Tencent is reportedly working on a new mobile game based on From Software’s acclaimed RPG, Elden Ring. This falls in line with publisher Bandai Namco’s plans to expand the IP beyond the original title, which many assumed would’ve been a movie or TV adaptation. However, the first step seems to be a free-to-play mobile game apparently inspired by Genshin Impact.
According to Reuters, Tencent, which owns a 16% stake in FromSoftware, is apparently also a licensee of Elden Ring and has reportedly been working on a mobile version of the game for a while now. The game will be free-to-play with in-app purchases, taking inspiration from Genshin Impact‘s successful model. Beyond that, we know very little about the mobile game or what players will be doing in it.
There’s a good chance that Tencent is looking at Genshin Impact as a blueprint to build the Elden Ring mobile game, which would probably play out from a third-person perspective and have players continue to explore The Lands Between with custom-created characters (or potential in-universe characters as well).
It’s also a pretty strange move to make Elden Ring a mobile game as FromSoftware titles have never really found success on phones apart from cheap knock-off Soulslike games. We’re a bit worried that in-app purchases and microtransactions will also be egregious, as is the case for most free-to-play titles on the mobile market. That said, this will probably help the IP gain more recognition outside of the hardcore gaming market and make mainstream audiences more aware of the brand.
In other news, we still have no idea when FromSoftware plans to release Elden Ring‘s major expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree. Despite a couple of Steam updates already – one even happening before The Game Awards last year only to give fans false hope – there’s still no sign of a full reveal.
Source: Reuters
