A new trailer for Elden Ring shows exactly why FromSoftware’s upcoming fantasy RPG has won The Game of the Year award for Most Anticipated Game not just once, but twice. Despite not yet having released, Elden Ring has already been nominated for multiple awards at a variety of different events, and at The Game Awards 2021, Elden Ring scooped up the coveted accolade once again, having previously won the award in 2020.
Elden Ring is the next game by FromSoftware, the studio that brought fans the brutal Dark Souls series. However, this time the developer is taking its latest game in a slightly different direction. While still keeping its larger-than-life enemies and dark fantasy tones, Elden Ring will instead offer players a vast open-world experience that can be explored at will. Recent gameplay trailers and network tests for the game have seen many players already draw comparisons between Elden Ring and Zelda: Breath of the Wild, in part thanks to the freedom it offers. While trailers and sneak peeks of the game have certainly been enough to heighten the anticipation for Elden Ring’s release next year, they have not revealed much about the story.
That has now changed, as the latest trailer for Elden Ring focuses exclusively on the history of the Lands Between, and the narrative that has been crafted by Hidetaka Miyazaki and Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin. As this trailer begins, a mysterious voice recalls a time when the Rune of Death was stolen, and the Demigods began to fall. What ensued was a bloody and devastating war that “wrought only darkness,” where the Elden Ring was broken. The trailer concludes with an epic clash between General Radahn, Conqueror of the Stars, and the Blade of Miquella, Malenia the Severed. However, neither titan wins this battle, and the result is a fractured world that is left waiting for the arrival of the Elden Lord. As well as revealing a new trailer, Elden Ring beat out games including the Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel to be crowned Most Anticipated Game of the year, scoring the same win as in 2020.
The trailer reiterates Elden Ring’s release date of February 2022 and details the Elden Ring: Launch Edition. This edition will include not only the game itself, but also art cards, a woven patch, stickers, and an Elden Ring commemorative poster. While the game is still a couple of months away, players are eager to secure their copy, and thanks to fan excitement the title is already expected to be a strong contender for Game of the Year 2022.
Whether or not the next FromSoftware title can win GOTY 2022 remains to be seen, but along with the striking cinematic trailer, the recent network tests for Elden Ring have further cemented it as a possibility. Despite only offering players the chance to experience a small snippet of the Lands Between, the response to these tests was overwhelmingly positive. Many lauded the game’s combat, use of magic, and exploration elements, not to mention its gorgeous visuals. With this in mind, it's perhaps not surprising that Elden Ring has been awarded the Most Anticipated Game award at The Game Awards two years in a row.
Elden Ring comes to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S early next year on February 25, 2022.
Source: Bandai Namco Europe/YouTube