As thousands of gamers are getting completely ensconced in the dark fantasy world of Elden Ring, some have Fortnite on the mind, evidenced by the numerous memes appearing in the game. These types of in-game jokes have been made possible by the game's messaging system, which has already been getting used by Elden Ring trolls.
Elden Ring, like most FromSoftware releases, is a single-player game first and foremost. Just like many of those other games, though, Elden Ring features online co-op and asynchronous multiplayer. Players can invade other players' games as foes or be summoned as helping hands, but most will likely be most familiar with the message system. Throughout the game, players can make use of an item to leave messages behind on the ground. These messages can serve as convenient hints, jocular misdirection, or just plain jokes. The catch is that players cannot simply type out their messages at will, instead they choose from a predetermined list of words and phrases in an attempt to make a cohesive statement. Considering the game's difficulty - most players have trouble getting past Elden Ring's first boss - these little notes can either be a massive help or hindrance.
It would seem that one of Elden Ring's most common messages is not a piece of advice or a mean-spirited prank, but a cheeky reference to the battle royale game Fortnite. Several players, including Twitter users getchell, nao, Dayvo Deezy, and Ludwig-Horn, have noticed the repeated message "fort, knight". Based on these tweets, it would seem that these notes are appearing everywhere from graveyards to dank dungeons.
These are surely just a handful of the many references to Epic Games' insanely popular multiplayer shooter made through Elden Ring's messaging system. Based on the game's dark and brooding tone, many fans would likely expect a reference to something like the Berserk manga in Elden Ring, rather than a colorful, family-friendly multiplayer game. There could be more overlap between Fortnite and Elden Ring fans than many might have assumed. Alternatively, players could simply be leaving these messages behind because they are funny and easy to form through the unorthodox typing system.
Whatever is causing this massive influx of Fortnite memes in Elden Ring, they are certain to get a laugh out of at least some of the gamers who encounter them. It can be jarring to see such a tonal disconnect between the at-times creepy and unsettling world of Elden Ring and the goofy, tongue-in-cheek messages left within it, but such is the charm of so many FromSoftware games. This Fortnite trend might die out eventually, but another one can just as easily take its place.
Elden Ring is currently available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Source: getchell/Twitter, nao/Twitter, Dayvo Deezy/Twitter, Ludwig Horn/Twitter