Elden Ring was finally showcased as the grand finale of 2021's Summer Game Fest show. An epic gameplay trailer gave us the first look at From Software's next game, whose setting has been developed in collaboration with none other than A Song of Ice and Fire author G.R.R. Martin.

　　Following the reveal, publisher Bandai Namco shared a detailed fact sheet outlining the story and key features of Elden Ring. The game, From Software's largest to date, will feature dynamic weather and a day/night cycle (a first for From Software titles) in addition to a vast landscape connected seamlessly with dungeons. Online multiplayer will be available for up to four players.

　　STORY OUTLINE

　　In the Lands Between ruled by Queen Marika the Eternal, the Elden Ring, the source of the

　　Erdtree, has been shattered.

　　Marika's offspring, demigods all, claimed the shards of the Elden Ring known as the Great

　　Runes, and the mad taint of their newfound strength triggered a war: The Shattering. A war

　　that meant abandonment by the Greater Will.

　　And now the guidance of grace will be brought to the Tarnished who were spurned by the

　　grace of gold and exiled from the Lands Between.

　　Ye dead who yet live, your grace long lost, follow the path to the Lands Between beyond the

　　foggy sea to stand before the Elden Ring.

　　And become the Elden Lord.

　　A NEW FANTASY WORLD

　　Journey through the Lands Between, a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki,

　　creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series, and George R. R. Martin, author

　　of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Unravel the

　　mysteries of the Elden Ring’s power. Encounter adversaries with profound

　　backgrounds, characters with their own unique motivations for helping or hindering your

　　progress, and fearsome creatures.

　　WORLD EXPLORATION IN THE LANDS BETWEEN

　　ELDEN RING features vast fantastical landscapes and shadowy, complex dungeons that are

　　connected seamlessly. Traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or

　　online with other players, and fully immerse yourself in the grassy plains, suffocating

　　swamps, spiraling mountains, foreboding castles and other sites of grandeur on a scale never seen before in a FromSoftware title.

　　GENRE-DEFINING GAMEPLAY

　　Create your character in FromSoftware's refined action-RPG and define your playstyle by

　　experimenting with a wide variety of weapons, magical abilities, and skills found throughout

　　the world. Charge into battle, pick off enemies one-by-one using stealth, or even call upon

　　allies for aid. Many options are at your disposal as you decide how to approach exploration

　　and combat.

　　The press release also included a slew of gorgeous 4K screenshots; check them out in the gallery below.

　　Elden Ring launches on January 21st, 2022 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One users will have the opportunity of a free upgrade to next-generation consoles, too.

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