George R. R. Martin and FromSoftware's 'Elden Ring' Has Dropped a Surprise Gameplay Trailer

After two long years of waiting, fans have finally received a surprise gameplay trailer for Elden Ring, a collaborative fantasy RPG from Dark Souls developer FromSoftware and Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin.

Over the course of the three-minute clip, we see plenty of sword-fighting and magic-casting from a single armored protagonist, who journeys across a treacherous world combating various evils and giant monsters. Though there’s not much information regarding the lore and plot of the game, fans will definitely be reassured by FromSoftware’s signature and familiar grimdark aesthetic as well as Martin’s expertise in fantasy world-building.

Originally announced back in E3 2019, Elden Ring was hailed as the largest game FromSoftware has ever created, boasting a fantastical world and storyline written by the Game of Thrones author. Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki said at the time that the game would be “full of things that we weren’t able to do in the Dark Souls series” including heavier RPG elements and different weapons, magic, and ways to engage the game’s many enemies “that make it possible to provide users with a style of gameplay and strategy that suits them.” Since then, not much has come out regarding Elden Ring, leading many fans to speculate whether the title was canceled. Thankfully, the new gameplay trailer has confirmed that the game is indeed on its way.

For the Dark Souls and Game of Thrones fans out there, Elden Ring will be launch on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC on January 21, 2022.

Elsewhere in gaming, Far Cry 6 has announced a season pass that will let you play as the franchise’s numerous villains.