From Software is facing issues with the Elden Ring trademark, as per a recent report. Elden Ring is an upcoming game developed by From Software in association with the popular novelist George R.R. Martin, the man behind A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones.
Fans of the Soulsborne genre have been eagerly waiting to see more of Elden Ring after its reveal at E3 2020. It was hinted that the game will be taking a similar yet different approach from the generic Soulsborne titles, and it is something that is expected from From Software taking into consideration past trends. For instance, Sekiro Shadows Die Twice shared a number of core mechanics of the Soulsborne franchise but had its difficulty toned down to appeal to a wider audience. It's been reported earlier that From Software might be looking to adjust the difficulty level of Elden Ring as well, showing that the developer is still iterating on its core premise.
The reason for Bandai Namco's passive marketing for Elden Ring is now being linked to a trademark issue. As per a report on Respawn First, Bandai Namco was unable to obtain a trademark for Elden Ring as the initial application was rejected "for either a trademark dispute or some error in the application". Bandai Namco filed the application again and this time around the trademark was published on the 14th April as per the USPTO website. Usually, trademarks have a 30-day time period after filing during which any party can file a complaint against the trademark. That period is now over so the trademarking procedure is complete.
While From Software has not announced a release date yet, it's been reported that Bandai Namco will be releasing Elden Ring this year. If From Software actually plans to do so, it would need to file the statement which would allow them to commercialize the trademark. If it doesn't file it within a period of six months, the company would need to extend it, or else the trademark will be nullified.
The industry is currently in a state of turmoil, with many studios even shutting down due to the challenges being faced lately. Elden Ring was earlier speculated for a summer release but the current situation has pushed it to a Q3 2020 release as per reports. While the Soulsborne genre has a pretty loyal fanbase, From Software has been trying to appeal to a wider audience lately, and releasing alongside another big title might hurt them to a considerable extent. With a busy latter half of the year for gaming, it remains to be seen just how much Elden Ring can generate excitement after a long period of time away from the spotlight.
Source: Respawn First/USPTO