Summary
FromSoftware has commented on George R. R. Martin’s involvement inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, confirming that the upcoming DLC will once again feature lore that the famous author has penned for the studio. However, the Japanese developer did not actually bring back George R. R. Martin to specifically work on the upcomingElden Ringexpansion.
As one of the most acclaimed games ever created, FromSoftware’s hit 2022 RPG was never lacking in selling points spanning both gameplay and worldbuilding alike. A particularly distinctive trait that helped set it apart from its rivals and previous titles by theDark Soulsdeveloper was the fact that theElden Ringmythos was penned by none other than George R. R. Martin.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Is ‘Not a Brand New Mythos’ by George R. R. Martin
TheShadow of the ErdtreeElden Ringexpansion that was just treated to a release datewill also draw from the lore that Martin had written for the project. However, FromSoftware didn’t actually rehire the author ofA Song of Ice and Fireto work on the expansion. Instead, the developer opted to base the DLC on some of Martin’s existing lore that didn’t make it to the vanilla version of the game. That’s according toElden RingDirector Hidetaka Miyazaki, who toldEurogamerthat Shadow of the Erdtree will not include “a brand-new mythos” written specifically for the purposes of the expansion.
George R. R. Martin’s Initials Could Still Be All Over the Elden Ring DLC
Elaborating on that point, Miyazaki explained that the DLC is merely a previously unused part of Martin’s original mythology that FromSoftware “thought fit to tell as a new expansion.” His comments imply that much likeGeorge R. R. Martin’s initials were all overElden Ring, his influence is also likely to be felt across Shadow of the Erdtree, even though he was no longer actively involved in the project by the time the expansion started development circa late 2022. For reference, the studio’s past comments implied Martin’s work on the game concluded no later than 2019.
[George R. R. Martin] has not created something new which informed the design of the DLC. It’s simply another part of the original story that we thought fit to tell as a new expansion.
This explanation of the author’s (lack of active) involvement in the DLC was offered as part of a promotional tour that Bandai Namco and FromSoftware embarked on after debuting the latestElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreetrailer that showcased new enemies, locations, and story tidbits from the expansion. The video also included the long-awaited confirmation of the DLC’s release date, revealing that Shadow of the Erdtree launches for PC and consoles on June 21.
The expansion will thus debut more than two years after the base game was released to critical acclaim in February 2022. FromSoftware attributed this elongated development cycle to the fact that Shadow of the Erdtree is by far the biggest piece of downloadable content the studio has ever created. That’s also reflected in theElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s $39.99 price tag.
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
