Elden Ring Sequel: The Difficulties Respecting Continuity of the Lands Between
Many fans are expecting a sequel following the enormous popularity of Elden Ring and its development, "Shadow of the Erdtree." But writing a direct follow-up to Elden Ring presents special difficulties different from the method used with the Dark Souls trilogy.
Elden Ring Lore and Story: A Complicated Groundwork for a Sequel
Although Elden Ring has elements of the Soulsborne formula, its complex story structure and lore make a straight sequel more challenging to execute. Unlike Dark Souls, which let for time skips and rather unconnected stories in successors, Elden Ring's story is firmly anchored in the events of the present and historical background of the Lands Between.
George R. R. Martin's Impact
The cooperation of George R.R. Martin on the history of Elden Ring lends still another degree of complexity. The current conflicts are shaped in great part by the past of the Lands Between. Many important players in the game are still active participants in the continuous struggle for power, thus a large time skip is less possible and maybe shocking narratively.
The Difficulties Maintaining Continuity
Unlike Dark Souls, where time skips could practically wipe the effect of player decisions, Elden Ring's six different endings generate several possible world states. A sequel would find it difficult to balance these quite different results and would have to choose to honor one ending while possibly alienating players who came upon another.
Investigating Possible Answers for an Elden Ring Sequel
Fromsoftware, with its history of creative game design, might find solutions for these problems despite their natural difficulties. Here are some possible answers for an Elden Ring sequel:
Turning the Attention to a New Location
Inspired by the Fallout series, a sequel might look at another location outside the Lands Between. Elden Ring references other areas, which could offer novel locations and narratives for a new adventure.
concentrating on a single ending
Should the sequel stay in the Lands Between, the basis for the story might be a single ending. This would enable a more concentrated and consistent narrative free from the necessity to reconcile several world states.
Accepting the Time Skip Option
Even if a time skip might not fit Elden Ring as effortlessly as Dark Souls, it is still a possibility. Working with George R. R. Martin once more will provide fresh narrative chances and help shape the Lands Between in a distant future.
FromSoftware's Future and Elden Ring
Fromsoftware has shown how creatively and powerfully it can provide. Although an Elden Ring sequel offers different challenges, the studio's experience and creative vision could result in an intriguing Lands Between continuation. FromSoftware has a history of producing spiritual successors, though, thus its next game might be a whole different adventure.
