Developer FromSoftware is introducing the Watchtower in Elden Ring, a structure that functions like towers in Ubisoft games and will allow players to spot and mark points of interest. Ubisoft began exploring these types of structures with Assassin's Creed's synchronization viewpoints, towers and other types of tall buildings that players climb to unfog the map.
The feature evolved with each new entry in the history-hopping IP, then exploded in popularity following the advent of radio towers in 2012's Far Cry 3. A wide range of other open-world games soon thereafter began adopting the tower-climbing mechanic, including the likes of Batman: Arkham Origins. To the dismay of many a gamer, this staple of the modern open-world experience has yet to take a backseat. And it sounds like FromSoftware found a way to implement the feature into its next major role-playing project.
During a recent interview with Indonesian publication JagatPlay (translation via eXputer), FromSoftware's Yasuhiro Kitao spoke of the crew's desire to encourage exploration. Since players may miss some of the smaller dungeons scattered throughout The Lands Between, a structure known as the Watchtower was created to provide users with a clearer view of their surroundings à la Ubisoft adventures. Kitao elaborated further, telling the publication the following: "You can zoom in with this structure, finding dungeons that will automatically mark on your map."
While some fans may find this news worrying, it's worth remembering that FromSoftware previously adopted other popular features from AAA games to great success. For example, co-op gameplay options remain a staple of Souls titles; their rudimentary usage most notably lets players request help from others in tough situations.
Kitao revealed another interesting tidbit about Elden Ring in the JagatPlay interview. While Elden Ring will feature pop-up tutorials like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the feature won't feel as limited. In Sekiro, tutorial messages appeared and vanished soon thereafter, leaving users with no way of accessing them in-game. FromSoftware's upcoming RPG will do things differently in this regard, according to Kitao. The developer told JagatPlay that tutorial messages will be summarized in items and made available for fans to reread at leisure. How this might work in-game remains a mystery, but this much and more should receive more depth in the months leading up to release.
Elden Ring launches across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S platforms on January 21, 2022.