Elden Ring and FromSoftware may have given George R.R. Martin the chance to vent his feelings about Game of Thrones season 8 in a creative world, and those feelings may be found in various aspects of the Lands Between and Elden Ring lore. It couldn't have been easy for Martin to weather the backlash that came from Game of Thrones' final season. Luckily, he was able to write a new history, that of the Lands Between, through his work on Elden Ring.
[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Elden Ring.]
Elden Ring follows the journey of the Tarnished as they return to the Lands Between after their exile. The Elden Ring has been shattered, and the Greater Will calls the Tarnished back with the guidance of Grace in hopes that they will gather the Great Runes of Power that have been scattered, and make the Elden Ring whole once more to maintain the reign of the Golden Order over the Lands Between. The journey of the Tarnished climaxes at the Greater Will's Erdtree in Elden Ring's Lands Between, where they can shape the future of the realm with the choices they've made and the characters they've helped.
With FromSoftware's symbolism-heavy storytelling, it's not far-fetched to believe that Martin slipped some symbolism of his own into the lore of the Lands Between, possibly expressing feelings about Game of Thrones. From Queen Marika's doubts about the Greater Will and Golden Order, to Godfrey and his Tarnished warriors being exiled, Martin could have put his feelings about the rise and fall of Game of Thrones' popularity in these storylines. Elden Ring has a dark fantasy style that supports releasing the negativity that grew from Game of Thrones season 8 tarnishing his reputation as the writer of a series that captivated countless viewers, until they became enraged and disappointed by the path it took at the end - after there wasn't more of his original material to draw from.
George R.R. Martin, Elden Ring's Godfrey, & The Tarnished
Robbed of the Greater Will's Grace, Elden Ring's Godfrey became the first Tarnished, exiled from the Lands Between and told to struggle, fight, and grow stronger before they return. In a way, Godfrey's journey mimics Martin's journey as a writer. Godfrey was a strong warrior before catching Marika's attention, as Martin was a talented writer before Game of Thrones caught HBO's attention. As Godfrey was risen to the position of Elden Lord, Martin, too, was put on a pedestal as the world fell in love with Game of Thrones. Godfrey was a tool for Marika, somebody that she could use to advance her own goals, and it could be argued that Martin became a tool for HBO, having to entrust the unfinished material of his final book to the showrunners because the show was made faster than he could write the final book.
Then, in Elden Ring, Godfrey's Grace was taken by Marika, and he was exiled from the Lands Between. Martin could very well feel that his own Grace was stolen with the trajectory of Game of Thrones. The show, based on a world he created, reached the height of popularity, becoming a cultural phenomenon. Once the backlash started to pour in, he might have felt that the showrunners robbed him of his Grace, leaving him tarnished and sending him - metaphorically - into exile like Godfrey, becoming Elden Ring's Hoarah Loux. Alternatively, Martin could have seen it as the consequence of his own story growing beyond his control - perhaps no ending would have satisfied his audience. Similarly, in Elden Ring, Godfrey may have seen his exile as the result of him defeating all the worthy opponents in the Lands Between, having no choice but to travel to distant lands in order to grow stronger.
Elden Ring Is A New Age For George R.R. Martin
Following the backlash of Game of Thrones season 8, Martin was given the chance to write the history of Elden Ring. The dark fantasy style of Soulsborne games allowed Martin, known for killing off beloved characters, the creative freedom to possibly include Elden Ring sidequests with sad endings and feuds between characters whose views leave the player uncertain as to whom they should support. When the Tarnished returns from their exile, they are nobody important to the inhabitants of the Lands Between, and it's possible Martin felt the same way, entering into the position of writing for a video game rather than a novel. He may well have felt a lot like the Tarnished concept he was creating, someone exploring an unfamiliar landscape. He may have been searching for a way to regain his Grace and continue the Golden Order by fixing his reputation, just as the Tarnished can ultimately repair the Elden Ring.
Not much is known about the exact involvement of Martin in the game's fiction and whether or not broader outlines of endings or character trajectories are concerned, Martin himself having downplayed the role, indicating he worked out things more fundamental to the world and its mythology. Given the number of endings in Elden Ring, however, Martin could have had conflicting feelings about going into the project, unsure what the outcome would be for both himself and the game. He could have been searching for a way to start a new age of writing, much like Ranni's Elden Ring Age of Stars Ending starts a new age for the Lands Between, instead of looking to reclaim the glory lost with the downfall of Game of Thrones.
Despite the poor reception of Game of Thrones season 8, it's difficult to deny that George R.R. Martin is a brilliant writer who can bring expansive stories to life through the eyes of a variety of characters. Working with FromSoftware, Martin's world-building skills helped to create one of the most memorable playable spaces in recent memory in the sprawling open-world map of Elden Ring, and possibly offered him a creative outlet for his feelings about Game of Thrones season 8. The storytelling of Elden Ring leaves a lot of room for interpretation, but it seems entirely possible that Martin could have made his influence on the game much more personal than players might initially have assumed.