While we're all eagerly awaiting Shadow of the Erdtree, this time there's completely different news about Elden Ring, as a mobile version of the game might be on the horizon.
The release of Elden Ring in 2022 was a dream come true for fans of soulslikes and open world enthusiasts. With 20 million copies sold in the first year, the challenging RPG became a real bestseller. Currently, fans are eagerly awaiting the first Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, which is hoped to be released for the 2-year anniversary of the main game in February 2024.
For this, the wildest theories have already been proposed, from insights from Taylor Swift to hints hidden in Steam updates. However, it seems that the DLC is not the only new Elden Ring content awaiting us.
Reuters tech correspondent Josh Ye initially reported on Twitter/X that the Chinese holding company Tencent is working on a mobile adaptation of Elden Ring. According to insiders, the company acquired the licensing rights for the game by FromSoftware in 2022 and set up a team of a few dozen people to work on a prototype.
Elden Ring Mobile Is Reportedly In Development
My latest: Tencent has been working to adapt "Elden Ring" into a mobile version, three people familiar with the matter said, as it searches for a new hit. Tencent acquired the licensing rights in 2022 and set up a small team to work on a prototype. But progress has been slow. 1/ pic.twitter.com/NTQelupq53
— Josh Ye (@ByJoshYe) February 6, 2024
The mobile game is not intended to be a one-to-one port. Instead, it's slated to be a free-to-play title in the style of Genshin Impact. While Elden Ring in its original form operates as a full-price title, the mobile version is expected to rely on in-app purchases and a Gacha system, as is common for similar games.
According to Ye, "the design of Elden Ring is so at odds with Tencent's vision that the progress is still at demo stage". So if this version of the modern classic will ever come out, it will definitely take a while.
I personally am undecided about whether I like the idea of Elden Ring in this form. With FromSoftware games, the overall experience has always been cohesive, and you paid a fixed price for it. The world and gameplay were consistent. I'm not sure if this can be replicated in a continuously evolving mobile game with in-app purchases, even though I would be excited to be able to play Elden Ring on the go.
A Nier Mobile Game Was Also Planned But Didn't See The Light Of Day
So far, Tencent has had no luck with their adaptations of major console games. A planned mobile adaptation of Square Enix's Nier franchise was previously canceled due to monetization concerns. The decision was made after nearly 2 years of development, even being playable in an internal demo.
Whether we should truly be excited about an Elden Ring mobile game remains uncertain. Neither FromSoftware nor Tencent have commented on this matter so far.