What Happened to Elden Ring?

Elden Ring emerged from the renowned Japanese developer FromSoftware, known for its challenging 'Soulsborne' titles, and was published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Development for the game began in 2017, following the completion of Dark Souls III's DLC, with Hidetaka Miyazaki directing. A key turning point in its creation was the collaboration with fantasy author George R. R. Martin, who provided the foundational mythos and worldbuilding for the game's setting, 'The Lands Between,' which Miyazaki then used to craft the in-game narrative.

The game officially launched on February 25, 2022, for multiple platforms, quickly garnering universal critical acclaim for its expansive open world, intricate lore, challenging yet rewarding gameplay, and stunning art direction. This critical success translated into massive commercial triumph, with Elden Ring selling 12 million units worldwide within its first three weeks and surpassing 30 million copies by April 2025, making it one of the best-selling games of all time. It swept numerous 'Game of the Year' awards in 2022, including the prestigious Game Awards and Golden Joystick Awards, solidifying its status as a modern gaming masterpiece.

FromSoftware continued to expand the Elden Ring universe. In February 2023, the highly anticipated downloadable content (DLC) expansion, 'Shadow of the Erdtree,' was announced, eventually releasing on June 21, 2024. This expansion was met with similar acclaim and achieved significant commercial success, selling over 10 million copies by July 2025. Further diversifying the franchise, a multiplayer-focused spin-off game, 'Elden Ring Nightreign,' was released in May 2025, which also performed well, exceeding 5 million sales in under two months.

As of April 2026, the Elden Ring ecosystem continues to evolve. A 'Tarnished Edition' of the game, which includes the base game and the 'Shadow of the Erdtree' expansion, is slated for release on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, though its exact launch date has been subject to delays due to performance optimization. Additionally, a tabletop RPG adaptation of 'Elden Ring Nightreign' is confirmed for a June 2026 release in Japan. Perhaps the most ambitious expansion of the IP is a live-action film adaptation, written and directed by Alex Garland and produced by A24, which began production in Spring 2026 and is scheduled for a March 3, 2028, theatrical release.

While FromSoftware is also developing other new IPs like 'The Duskbloods' for 2026, the Elden Ring franchise remains a central pillar of their success, with its total sales across all offerings approaching 50 million units by December 2025. The ongoing development of new content, adaptations, and platform releases ensures Elden Ring's continued relevance and influence in the gaming and entertainment landscape.