Various online sources suggest that a free-to-play Elden Ring mobile game with microtransactions is in the works. According to Reuters, Tencent is currently in the process of adapting FromSoftware’s hugely successful game into a mobile format, though progress is said to be sluggish.
As fans eagerly await news on the long-awaited Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, it appears that the Japanese developers may be offering an alternative means of entertainment with a mobile game. While details about the mobile title are scarce, reports indicate that Tencent is the driving force behind its development.
FromSoftware’s Elden Ring Mobile Game
This endeavor would mark the latest instance of Tencent acquiring licensing rights to transform a major AAA title into a mobile gaming experience. FromSoftware’s Elden Ring garnered immense popularity following its initial announcement in 2019, culminating in winning the prestigious Game of the Year award upon its 2022 release. With gamers still reveling in Hidetaka Miyazaki’s captivating creation, curiosity abounds regarding the forthcoming mobile adaptation.
Transitioning to Mobile Gaming with Tencent
In November of 2023, FromSoftware and Miyazaki’s team reassured fans that the development of the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree expansion was on track. Despite this update, gamers eagerly awaited an official release date for the DLC. According to a report from Reuters, three individuals familiar with the situation hinted at the potential development of a mobile version of Elden Ring. The company is actively seeking to rejuvenate its portfolio of games. In 2022, Tencent acquired licensing rights for Elden Ring from FromSoftware and promptly initiated the development of a prototype. However, progress has been sluggish since then.
FromSoftware’s Elden Ring Goes Mobile
If the rumors hold true, Elden Ring will mark a significant milestone as the first of FromSoftware’s creations to embrace a free-to-play model in recent memory. Alongside this adaptation of Miyazaki’s seminal work, Tencent is also delving into mobile renditions of popular franchises such as Need for Speed and Assassin’s Creed. Elden Ring mobile game held immense significance for fans of FromSoftware, blending the quintessence of Soulsborne gameplay with a richly crafted narrative co-authored by George R.R. Martin, renowned for his contributions to the Song of Ice and Fire series (also known as Game of Thrones). The announcement of a free-to-play mobile version has piqued curiosity among gamers, prompting speculation about Tencent’s strategy for the adaptation.
Embracing Free-to-Play in a New Frontier
As anticipation builds for the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, gamers might find solace in a mobile game to tide them over until more content arrives. However, it’s important to note that the original developers of Elden Ring mobile game are not involved in the creation of the mobile adaptation, which is being handled by Tencent. Known for its successful mobile versions of popular titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG: Mobile, Tencent has a track record in this domain.
Adapting Elden Ring to Mobile
Nevertheless, adapting Elden Ring, a premium single-player action RPG, into a mobile format poses a unique challenge for the studio. Reports suggest that Tencent aims to model the Elden Ring mobile game after successful gacha games like Genshin Impact, employing a free-to-play model supported by in-app purchases. However, this approach may clash with the essence of Elden Ring’s design, which emphasizes a premium, single-player experience.
Balancing Premium RPG Experience with Gacha Game Model
Amidst eager anticipation for the forthcoming Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, fans are intrigued by news of a potential Elden Ring mobile game. Recent alterations to Elden Ring’s Steam entry hint at developments behind the scenes. Despite this buzz, both developer FromSoftware and publisher Bandai Namco have kept silent. Meanwhile, Tencent seems to be grappling with adapting established PC and console games into successful mobile hits, as evidenced by the recent cancellation of an undisclosed Nier mobile game.
