How Long Did It Take to Make Elden Ring?

Elden Ring is one of the most highly anticipated games of recent years. Developed by FromSoftware, the game has been in development for quite some time, with fans eagerly waiting for its release. However, the question many people have been asking is, “how long did it take to make Elden Ring?”

In this article, we will explore the history of Elden Ring’s development, the factors that may have affected its development time, statements from the developers, and an estimated time of development. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the development process for Elden Ring and what may have contributed to its delay.

Development History of Elden Ring

Elden Ring was first announced at E3 2019, and its reveal trailer quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the event. The game is a collaboration between Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of the Dark Souls series, and George R.R. Martin, the author of A Song of Ice and Fire. This collaboration brought with it a great deal of excitement and hype for the game.

Since its announcement, there has been little news about the game’s development. FromSoftware has been relatively tight-lipped about the game’s progress, with Miyazaki stating that the team wanted to focus on development rather than marketing. This lack of updates has led to speculation among fans about the game’s release date and how long it has been in development.

However, it is known that the game has experienced some delays. In a statement released in 2020, Miyazaki stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the game’s development, causing delays and disruptions to the development team’s workflow. Despite these challenges, the team has continued to work on the game, and fans remain hopeful for its eventual release.

Factors Affecting Development Time

The development time for Elden Ring is likely impacted by several factors. One of the most significant factors is the scope of the game. FromSoftware games are known for their intricate world-building and complex gameplay mechanics, which can take a long time to develop. Elden Ring is also reported to be an open-world game, which can significantly increase the time needed to create the game’s environment and assets.

Technical challenges may also be a factor in Elden Ring’s development time. FromSoftware is known for creating games with challenging difficulty levels and intricate gameplay mechanics. Developing these mechanics and ensuring that they work seamlessly can take a great deal of time and effort.

Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has likely impacted the game’s development time. Like many other industries, the video game development industry has been affected by the pandemic, with many developers working remotely and facing disruptions to their workflow. This disruption may have affected the development team’s ability to work efficiently and could have contributed to the game’s delay.

Factors Affecting Development Time

As mentioned earlier, several factors may have affected the development time of Elden Ring. One of the most significant factors is the game’s scope. FromSoftware games are known for their intricate world-building and complex gameplay mechanics. Elden Ring is reported to be an open-world game, which means that the game’s environment is vast and requires a great deal of time and effort to create. This scope could have contributed to the game’s delay, as the developers may have needed more time to create the game’s assets and ensure that the open-world mechanics work seamlessly.

Technical challenges may also have impacted Elden Ring’s development time. FromSoftware games are known for their challenging difficulty levels, intricate gameplay mechanics, and unique art style. Developing these mechanics and ensuring that they work seamlessly can take a great deal of time and effort. Additionally, Elden Ring is reportedly using a new engine, which could have caused technical challenges that the developers needed to overcome.

Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has likely played a significant role in Elden Ring’s development time. The pandemic has affected the video game development industry, with many developers working remotely and facing disruptions to their workflow. This disruption may have affected the development team’s ability to work efficiently and could have contributed to the game’s delay.

Statements from the Developers

Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director of Elden Ring, has made several comments about the game’s development. In a statement released in 2020, Miyazaki acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the game’s development. He stated that the team had faced “various difficulties” due to the pandemic but was working hard to overcome them.

Miyazaki has also commented on the game’s scope, stating that Elden Ring is “a more natural evolution of Dark Souls.” He has also commented on the game’s open-world mechanics, stating that the team is working to create an open-world game that is different from other games in the genre.

Bandai Namco, the publisher of Elden Ring, has also made comments about the game’s development. In an earnings report released in 2020, the company acknowledged that the game had been delayed but stated that it was still in development. The company also stated that it was confident in the game’s potential and that it would be a major release for the company.

Overall, the statements from the developers suggest that Elden Ring is still in development, despite the delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The game’s scope and technical challenges may have contributed to its development time, but the team is still working hard to create a game that lives up to the expectations of FromSoftware fans.

Estimated Time of Development

It’s difficult to estimate precisely how long it has taken to develop Elden Ring. FromSoftware has not released any official information on the game’s development time, and the lack of updates has made it challenging to determine where the game is in the development process.

However, we can make some comparisons to other FromSoftware games to give us an idea of how long Elden Ring may have taken to develop. Dark Souls III, for example, was in development for around three years, while Bloodborne was in development for roughly four years. Given the scope of Elden Ring and the challenges associated with an open-world game, it’s likely that the game has been in development for at least four years, if not longer.

Speculation from industry experts suggests that Elden Ring has been in development for around four years, with some suggesting that the game could release in 2021. However, given the lack of official information from FromSoftware, it’s challenging to determine when the game will be released.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it’s clear that Elden Ring has been in development for quite some time. The collaboration between Miyazaki and Martin, along with the game’s open-world design, has likely contributed to a longer development time than previous FromSoftware games.

However, despite the lack of updates and delays, fans remain eager and excited for the game’s release. The anticipation for Elden Ring has only grown since its initial announcement, and it’s clear that the game has a dedicated fanbase eagerly awaiting its release.

While we may not know precisely how long it has taken to develop Elden Ring, it’s clear that the game is a labor of love from the development team at FromSoftware. We can only hope that the game will release soon and that it lives up to the hype and expectations set by its creators and fans.