Elden Ring Getting A Cinematic Universe?
Elden Ring is smashing all kinds of records in its thre week release time. These records bode well for the game being expanded into a potential cinematic universe.
This article is more than 2 years old
Elden Ring is on its way to smashing all kinds of records in the gaming world. Due to its massive popularity, the game’s developers have already been mulling over where they might take this new property. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin have surely put together a game that seems to be just waiting to explode into the cinematic universe. The developer of the game, FromSoftware, has announced its new plans. According to the developer, “Please look forward to more of Elden Ring as an IP (characters and other intellectual property) in hopes of expanding beyond the realm of games.”
One of the best things about the potential cinematic universe is that FromSoftware worked with Mr. Martin. The famed author of A Song Of Fire and Ice had his work famously adapted into the most successful show that HBO has ever seen. We are talking about Game of Thrones people. While Martin was the author of the books, he merely consulted on the show’s dealings. However, given that he was part of Elden Ring from the beginning, he could have a lot more say in how a potential cinematic universe was to be started or cultivated. Bandai Namco was the publisher of the game. Their president and CEO, Yasuo Miyakawa, also spoke on the exciting future for the new property. “In like manner, we will continue our efforts in expanding the brand beyond the game itself, and into everyone’s daily life,” Miyakawa said.
The popularity of Elden Ring is surely something to behold. During the game’s first week of launch, it became the sixth highest concurrent played game on Steam. And now it has crossed another record off its list as it has sold over 12 million copies worldwide as of this moment. Those are massive gains for a mere three weeks’ time. To put that in a bit of perspective, The Last of Us Remastered is currently #50 on the top 50 list for games sales all-time. That game came out in 2014. It’s taken eight years to reach 20 million in sales. Elden Ring has gone over half those sales numbers in three weeks. One could argue the merit of The Last of Us has been out before, and Elden Ring is new, but still. Those are huge gains.
FromSoftware has been known to create stunning worlds and unique characters to go along with the deep lore that is painted in all of its titles. The fact that Elden Ring is an open-world adventure bodes well for the idea of an expanded property. Instead of being a more self-contained game like its predecessors, players are allowed to go where they want and seek what dangers and treasures are ahead of them. That’s a much grander idea to be made into a series or a film. The fact that the protagonist can anyone matters a great deal too. This person is named The Tarnished which means you could literally cast anyone in that role. The game goes through a series of boss fights which hasn’t quite been shown in a live-action format either. Imagine seeing a Godrick the Grafted in all his CGI and gross glory. That would be some great footage.
The game developers and Bandai’s president know too well how massive this game has already become. With how studios are aiming to secure rights to plenty of game IPs, it would make a ton of sense for an Elden Ring intellectual property to go much further. Strike while the iron is hot, as they say. While there is a ton of ways in which this new game can be taken in a live-action format or beyond that, it is great to see that video game storytelling is expanding in such a fantastic way.
