Dark Souls 4.
Elden Ring is in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.