Elden Ring has received much praise for its exciting gameplay and challenging difficulty, but some are not happy with FromSoftware's latest RPG evoking a similar difficulty curve to the Dark Souls franchise. Farming Souls currency to purchase upgrades for weaponry, armor, spells, and potions has continued albeit under a different name, and certain gamers have taken matters into their own hands.
Due to the steep difficulty in Elden Ring, the in-game currency of runes are likely to be in short supply for gamers as enemies get stronger and resources cost more. As such, some gamers have taken to buying and selling runes on eBay using real-world currency instead of farming them legitimately, which could end up being a risky move for all involved.
Runes are used to level and upgrade equipment to give gamers the best chance of beating the game. Obtaining runes through legal in-game means is not difficult, and plenty of guides have already been published to assist Elden Ring players using easy farming methods, but players have still decided to try and take the easy route. Millions of runes are being offered in bundles online across eBay, with the process allegedly being run by duplication glitches and deposited via multiplayer servers. Not all sales have been "legitimate," however, resulting in some players being scammed out of their money in the process and receiving nothing in return.
The TOS guidelines from publisher Bandai Namco provide all the legal descriptors, which make the rules clear: "No Player shall be entitled to [...] sell to or buy from another [...] any of his/her rights held as a Player, and items, characters and saved data within the game related to the Software which are obtained in the Services (including so-called 'real money trading')." While eBay scams are sadly abundant for gamers, it is important to note that this buying and selling system goes against Elden Ring's Terms of Service.
Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has made it clear that the game was not intended to be so difficult that it would turn players away, even apologizing publicly to struggling Elden Ring players. Therefore, people who are trying to circumvent the difficulty through illegal means are understandably being criticized by other gamers as well as online retailers threatening to ban accounts advertising Elden Ring runes for sale.
The process of playing a difficult game is meant to be balanced out with challenge and satisfaction, rewarding players who take the time to strengthen their character through continuous playthroughs. Elden Ring occasionally rewards determined gamers in satisfying ways, as proof that buying runes is both unnecessary and extremely risky in comparison.
Elden Ring is available for the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.