In a stream held this morning, Bandai Namco delighted fans with fifteen solid minutes of Elden Ring gameplay footage and commentary. This is the first extended look we’ve received at what the upcoming RPG is offering in terms of exploration, battle, and co-op, and there’s little doubt that the February 2022 release of FromSoftware’s newest title will be record-breaking. Along with the footage, a collector’s edition of the title including a statue, steel book, digital soundtrack, and hardcover artbook was leaked on Twitch.
Watch the full gameplay preview here:
Elden Ring will contain a total of six open-world areas for players to explore, with each featuring a unique map. In our first look at the protagonist’s finishing moves, there’s plenty of that Sekiro-style swag, along with an entirely new spin on bonfires. The Grace mechanic will appear on the map and will be used to guide players to useful locations or quest objectives–of course since this is an open-world title, players can simply choose to do their own thing instead. Players can use magic spells while fighting on horseback, easily swap between weapons, and perform incredibly powerful overhead attacks. Crafting will be available using resources collected while traveling through The Lands Between.
The game’s map will become more detailed as players collect map fragments, and Spirit Springs will help players reach high places. The game will have weather mechanics, with the new footage showing the main character forced to dodge bolts of lightning. Online multiplayer will also be available, including co-op, PvP, and the familiar invasion mechanic from Bloodborne and Dark Souls.
The game will take place in the realm of the Lands Between. The story will commence sometime after the destruction of the titular Elden Ring and the scattering of its shards called the Great Runes. Though once protected and blessed by the Ring and the Erdtree, the realm is now ruled by the demigod offspring of Queen Marika the Eternal, each corrupted by shards of the Ring. As a Tarnished–an exile from the Lands Between who lost the Ring’s grace–summoned back after this great Shattering, players will traverse the lands to find the Great Runes, restore the Elden Ring, and become the Elden Lord.
Elden Ring is now scheduled to release on February 25, 2022, and will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A closed network test is scheduled to take place from November 12 until November 15.
