Self-Aware Elden Ring Easter Eggs Are Perfect for the Game
Elden Ring is a bit of a puzzle. Not only has the game been practically missing since its reveal back in 2019, but it has maintained a strong community and fanbase. Much of this can be contributed to From Software's pedigree, but still: having a game announcement followed by a complete abandonment of any substantive sort of news cycle or marketing is peculiar, especially for an effectively new IP like Elden Ring.
Every time an event rolls around, Elden Ring fans hope new information about the game emerges, but time and again, it does not. And as strange as it may seem, this may be something that the game could use to its advantage.
As aforementioned, it's a solemn fact that the last appearance of the game was at E3 2019, over a year ago. Since then, mum's been the word from From Software. This is somewhat ironic given that George R.R. Martin is affiliated with Elden Ring, as while it has nothing to do with him, there is always several years between projects. The lack of news would have killed many other games, but somehow, Elden Ring fans trudge on.
After all, the silence around games like Biomutant is alarming, and similar approaches have resulted in many games simply falling off the radar. Elden Ring moves ever onward because of the From Software community that quickly flocked to a new IP utilizing the familiar, fan-favorite formula. Its own little culture has actually formed, with many fans constantly asking about news, many making jokes about expecting to see Elden Ring anywhere, and just as many making remarks about being hollowed. Several fan-made Elden Ring projects have been the most positive results, while there's even an artist who promised to make fan art every single day until release.
In truth, a trip through the Elden Ring subreddit is like a hysterical walk through a wide array of emotions ranging from an anticipation and happiness over a new release from From Software to a solemn questioning of whether or not the game is just a fever dream.
While the greater plot of the game is unknown, From Software has mentioned an "open field" approach to Elden Ring, meaning the environments and locations are likely spacier than game's past. This means more storytelling can be built in the world, something From Software is already a master of, but it also means that it can take more advantage of any inhabitants in the world. But Elden Ring wouldn't be the first From Software game to manifest emotion, character, or some greater thought as part of its greater or smaller story. As such, self-aware Easter eggs—those that remark about the very nature of the game—would fit perfectly into the world.
Even if it were in passing, fans seeing remarks about something being "hollowed" would elicit a ton of laughter. Perhaps there are NPCs who are constantly waiting for something that will never come or are constantly experienced vastly different emotions over the same thing. These moments, however rare, would be a real testament to the Elden Ring community as it is now. At the very least, the aforementioned fan artist needs to be reflected in the game somehow, perhaps as someone who is constantly having to paint the same thing over and over again in-game.
For now, what is or isn't in the game remains to be seen. And while many fans are likely looking forward to more information about the game, we wouldn't recommend fans hold their breath in anticipation of Elden Ring news.
Elden Ring's confirmed platforms are PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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