Elden Ring could soon come to iOS and Android – even though it makes no sense

06 February 2024 , 17:00

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Elden Ring getting a mobile port would require a vast amount of reworking, the way Tencent wants to do it. (Image: Bandai Namco)

The 2022 GOTY winner is still without its highly anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, but we could soon see the base game arrive on mobile devices.

Elden Ring is just one of those video games that people can’t seem to quit. Admittedly, introducing the Dark Souls style of mechanics to a true open world was always a recipe for success, so much so, that PlayStation, Xbox, and PC players still can’t get enough – especially since the Elden Ring DLC release date hype keeps on building. One move that no avid Elden Ring player saw coming in future, however, was the idea of playing it on their phone. But this may soon be a reality.

So suggests a new report from business news site Reuters, which has reportedly heard from three separate reputable sources that a mobile version of Elden Ring “similar to the hit game ‘Genshin Impact’” is highly desired by Tencent. Tencent has a 16% stake in Elden Ring developer FromSoftware, which isn’t a lot but might be enough to see it come to fruition.

The report goes on to say that this version of Elden Ring won’t follow the one-time purchase model typical with console games, and will instead be free-to-play in nature and will include in-app purchases. It’s unclear how this style of monetisation would work in a title as feature-complete as Elden Ring, so the alleged approach is to “adapt” the existing game into a more mobile-focused format. A few dozen people managed by Tencent are said to be working on the prototype.

Elden Ringtone

Elden Ring’s 20 million global sales speak for themselves, so it’s no surprise to me that a solid portion of FromSoftware’s shareholders want to tap into its popularity. However, its 2022 GOTY winner isn’t Genshin Impact, and one has to imagine that some serious rethinking will be required to adapt a single-player game that can be enjoyed offline into a free-to-play format.

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There’s no denying that the power of modern iOS and Android devices is increasing to the point that they can run AAA games. Only earlier this month did Kojima Productions reveal in a tweet that Death Stranding: Director’s Cut would be coming to iOS. However, this iteration of the game is very much the same one available on PS5 and PC, maintaining the one-time purchase fee.

Even if Tencent and FromSoftware do figure out a way to faithfully adapt the true Elden Ring experience to mobile, I can’t imagine this will be the ideal way to experience the game. The Lands Between is a gorgeous location to be in. I’m of the firm opinion that such artistry deserves to be played on the big screen to be enjoyed fully.

Aaron Potter