Elden Ring 2: When Will We Get A Sequel?
To put it as plainly as possible, "Elden Ring" has spread like a firestorm throughout the gaming industry and captured the imagination and adoration of gamers since its release in February. Developed by FromSoftware, "Elden Ring" has been a hit with critics and gamers alike with many considering it a revelation in open-world game design and user experience — and rightfully so. The game's approach to a AAA game experience has succeeded with flying colors without the aid of microtransactions or other kinds of pay-to-win schemes, and has left a huge contingency of gamers wanting more.
With the game being both beloved for its gameplay and raking in plenty of cash, it's only natural that talks of a sequel begin to permeate within the gaming community. But when should fans of "Elden Ring" expect a sequel to such a cultural phenomenon? And what would such a game look like? Here's when we might see a new adventure in the Lands Between.
What would an Elden Ring sequel look like?
Prior to the massive success of "Elden Ring", FromSoftware had made a name for itself with the "Souls" series, a third-person RPG franchise also known for its difficulty and emphasis on strategic combat. The series has existed in several different iterations, be it "Demon's Souls" or "Dark Souls." Because of its unique style, the "Souls" games have practically become a genre in and of themselves with many of their contemporaries that also infuse tactical combat and open-world design being deemed as "Souls"-like games. "Elden Ring" is no different and is created in virtually the same vein as its predecessors.
But there's one important thing about the "Souls" series that everyone should know — they're all different. Though they all share similarities in terms of gameplay, art design, and concept, there are no direct sequels when it comes to "Souls." Instead, they're all spiritual successors of sorts with their own contained stories and characterizations.
So while you may love the collection of both endearing and detestable characters you encounter in "Elden Ring," it's unlikely you'll see them in further installments and continue with the same lore. "There is no cohesive timeline to any of the games, so Elden Ring will be no different if any others do come out," Redditor u/brohandas-ghandi said when discussing a sequel. "Elden Ring 2 can exist... but in a different place, different timeline, different story about a ring that happens to be Elden."
FromSoftware has implied that Elden Ring is a new IP
To commemorate "Elden Ring" surpassing 12 million copies sold worldwide, FromSoftware and publisher Bandai Namco published a press release expressing gratitude for the success of "Elden Ring." "It's astonishing to see just how many people have been playing 'Elden Ring'," FromSoftware president and game director Hidetaka Miyazaki said. "I'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks on behalf of the entire development team." While kind words expressed towards the development team that poured their hearts into the product is certainly something worth noting, it's what the President and CEO of Bandai Namco Yasuo Miyakawa said that is making fans excited for the future of the "Elden Ring" IP.
"Much effort was placed into creating 'Elden Ring' so that we could exceed the expectations of our fans worldwide," Miyakawa said. "In like manner, we will continue our efforts in expanding the brand beyond the game itself, and into everyone's daily life." These statements imply that "Elden Ring" is a new IP that the company wishes to further develop, possibly hinting at further games down the road. It looks like the company is just getting started telling the story of the Lands Between.
Fans of the series seem to also think that "Elden Ring" is far from done. In a poll done on Reddit, roughly 41% of the 142 voters said that a sequel to "Elden Ring" is likely.
Don't expect an Elden Ring sequel too soon
Yes, everyone seems to love "Elden Ring," and there's nothing anyone would like more than to soon revisit the Lands Between in search of new journeys in this beautifully realized world. Many are convinced that "Elden Ring" is strictly a one-off and will never get a sequel, though. Writing for GameRant, Joshua Duckworth says that a big obstacle in "Elden Ring 2" happening is retaining the talents of George R.R. Martin, the writer of "A Song of Fire & Ice" — the basis of HBO's "Game of Thrones" — a contributor to developing the lore behind "Elden Ring." "Between writing, the HBO shows, and more, it's hard to see how he could be involved," Duckworth opined. "Theoretically speaking, Martin has perhaps done enough work in the world-building for a sequel to be viable, but that's still questionable."
Fear not, though! According to Reddit user u/What-a-Crock, early promotional materials seemed to imply that there will indeed be more games down the line. "The early leaked trailer with watermarks called it 'An all new fantasy action RPG franchise,'" Crock pointed out. "Seems safe to bet there will be sequels if it performs well. All indications so far are looking good."