If you thought that the past few weeks have been all about Elden Ring, be prepared to see more of FromSoftware’s latest video game - or should we say, franchise - in the future. According to a joint press release by FromSoftware and Bandai Namco, Elden Ring’s success is a “fantastic start for the new franchise.” The two companies then went on to say that they made sure that Elden Ring “could exceed the expectations of our fans worldwide,” adding that they will continue to expand “the brand beyond the game itself, and into everyone’s daily life.” Elden Ring is the highlight of what’s easily been one of the most stacked Q1 slates in recent memory. At a time when games like Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, Dying Light 2, and GTA 5: Expanded and Enhanced, were all released within just weeks of each other, along with a PC port of God of War, Elden Ring stood tall and sold more than 12 million units worldwide ever since hitting store shelves last February 25. With both the game’s developers and publishers confirming their willingness to explore beyond the video game industry, it’s easy to imagine seeing Elden Ring in more traditional narrative media entertainment formals such as movies and TV shows, as well as comic books and even novels. FromSoftware could probably even ask George R.R. Martin for help, who was happy enough to write about the success of Elden Ring. Not to mention, the award-winning author currently has the ears of HBO executives with multiple Game of Thrones spin-offs in development including House of the Dragon. There’s also Netflix, who’s more than happy to throw a wad of cash at video game adaptations. As far as FromSoftware is concerned, Elden Ring’s success is unprecedented, and turning it into a franchise is a no-brainer. In comparison, Dark Souls III, which is the best-selling entry in the franchise, only sold over 10 million copies between March 2016 and May 2020. As Elden Ring is barely a month old, expecting an official announcement outside of DLC content and possibly even an expansion within the next few months is foolish thinking. But, given Elden Ring’s much-ballyhooed success, it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing Elden Ring outside of the video game industry. In the meantime, you can check out our beginner and class guide for Elden Ring if you’re new to the game. Also, if you want to feel even worse about your deaths, you will want to check out the latest Elden Ring speedrunning attempt.
