E3 2021: Elden Ring – release date, open world, gameplay … we take stock

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ELDEN RING’S PS5 AND XBOX SERIES VERSIONS?

Unfortunately, No information is currently known about the technical contributions of the PS5 and Xbox Series versions. However, based on From Software’s usual communications, the end result will no doubt be almost identical to the trailer we saw during Summer Game Fest. For the titles developed on PS4 and Xbox One that benefit from a next-gen version, we often end up with slight additions to the lighting effects, all with a higher frame rate and resolution. Especially since Elden Ring will be an open world. We can therefore imagine 30 frames per second on PS4 and Xbox One and 60 on the new generation of consoles without getting too wet.

WHAT ARE THE SCENARIO AND THE UNIVERSE OF ELDEN RING?

While the gameplay trailer was pretty nebulous regarding the Elden Ring storyline – a habit for From Software games – the official site of is Bandai Namco is much more explicit. In the title you take control of a boring race, neither dead nor alive, that has been banned from the Kingdom of Between Earth for a very long time. Your mission: find the Elden Ring (in French the “Circle of Elden”), become master of Entre-Terre and bring peace there. The precious artifact was broken into several pieces, which weakens the world tree – which we see several times in the trailer – as the descendants of Queen Marika the Eternal claim its shards. The whole thing has led to a power struggle that must end. In addition, unlike Sekiro, you can create your own character. Cherry on the cake: George RR Martin (creator of Game of Thrones) takes care of lore and the universe.

WHAT IS THE ELDEN RING GAMEPLAY?

Just like Elden Ring’s PS5 and Xbox series versions, We don’t know much about Elden Ring’s gameplay at the momentalthough it is a surefire thing that he will be close to Dark Souls. In the gameplay trailer we see quite a bit of air movements, which suggest a more lively combat system than in the flagship saga from From Software, such as in Bloodborne or a Sekiro. An agility that could also make it easier to move around in the open world. The gameplay video also features spells, either with a catalyst or straight with a sword. On the official Elden Ring site we can read that the title will contain “a vast arsenal of weapons, spells and techniques” with blades, clubs and spears. Eventually it will be possible to call for the help of up to four players online to speed through the crowd. But you can also play it secretly, it’s confirmed.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE OPEN WORLD APPROACH?

The biggest change from the latest From Software titles is the open world approach. Dark Souls, Sekiro and Bloodborne were allowed to move pretty freely, but We are talking about large open areas to explore. We don’t yet know much about the structure of this open world, but Bandai Namco speaks of “linked dungeons” on their website, probably to find the fragments of the Elden Ring. Incidentally, the editor conjures up “green plains, suffocating swamps, dizzying mountains, gloomy castles” to explore. Changing weather and a day-night cycle are also part of the game. To spice it up, let’s imagine surprise events like bosses appearing out of nowhere like we think we’ll see in the trailer.

WILL THE FRAME USE AN IMPORTANT SPACE?

Very present in the gameplay trailer, the grind seems to occupy a very special place in Elden Ring. At the beginning of the adventure, she even seems to wake up the hero. But above all, this faithful steed will undoubtedly make it possible to move quickly in the open world. In fact, he will be able to perform jumps or even double jumps and even giant jumps to climb cliffs (undoubtedly a way to take shortcuts in the open world). The video also shows a boss fight on horseback, which suggests the importance of the grind in the action phases. Also, during a passage, the hero jumps on horseback to attack while the steed ghostly disappears. It will therefore no doubt be possible to appeal to it by making it appear.