Hidetaka Miyazaki and FromSoftware can do no wrong at this point. Since the inception ofDemon’s Souls, the creator and company have been on a roll with creating vastly detailed and engaging dark fantasies that are both jam-packed with content as well as challenging for any player. With Miyazaki taking a break from the officialSoulsseries for some time, he’s begun exploring other worlds.
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Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicewas just a taste of what Miyazaki’s style looks like with a different backdrop, but his most ambitious project to date will undoubtedly beElden Ring. In collaboration withGame of Thronesauthor, George R.R. Martin, Hidetaka Miyazaki looks to create the largest, most defined FromSoftware game to date. However, nearly two years since its original tease, fans still have plenty of questions.
10When Is The Game Releasing?
Perhaps the most pressing questions thatSoulsfans have is: When is the game actually coming out?Elden Ringwas teased back at E3 2019, and there really hasn’t been a peep about it since, at least from FromSoftware’s side. Fans at least know that the game is at least “playable” at this point or, at least, enough for Microsoft Executive, Phil Spencer, to sing praises about it.
Though there’s been radio silence for a long time, it’s likely that the game’s next trailer and possibly even its release date will be revealed soon, with the latest rumor being thatElden Ring’s next, big tease will be at the 2020 Game Awards.
9How Large Is The Map?
Hidetaka Miyazaki has touted thatElden Ring’s world will be the largest that his team has ever produced. This has sent imaginations soaring as fans just can’t wait to find out what exactly that means. Will Miyazaki fully embrace the freedom ofthe open-world conceptor willElden Ringjust be larger and more frequent corridors?
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IsElden Ring’s size being compared to most other open-world RPGs or just those under the FromSoftware umbrella? Will this world be detailed and packed with content or will it just have the same, long, stretches that open-worlds have disappointed fans with for years?
8How Will Combat Work?
TheSoulsgamesare well-regarded for having some of the most defined and challenging combat seen in any action game. When looking atElden Ring, it doesn’t seem like Miyazaki will be changing that tune any time soon. However, people are wondering if he’s going to change the formula.
WhenSekiro: Shadows Die Twicereleased, many people, including long-timeSoulsfans, were surprised to see that the combat was near, fundamentally different, going as far as to change the button layout. Are fans to expect the same shift in gravity withinElden Ringor will Miyazaki try to go back to his Souls roots?
7Will There Be Co-Op?
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicewas well-received for its combat and world, but one of its central complaints has always been about its multiplayer and how non-existent it is. And, for a game as challenging asSekiro, many wished at least for co-op to come back, because that giant monkey wasn’t messing around.
TheSoulsmay not have a difficulty setting, but it’s always been a saving grace to be able to call upon friends to help.Co-op is also just really funto have when exploring. With a fan favorite feature missing from Miyazaki’s previous work, many are wondering if they’ll be going intoElden Ringalone.
6Will There Be Invasions?
At the other side of multiplayer is invasions. A huge part of theSoulsseries' sense of replayability is the opportunity to test out new skills and weapons against other players. This is always fun against friends, friendly rivals, and unsuspecting newcomers who will never want to be friends.
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Invasions were sorely missing inSekiro’s war ravaged world, leaving many to wonder just how barrenElden Ring’s large map will be. Will people truly be able to explore with impunity or will the threat of other players return?
5How Deep Is The Character Customization?
Another one of the biggest teases aboutElden Ring’s gameplay is its character customization. Hidetaka Miyazaki has gone far to say thatElden Ringwill include his deepest, most defined character customization to date. While a good chunk of any RPG game is already dedicated to character customization, how much time are fans really looking to spend here?
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Will the character customization have really defined tools for aesthetics or will it also include deeper options for class systems and skills? With George R.R. Martin involved, will there also be options for different backgrounds and species that could also affect gameplay?
4Will The Camera Finally Be Fixed?
In all likeliness, this won’t be the case, but the fans are still wondering. As hard as the combat mechanics or bosses might be, the deadliest thing about Miyazaki’s games has always infamously been the camera. Whether it’s clipping through falls, swerving to the point it creates motion sickness, or focusing more on a demons butt than the actual fight, theSoulsseries' cameras have made the games even more difficult than they already are.
With the game promising mounds of ambition and a new console generation increasing standards,Elden Ringmay be FromSoftware’s biggest chance yet to fix a huge quality-of-life issue.
3Will There Be DLC?
TheSoulsgames, for the most part, have had somepretty solid DLC. Without them, fans wouldn’t have their gilded memories of fighting Artorias or the utter nightmare of seeing whatever the Orphan of Kos was. However, when it came toSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, there didn’t seem to be any plans to continue working and expanding on the game after release.
At most, fans got a big update this year that helped shift some gameplay features, but there’s currently no word for any new content. WillElden Ringbe the same or is there a longer road map for it?
2What Is The Extent Of George R.R. Martin’s Role?
One of the biggest and most exciting details to come out ofElden Ringis the fact that it will involve the critically-acclaimed writer of theA Song of Fire and Iceseries, George R.R. Martin. While George does have an impressive resume when it comes to writing, one does have to wonder what his role will be as a writer.
It’s already been explained that he’ll help with the world-building and fantasy elements, but will his expertise reach into the actual narrative of the game? Is he just coming up with cool ideas for the world or is he helping create backstories, story beats, and dialogue as well? It’s already interesting to see George as a pivotal part of the world-building process, but it would be even more exceptional to his writing skills withinElden Ring’s actual narrative.
1What Is The “Elden Ring?”
Demon’s Soulsreferred to the souls of demons,Dark Soulsreferred to the dark soul,Bloodbornereferred to how the game loved the color red, andSekirois just named after the main character.
WithElden Ringnow appearing in the horizon, fans are scratching their heads as to what its title means. IsElden Ringreferring to the actual location or, likeDark Souls, is it referring to the big MacGuffin that players will be hunting after?
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