As though more proof was needed that FromSoftware's Elden Ring is one of the most anticipated games of 2022, the upcoming title has just become the most-wishlisted game on Steam. Fans are looking forward to this game for a handful of reasons, not the least of which being the involvement of esteemed fantasy author George R.R. Martin.
Elden Ring will be following Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice as the next release from respected Japanese studio FromSoftware. Games from this popular developer are known for being brutally difficult and esoteric. Vague, abstract narratives are also commonplace in FromSoftware releases, which makes it even more interesting that George R.R. Martin--author of the best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series-- is credited with developing the world of Elden Ring. Another thing that sets Elden Ring apart from previous FromSoftware games is its open-world setting, which stands in stark contrast to the iconic interwoven world design of the Dark Souls games and Bloodborne. Visuals are also shaping up to be more impressive than ever, with studio head Hidetaka Miyazaki commenting that 2020's Demon's Souls remake motivated a higher focus on graphical fidelity.
The immense hype for this game is illustrated perfectly by the fact that it has now taken the top spot as the most-wishlisted game on Steam, as reported by Eurogamer. In doing so, the upcoming FromSoftware game has knocked Dying Light 2: Stay Human off the top spot on the list-- a position that it held for twelve consecutive months. Both of these games are followed by other highly anticipated releases like Hollow Knight: Silksong and the PC version of 2018's God of War.
While this news will surely please anyone working on Elden Ring, there are likely very few people who would call it surprising; there is always a massive amount of hype behind any FromSoftware game, and the gruesome Elden Ring is no different. In fact, there may be more people surprised that it took the game this long to reach the top spot.
This bit of news is also indicative of FromSoftware's meteoric rise in popularity following the release of Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. In a video game market dominated by casual and easily digestible games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone, it is impressive that FromSoftware has been able to carve out a space in mainstream gaming for intense, creepy, and thought-provoking titles. Elden Ring is shaping up to be a one-of-a-kind experience, but fans will have to wait until next month to see how FromSoftware's foray into open-world gaming will ultimately pan out.
Elden Ring will be releasing on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC on February 25.
Source: Eurogamer