It has been a long time since we last saw Elden Ring – and finally, we got ourselves some new Elden Ring gameplay at Summer Game Fest! After an appearance by Hollywood A-Lister Ryan Reynolds – who has fuelled speculation he will be in Elden Ring thanks to an offhand joke – FromSoftware treated us to a whole three minute gameplay trailer. While that might not sound like a lot, it sure was an action packed three minutes. And we saw more of Elden Ring than we ever have before. From mounts to dragons to huge bosses, there was a whole lot for fans to digest in the new trailer.
Prior to this week’s announcement, there had been no new information about Elden Ring since the E3 2019 reveal trailer two years ago. For fans of Soulsborne games, it’d been an agonising wait. And while the Demon’s Souls remake might have gone some way to scratching that itch, it wasn’t the brand new experience fans have been after. But now we finally have our first taste of fresh Elden Ring info and gameplay, what did we take away from the trailer and what new information did we learn?
Elden Ring Gameplay – 3 Big Takeaways
#1 – Elden Ring’s world is HUGE and varied
Soulsborne games have always had an undeniable sense of scale to them. This is thanks – in part – to the way dungeons link from one to the next and come back around on themselves. They’re almost like a vast and painfully challenging maze for the player to figure out. With Elden Ring, FromSoftware are promising their “largest game to date” according to a fact sheet shared alongside this trailer. So, given the size of their previous games, it’s safe to assume Elden Ring will be impressively big.
Another unmissable element of the new trailer is the appearance of mounts which are entirely new to Soulsborne games. And if summoning a mount is needed to traverse Elden Ring‘s vast and varied landscapes (from castles to open plains to coastal regions), you know it’s going to be significantly bigger than previous games. Just how big exactly Elden Ring‘s map is, we’ll have to wait and see. But we can’t wait to explore every nook and cranny.
Oh, and did I mention Elden Ring also has a dynamic weather system?
#2 – There will be bosses – and LOTS of them
How many bosses are in Elden Ring? Well, we don’t know for sure. But if the new trailer is anything to go by, there will be loads of them. Maybe more than any previous Soulsborne game. I counted at least twelve in the trailer that seemed like definite bosses – and there were a few more enemies on show that may have been bosses, too.
The new trailer shows some truly huge and fearsome looking adversaries. How exactly they fit into the cryptic monologue about becoming an Elden Lord and The Golden Order being broken remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure, fans are going to love slaying them on their way to finding out.
With this being only the second trailer we’ve seen from Elden Ring, we expect there will be more information on bosses to come and probably much more we won’t know until we actually have the game.
#3 – Character creation and customisation is in Elden Ring
Many long-time Soulsbourne fans will want to know: can you make your own character in Elden Ring? The answer is thankfully yes!
Whether you like using certain weapons or magic, there will be a playstyle to suit you. Not only does that mean players can enjoy the game exactly the way they want to, it preserves the option of doing weapon/playstyle specific runs on repeat playthroughs. While that won’t appeal to some, it should please diehard fans who like testing their skills.
On top of character creation, there will also be weapons, spells and items to be found throughout the vast world of Elden Ring. This will allow players to customise as they go.
Other New Information and Speculation on Elden Ring
So, those were the top three things we took away from the new Elden Ring gameplay trailer. But what else has come out about the game and what do fans want to know?
When is Elden Ring release date?
Thankfully, the Summer Game Fest trailer finally gave us a release date for Elden Ring. Fans can expect it to hit stores on 21st January 2022. While there is still a bit of a wait, it’s a relief to finally know when we can get our hands on the game.
Is Ryan Reynolds in Elden Ring?
It’s been a popular question on everyone’s minds ever since Summer Game Fest where the Hollywood star joked, “No, I’m not here to announce I’m the star of Elden Ring… I think.” Now, obviously, it’s incredibly unlikely Ryan Reynolds will be starring in Elden Ring. And given his reputation as a joker, he was probably just trolling fans who would love to see him in the game. Even so, it could happen. After all, it’s not uncommon to see big name actors crop up in games these days. Just look at Death Stranding.
Is Elden Ring at E3?
Will we see more of Elden Ring at E3? Luckily for fans, it seems like we will. Bandai Namco, the game’s publisher, has a slot at the year’s biggest gaming event on Tuesday, 15th June. So, when better than to strike while the iron is hot and add to the considerable excitement built up at Summer Game Fest? Fasten your seat belts, because the journey to Elden Ring‘s much anticipated release is just getting started.
Did you like the look of the new Elden Ring gameplay? Are you excited for its release next year? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
