FromSoftware and Bandai Namco showed off all-new gameplay from Elden Ring, next year’s big, open-world action role-playing game, in a video released Thursday. The new gameplay footage comes ahead of a playable network test for Elden Ring that will run Nov. 12-14.
The 15-minute preview of Elden Ring showcases the variety of environments and gameplay that players can expect. Developer FromSoftware highlights features that are new to its brand of action-RPG, including traversing a vast map on horseback, what appear to be random encounters (with a giant dragon, no less), and an actual map interface. Viewers also get a look at multiple styles of gameplay, including hand-to-hand sword-and-shield combat, magic, stealth, and the option to summon other players (and even AI-controlled companions) in battle. The player also visits what FromSoftware is referring to as a “Legacy Dungeon” called Stormveil Castle, a challenging area that will offer multiple paths to victory and great rewards. There’s even a Pot Boy encounter!
The video culminates in a grand battle against a giant, multiarmed boss monster, so the spoiler-averse may want to skip the final two minutes.
Elden Ring is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on Feb. 25, 2022, after a brief delay. The game was originally announced in June 2019 at E3. The fantasy action-role-playing game is a collaboration between FromSoftware and A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin, and sends players to the Lands Between as a Tarnished to restore the titular Elden Ring and become the region’s new lord. For more, check out Polygon’s Elden Ring hands-off preview from August.
