As a sort of demo, Elden Ring's closed network test last November let a select number of players get a feel for how FromSoftware was going to adapt its action RPG formula to an open world environment, but the experience won't entirely be indicative of the final product. As the name implies, the main goal from the developer's standpoint was to test the game's multiplayer functionality, though player feedback on gameplay was also going to be taken into account. Elden Ring's closed network test left strong impressions on many who had the opportunity to play it, but there will be a variety of changes to the demo area when the final game releases.
With the closed network test being more or less a demo for those playing, many expected there to be a plethora of changes made to the game between the CNT and release. Obvious ones include how the game will actually start. The CNT unceremoniously dropped players into a cave for its tutorial segment with no preamble. There were no introductory cutscenes, which typically preclude FromSoftware's games for the sake of world building and narrative impetus. The CNT also lacked the ability to create a character, known to be in the game even before Elden Ring's character customization suite was leaked.
During an interview for 2022's Taipei Game Show, which has been posted to YouTube by Bandai Namco, FromSoftware's Yasuhiro Kitao shed light on some other changes made to the CNT area players can expect to find when Elden Ring launches. Players who conquered as much of Limgrave as they could during the CNT will see some variation in enemy placement, a change predicted by many Elden Ring sleuths who noticed the Tree Sentinel boss appeared in a different location in trailers (and who also wasn't guarding a tree in the CNT). Those same sleuths will also have to redouble their efforts digging into Elden Ring's lore, since Kitao says many flavor texts for items have been finalized since the CNT build.
Elden Ring's Final Build Will Allow More Freedom Than The CNT
Although network test players found some Elden Ring secrets by glitching their way out of bounds, those restrictions will be lifted completely in the final game. The CNT used a number of methods to keep players in the demo area, including a magical blue barrier and massive fog walls in the open world. This was done alongside the differing enemy placements to show players a tailored microcosm of what they might expect from the full game. Though there was plenty of exploration to be had, including a handful of smaller dungeons to delve into, the CNT was designed to ultimately funnel players toward Stormveil Castle, where they could get a feel for the final game's major dungeons.
Kitao made sure to clarify that the final game will do no such handholding, and players can even bypass Stormveil Castle entirely if they want. It's been known that Elden Ring will let players explore freely, but Kitao seemed keen on emphasizing that players can head straight for later game areas almost immediately. Though it hasn't been officially confirmed, many suspect that the armors available in the closed network test won't be early game sets, with the same being probable for some of the weapons and magics found. There are likely a number of other small changes being made to Elden Ring following the closed network test, but those might not be discovered until the game launches.
Source: Bandai Namco/YouTube