Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion Announced

[Broker]

E3 2021 Trailer:

 

 

E3 2021 Press Release:

 

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ELDEN RING will launch on January 21, 2022 for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM. The game supports the Smart Delivery on Xbox consoles as well as a Free Upgrade to PS5 for players who purchase the PS4 version.

 

Dive into a thrilling adventure and decide the fate of a vast world filled with intrigue and power. Fight against formidable enemies with FromSoftware’s signature melee combat and discover a wide range of inventive strategies made possible by the open-ended Action-RPG gameplay of ELDEN RING.

 

A new world filled with fantastic tales and lore has been woven by Hidetaka Miyazaki – creator of the influential and critically acclaimed DARK SOULS video game series; and George R.R. Martin – author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Players will embark on a journey across a meticulously handcrafted world dripping in blood and deception brought upon by a variety of characters with their own unique motivations for helping or hindering the player’s progress, adversaries with profound backgrounds, and fearsome creatures. Throughout their adventures, players will choose the fate of this cursed land by unravelling its secrets and myths.

 

Featuring a vast and seamless landscape with natural weather and time-of-day progression, players will become fully immersed in the world of ELDEN RING as they begin their journey and choose on their own path. Traverse on foot or horseback, alone or online with friends across grassy plains, suffocating swamps and lush forests. Ascend spiraling mountains, enter breathtaking castles, and witness other sites of grandeur on a scale never seen before in a FromSoftware title. 

 

ELDEN RING’s role-playing and customization options allow players to define their own unique playstyle. Experimentation is encouraged with a wide variety of weapons, magical abilities and skills found throughout the world; enticing players to follow previously unexplored progression paths.

 

ELDEN RING gives players the opportunity to chart their own path through its world. Choose to run headlong into fierce battles against daunting foes or take advantage of the game’s stealth and combat systems to gain the upper hand. It is up to the player to decide how to handle the many challenges that lay before them.

 

“With ELDEN RING, we have applied all our dark fantasy and action-RPG expertise cultivated throughout the Dark Souls series, in order to create a bold, classical evolution of the genre,” commented Hidetaka Miyazaki, Director at FromSoftware, “We’ve crafted a rich world with a staggering sense of scale, based off of legends written for the game by George R. R. Martin. ELDEN RING is a world full of mystery and peril, ready to be explored and discovered; a drama in which various characters flaunt their own mystique and ulterior motives. We sincerely hope you enjoy experiencing it for yourself.”

 

“I am very happy and excited to announce the release date of ELDEN RING, a new game created by Mr. Miyazaki and Mr. George R.R. Martin, two creators that I truly admire and have a passionate fan base around the world. I am very happy and excited to be able to tell you about it.”  Added Yasuo Miyakawa, President & CEO, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. “We will continue to develop ELDEN RING not only as a game but also in a variety of other areas in order to deliver the worldview and charm of this title to our fans around the world. We look forward to your continued support.”

 

Original Announcement Trailer:

 

 

 

Early 2021 Leaked Footage:

 

Spoiler

 

 

Original OP Video with Rumours about game before it was announced:

 

Spoiler

 

 

[Qazimod]

For those who don't want to watch the video in the "original OP" bit, here's a summary of what Vaati has to say:

 

Months ago, rumours circulated about collaborations between GRR Martin and From. Vaati claims that these rumours are true due to details from a "source". The collaborative project - named "Great Rune" - is an open-world game inspired by Norse myth where the player travels to various kingdoms to have a barney with each of their rulers and gain powers in the process. Oh, and horse-riding is involved.

 

However, all of that may as well have "supposedly" before each interesting detail because it's all rumour. I won't bother transcribing the whole thing because a lot of the rest of it is speculation, but Vaati hopes that more will be revealed at E3.

 

GamesRadar:

 

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George RR Martin has apparently joined forced with FromSoftware, creators of the git gud Soulsborne collection of videogames like Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. But don’t assume it’s going to be set in the world of Game of Thrones, as rumours have it that this game - titled Great Rune, supposedly - is set in the Norse world, exploring Norse mythology and all its dark legends. 

