Elden Ring is a full-price game that does not have microtransactions or loot boxes. It may get an expansion like other FromSoftware games, but it does not feature in-game purchases or any other way for players to spend real money. Every weapon, armor, or valuable item in Elden Ring must be earned via gameplay.
Some of the most lucrative items and rewards are hidden in Elden Ring’s difficult dungeons or guarded by its most challenging bosses. After defeating the boss, players can go to the Round Table and exchange their Remembrances for their weapons. Elden Ring’s overall progression system is incredibly engaging, and players are constantly rewarded for their efforts. However, that doesn’t stop an Elden Ring fan from imagining what a free-to-play version of the game would be like.
A Redditor named IWillNotBark shares an image of what the Wish menu from Genshin Impact would look like inside Eden Ring. The image shows Genshin Impact’s weapon banner, but the weapons are replaced by Hand of Malenia and Black Knife from Elden Ring. The user goes one step further and designs the rest of the menu around Elden Ring’s visual style, and players can also see the Remembrance of the Full Moon Queen icon in the standard banner. Similar nods to Elden Ring are present in every corner of this impressive image.
It's incredibly well-made, enough to fool some users who had not yet played Elden Ring into thinking it’s real. These users got worried about Elden Ring being full of free-to-play mechanics before the comments put those fears to rest. They also discuss if buying Elden Ring is worth it, or if they should wait for it to go on sale.
In the post’s title, IWillNotBark jokingly asks if they should pull on this banner despite being a free-to-play user. The comments section is similarly filled with jokes, with some users judging the poster for not having the battle pass. One user recommends waiting for the anniversary event for even better banners, while others discuss the kinds of items that could be included in such an event for Elden Ring. Some players also mention that they regret pulling for items in Genshin Impact’s various banners.
While FromSoftware is unlikely to add any loot boxes or microtransactions to Elden Ring, the developer is probably working on DLC for the game. Bandai Namco Entertainment also hinted at expanding the Elden Ring brand beyond video games, so fans can expect to see other projects set in the game’s world in the future.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.