Action-RPG colossus Elden Ring is reportedly getting a free-to-play mobile adaptation with in-app purchases, which takes inspiration from miHoYo’s Genshin Impact. It’s being published by Tencent, who apparently acquired the licensing rights to Elden Ring back in 2022 and put a few dozen people to work on a prototype, even as the company acquired a 16% stake in Elden Ring developer From Software.
Sad to see From licensing their good name to someone like Tencent. Be prepared to see some predatory shovelware
Who cares just don’t play it?
These sorts of decisions can impact future decisions. It is to early to say that this is a trend, so people shouldn’t get all up in arms over things. But still, using other company histories as a basis, it is concerning about where this could end up.
IMTX can be fair if these don’t abuse the players time, and offer fun content. You’re paying the game for free, mind you.
Tencent already had invested in From Software. They want to see returns, and this is how.
Take a look at the free to play market on mobile and you’ll see why people don’t like the news.
I feel like it’s just wrong to call these games ‘free’. They are ‘partially free’ with the incentive to extract as much money from you as possible in order to get the ‘good stuff’ or simply to avoid endless hours of unfun grinding. It’s just inferior in every way compared to games you pay for once and that’s it, because they don’t need to drip feed you ‘fun’.
Exceptions apply to competitive games that need a changing meta and content updates. New content for non-competitve ‘free’ games mostly amounts to new stuff you can buy to surpass new arbitrary walls built in front of you.
Free (as in beer) is never free
You know there are people at tencent unironically thinking “People were happy with how unmonetized Elden Ring was. How can we monetize that satisfaction?”
Usually, the devs aren’t thinking that, management is and that’s what’s shoveled downward. Still people at tencent, but I imagine it’s not everyone ludicrously evil.
Still, this is a reminder not to get too attached to any particular developer. Doesn’t matter how sincerely dedicated to producing fun and satisfying experiences From is: when Tencent talks, they have to listen.
My first instinct was to check if this was an Onion article…
I definitely didn’t have Elden Ring gets a gotcha game on mobile on my 2024 bingo card.
I still don’t believe it’s not an Onion article. Absolutely daft.
notlikethis.gif
FROM’s and Elden Ring’s good names will be forever tarnished with this bullshit. Even if, and it’s a big if, this turns out to be a decent port it still feels really, really gross. This is really disappointing.
Should call it Elden Ring Ring Ring
Banana phone
I guess it’s cool that some people may be able to play the game when they wouldn’t otherwise, but yeah I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being shit.
I doubt is Elden Ring actually, probably is just the IP name with some of the assets toss over in a simplified version.
Yeah, and not even a simplified version like the Final Fantasy 15 for the Nintendo Switch. Probably just going to be a half assed thing.
I actually just ordered a physical copy the other day, I’m finally in the mood to play it. I was surprised it was $50 but still, NO RAGRETS.
I am very excited to not play this game.
