Elden Ring was just announced at E3 2019 during the Microsoft conference, which has finally confirmed that the rumored collaboration between Dark Souls creator FromSoftware and Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin is real.
The rumors of a spiritual successor to Dark Souls that is being made with the help of George R.R. Martin started appearing a few months ago, but they picked up steam shortly after the final episode of Game of Thrones aired when Martin mentioned on his blog that he had been consulting on a Japanese video game. The following weeks were filled with leaks concerning a game called Project Rune or Great Rune, with more concrete information being released over the past few days, where the logo of the game revealed that it was called Elden Ring.
A teaser trailer for Elden Ring was shown during Microsoft's conference at E3 2019. The trailer (courtesy of Kotaku) doesn't give much information about Elden Ring and it only shows cinematic clips of characters from the game, rather than any actual gameplay footage. The trailer doesn't mention what systems Elden Ring will appear on, nor does it give a release window. Update - The official Elden Ring page on Bandai Namco's website has since confirmed that the game will be coming to PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
The Elden Ring leaks have already confirmed that the game is based on Norse mythology and will involve traveling to different kingdoms in order to slay their rulers and steal their powers. It's possible that the majestic figures shown in the trailer are some of the rulers that the player will need to battle in the game.
Bandai Namco has since issued a press release with comments from George R.R. Martin and FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki. The press release also confirmed that Miyazaki will be the director of Elden Ring.
“Building the world of Elden Ring with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat!" said George R.R. Martin "The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what Elden Ring has in store for them.”
“Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the Elden ring mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration" said Miyazaki "The team is working hard to ensure that the world of Elden Ring will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
The collaboration between the creators of A Song of Ice and Fire and Dark Souls has the potential to create an incredible video game. Martin has amazing world-building skills and FromSoftware has made some of the best video games of all time. Elden Ring might be one of the many ways in which George R.R. Martin can put off writing The Winds of Winter for a few more months, but the pedigree behind its creation has made it one of the most exciting games to be announced at E3 2019.
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Source: Kotaku