 

Martin himself confirmed in a blog post that he’s “consulted on a videogame out of Japan”, yet before this official confirmation there were already reports of the collaboration surfacing earlier this year. But we won’t have to depend on rumours for long, as other sources say that the game is going to be shown off at this year’s E3… can I get a hell yeah? As it’s focus is the Norse mythos, like God of War and the rumoured Assassin’s Creed Ragnarok, a big part of the game is going to be exploring its open world on horseback, a big change from previous FromSoftware games which traditionally have you fighting and running around on foot. 

 

[wev]

If it's based on Norse Mythology will it involve a quest where you have to fetch a huge keg of ale and have many large feasts?

[Gotters]

There will be a class of character that is quite fat, very bookish and not at all attractive but despite this they’ll be irresistible to women and capable of killing anything ?

[snowbind]

Can't wait to scatter my wife's ashes again. 

[Lovelyman]

I'm very excited about this. It's one of those that's always been rattling round my head as a 'wouldn't it be great..' game.

[Thor]

2 hours ago, wev said:

If it's based on Norse Mythology will it involve a quest where you have to fetch a huge keg of ale and have many large feasts?

No, but there'll be a fishing mini-game where you cast a net to catch salmon.

[wev]

1 minute ago, Thor said:

No, but there'll be a fishing mini-game where you cast a net to catch salmon.

 

Hopefully a bit where you have to dress as Freyja too

[Thor]

That would be a hilarious ... and bloody sidequest.

[Nobuo's Organ]

Only if you can master the fat pink mast mechanics.

[Thor]

I wonder if we'll be Odin, riding Sleipnir, in the search of knowledge. Come on, that would be pretty fucking cool. 

 

It would also allow you to play as as an absolute bastard, something we know GRRM is good at writing.

[Lovelyman]

 

 

[Vemsie]

Verified Era FromSoft insider had something to say about this without spoiling anything.

 

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I know I’ve kept you all waiting since my first post in this thread and teased you plenty with my hype. You’ve been (mostly) patient and quite curious so here it is. I want to preface this by saying that these are my personal thoughts and opinions, to take that as you will. But I hope that this will hold you guys over until announcement and that it was worth the hype, waiting, teasing and jebaiting.

It’s difficult for me to even find where to begin. But I guess I should start by saying that I’ve been a fan for quite some time and love these games to bits, even if I love some more than others. But even in saying that, after playing through each game there are a number of things I’ve always wanted to see Fromsoft add or experiment with in terms of gameplay and world design. Things I figured would maybe show up once here or there. But with this title it feels like all of my wishes have been granted and then some. Pretty much everything I ever could have wanted them to add is here. Finding out about many of these things has been like being taken to a toy shop as a kid, expecting to pick one of your favorite toys out and then getting told you can have all of them. Any time I think about the game I just get so incredibly happy that it puts a smile on my face and I get a bright feeling inside. It’s like a certain kind of High that is just absolutely Fantastical for me. Which I’m sure might sound odd to some, but I can only hope that once you guys see and find out more you’ll share in my excitement

And quite honestly, I think a lot of people will. I love watching the silly videos people create and put up on Youtube doing wild stuff in these games and I can only begin to imagine what kind of wild stuff people will be able to put together with this title and its new systems and the many hours and journeys fans will spend immersing and fully projecting themselves into this world, playing the way they want to. Especially since this is easily From’s most immersive world yet filled to the brim with secrets and stuff From has never done before in multiple areas. I expect fans to have experiences of being drawn into eyecatching locales like a sailor drawn to a siren while other darker things roam,lurk, skulk and stalk just out of view. In a world that’s lathered with old school inspirationsthat would have D.b.weiss & David benioff taking up a whole Tabletop to draw its lifeline and heritage. And don’t worry, you’ll get plenty of weird, dark and bizzare things so typical of From here too.

I’m also aware that many of the communities that From has fostered over the past decade have felt left out by Sekiro. For those people I can say that you won’t be left behind here, and I don’t just mean that in terms of the existence of certain things like fashion, but also the abundance and creativity of what’s being offered here, perhaps moreso than in the past. Much of what you’d like and have come to expect is here. I’m sure plenty of people will love being able to show off their threads while battling alongside or against other warriors and scoundrels. Whether you’re a Social Cat Or Titan, this Land is yours to explore.

In addition to that for people who are more like me, people who like to explore and discover these worlds, lore hounds and solitary soldiers. You’ll have so much to dig into and search for, there’s plenty of Unearthed Knowledge for you to write your paragraphs of theories about. If you love level design and that’s one of your favorite things about these games as it is mine, then you’ve got nothing to fret about either. Interconnected design is larger and deeper than ever and archaeologists and spelunkers might just be in for their biggest playground yet.

