Skip to main content

Elden Ring director says George R.R. Martin will be ‘shocked’

Developer FromSoftware has twisted Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin’s lore for Elden Ring to the point where Martin “might be a bit shocked” when he sees what happens to some characters, says game director Hidetaka Miyazaki. 

Miyazaki highlighted these changes in an interview with Game Informer for its Elden Ring cover story. Martin’s name is closely tied to Elden Ring, but FromSoftware stressed previously that the author just came up with the backstory and lore for this world and let FromSoftware go wild from there in terms of writing dialogue and making the game. 

ELDEN RING - Story Trailer

Miyazaki thinks FromSoftware’s interpretation of this lore is not as focused on the human element as Martin was when he crafted Elden Ring‘s backstory.

Recommended Videos

“When Martin wrote these characters, and when he provided that origin story and that mythos for the world of Elden Ring, these demigods were much closer to their original form, and maybe closer to human form back then, before the Shattering,” Miyazaki explained. “So it was more up to us to interpret this and say ‘how did they become such inhuman monsters? And how did the mad taint of the shattered shards of the Elden Ring and its power affect them.'”

Martin previously stated on his blog that he finished working on Elden Ring years ago and has only been periodically shown updates and designs since then. Miyazaki’s statements here back that up. 

“I think if we get a chance to show Martin, and if he gets a chance to see the game and see these characters, I think he might be a bit shocked,” Miyazaki says. “When he wrote them, he was really envisioning something a little bit more human, a little bit more traditional human drama and fantasy characters. I hope he gets a kick out of that.”

Elden Ring will be released for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on February 25, 2022. 

Tomas Franzese
A former Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese now reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…
Elden Ring’s pre-Shadow of the Erdtree patch makes its final boss much easier
An Elden Ring player sits on their horse and looks out at a castle ahead.

Publisher Bandai Namco has released the patch notes for the big pre-Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree update, and while a lot of the changes were expected, it features some small but exciting additions.

The most noteworthy change in version 1.12, buried in the "New inventory features" section, is the new ability to summon your steed Torrent in the final boss battle. Without spoiling anything, not only does the final battle come right after another equally difficult boss, but you'll need to do a lot of sprinting to avoid its attacks. Being able to use your trusty steed will make this a lot easier. And, quite frankly, you'll need all the help you can get when it comes to most boss battles.

Read more
How long is Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
A furnace golem looms in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

Elden Ring's first and only expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, brings a heap of new content to From Software's highly acclaimed open-world RPG. Not only is there an entirely new map to find and uncover, but players also receive a fresh story, tons of additional weapons and spells to use, and a variety of all-new bosses to take down along the way as they make their way to the end of the journey. It's quite a lot to explore, so it's understandable if you're curious about how long it'll take to see all of this new content. Your mileage will vary, naturally, but we've got estimates below regarding how long it'll take to beat Shadow of the Erdtree.
How long is Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
It goes without saying that, due to the inherent difficulty of Elden Ring, your skill level within the game will play a significant role in the amount of hours you'll spend completing Shadow of the Erdtree. The average player just seeking to see the main story of this new expansion can expect to spend between 20 to 30 hours reaching its conclusion.

Those looking to take in everything Shadow of the Erdtree has to offer, however, will spend a lot more time with the DLC as they navigate the new map, checking every nook and cranny for new gear, spells, and well-hidden secrets. If that sounds up your alley, you can count on up to 50 hours of exploration and combat in the Land of Shadow.

Read more
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree finally arrives this June
A furnace golem looms in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

We finally got our first full look at Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the expansion for FromSoftware's critically acclaimed 2022 open-world game. Thankfully, we don't have to wait too much longer for it, as publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment confirmed a June 21 release date.

The Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree trailer is full of gameplay, showing the new area that players can explore, many different bosses and combat encounters, and some awesome new weapons. Standouts include a boss that's a giant burning wicker man, a large hippo-like creature that can grow sparks out of its body, and a powerful-looking flaming crossbow weapon. The trailer also shows the player dying many times, so it looks like Shadow of the Erdtree will feature a lot more of the satisfying, yet difficult gameplay loop that the original offered.

Read more