 

To me, it feels like From is firing on all cylinders here and if you’ve enjoyed From’s recent output over the past decade and are open to New things then I feel like you’ll get exactly what you would want out of the project like this. It’s not just a side step off the beaten path(though there will be plenty of that), but a culmination of everything they’ve done and an evolution leading to a new beginning. And for the first time I really and truly don’t know what else I could want out of a game like this aside from just more. More of everything that’s being offered here. This is easily the biggest thing From has ever done, and to me feels like magnum opus material. I’m sure other people will still have their favorites, but for me, this is everything I could have asked for and more.

Though I should also mention that I think people expecting battles between lions, wolves, stags and giddorah’s might end up disappointed, there is no Feast for Crows here (Though for people grabbing their horned helms, gjallarhorn’s and carving runes into their shields may end up feasting on crows to say the least).
And remember, this journey doesn’t end with E3, this is only the beginning, so don’t expect to be fully satiated just yet. But I hope this hype train will carry us there, and back again, rain or shine. And trust me there is plenty more to discover and get excited over . Fear not the feast my friends, for I have laid breadcrumbs a plenty, and let the hype begin.

 

Sounds like the Norse stuff isn't true.

[K]

Hard to tell given that there’s no actual information in that rambling torrent of piss.  

[robdood]

 Resetera insiders make me inexplicably cross. 

[Uncle Nasty]

Tl;dr - my uncle works at Nintendo.

[Vemsie]

It's all in good fun. I believe he's the same guy who debunked the Sekiro is based on Kuon rumors. The post basically confirms a couple of things if I'm reading it correctly: no Norse mythology (which basically everyone ran with), high fantasy setting based on tabletop D&D, return of community features that were lacking in Sekiro, return of Fashion Souls, interconnected world design, not based on the works of Martin and tons of lore. Sailors and sirens also hints at the sea playing a major role.

Good enough for me.

[Bojangle]

"If you love level design and that’s one of your favorite things about these games as it is mine, then you’ve got nothing to fret about either. Interconnected design is larger and deeper than ever and archaeologists and spelunkers might just be in for their biggest playground yet."

I'm on the hype train.

[robdood]

People did kind of say that about Sekiro though, and they were dead wrong. 

[Vemsie]

I'm just happy it's not Norse mythology based if he's correct, and he probably is. I've had my fill of that after God of War and not really interested in more of that stuff. 
That said, I really hope a sci-fi setting is next for From. That and I hope for a Sekiro DLC announcement later this year.

Also, if this game still comes out this gen, we can conclude that From is basically the most productive studio in the world. 4 new IP this gen alone, on top of Scholar and DS3.

[Broker]

Glad to hear them say that there will be stuff aimed at people who felt left out by Sekiro, I want a game focused on the other half of their formula. Bloodborne and then Sekiro have explored the combat system so deeply, I want more RPG stuff.

[wev]

It's a new Armored Core! 

[Qazimod]

7 hours ago, Vemsie said:

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there’s plenty of Unearthed Knowledge for you to write your paragraphs of theories about.

 

 

Well he's clearly proven that himself  

 

It reads like a template for Objective Game Previews - I'm surprised he didn't say "if you like this kind of game, this is the kind of game you'll like."  

[BadgerFarmer]

I do like level design, so it's good to know it has that.

[Nick R]

 

[RubberJohnny]

The title of this being phrased as if it has been announced rather than rumoured is constantly throwing me.

[Nick R]

19 minutes ago, RubberJohnny said:

The title of this being phrased as if it has been announced rather than rumoured is constantly throwing me.

 

Maybe this thread should be merged with the one below, which treats it as a rumour?

 

 

[Broker]

It’s a super solid rumour, and one that multiple major sources are running with. Plus it’s the ever leaky FromSoftware, and all the info points to us seeing the game this Sunday. I don’t think it’s a stretch to have a named thread.

[Broker]

Fully leaking now:

 

 

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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki – creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series; and George R.R. Martin – author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to-date. Hidetaka Miyazaki, President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made.

 

[dave7g]

I hope it's a normal RPG, not a fan of the frustration of the Souls games.